>>139371, >>139372
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Lightfoot’s attorney defended his client’s use of bear mace on the group of schoolboys: “When you see the bigger picture, it is not just three kids getting pepper sprayed. You will understand that Brian using pepper spray was reasonable under the circumstances.” Hamasaki continued: “Bear spray, you’re going to learn, it stings, it burns like hell, but it doesn’t do any permanent damage.” When discussing his client going to the direct action in riot gear, he said: “Protective gear is there to do one thing, it’s there to protect you. It’s not an offensive weapon.”

Hamasaki tried to deny the organization and well-practiced techniques of many Antifa actors, telling jurors: “Antifascism is an ideology.” Though Antifa does organize around an ideology of anarchist communism, the label of “fascist” is applied to all their opponents. Their targets of harassment and violence often include journalists, elected officials, Republicans, women critical of trans ideology and people who consider themselves “patriotic.”

“He [Lightfoot] wanted to be part of standing up to fascism,” Hamasaki told the jury.

At one point when jurors were excused for a break, Judge Daniel Goldstein admonished the defense attorneys for persisting in their efforts to politicize the trial by making claims about right-wing groups and particular individuals to justify the actions of their clients. The judge had repeatedly rejected efforts to bring those claims in as evidence, during pre-trial motions.

“I made the ruling seven times,” the exasperated judge said.

High School Students Beaten
The first witness called in the trial was an undercover San Diego Police detective who observed the riot. The judge ordered the media not to identify this witness. This detective said he saw 40 to 50 people dressed all in black.

“They are actually identifying themselves as Antifa for the first time here, with their flags,” he said. His testimony is backed by photography and video of the riot showing the Antifa side waving flags and symbols of their movement in addition to brandishing and later using weapons. One of Antifa’s signs read, “ASHLI BABBITT DESERVED IT.” Babbitt was the unarmed woman who was shot dead inside the US Capitol building during the Jan. 6 riot in 2021.