Antifa Arrested at UC Berkeley for Refusing to Remove Mask

The encounter that led to the arrest — witnessed by a Chronicle reporter —began when another protester arrived at Sproul Plaza shortly after 11 a.m. with a sign that said, “The issue is not free speech, the issue is fascism.”

A small group of university police officers surrounded that man, Raphael Kadaris of the Refuse Fascism group, and told him that his sign violated a campus ordinance against carrying signs larger than 30 inches by 30 inches.

1 at @UCBerkeley arrested - for "obstructing an officer for performing his duties." Was holding a sign, didnt ID himself or take off mask pic.twitter.com/FZo4mpRxWH

— Sarah Ravani (@SarRavani) April 27, 2017

Kadaris, who handed the sign to a bystander, was given a warning.

But the second man, wearing a surgical mask, refused to remove it, identify himself or submit to a photograph.

...He told police he was wearing the mask because of a sore throat and that he had left his wallet and identification at home.

UPDATE: @berkeleypolice say they arrested five people today. Here are their names and alleged charges: pic.twitter.com/7UtTueD4HY

— Michael Bodley (@michael_bodley) April 28, 2017