Thugs advocating the mass lawless invasion of the United States attempted to shut down a rally of those who demand the law be enforced.  That is the true nature of what happened last night in Costa Mesa, California, in Orange County. But a quick scan of media headlines about the event makes it clear that the media is doing its best to obscure the nature of the aggression, and portray the incident as the inevitable outcome of Trump’s vicious message of intolerance. 

All but overlooked is that a venue with an official capacity of 18,000 was packed, with many more unable to get in, and the rally inside was entirely peaceful.

When I woke up in the early hours, I heard a CNN teaser along the lines of “Violence erupts at Trump rally,” which was my preview of the media’s bias.  Google provises many examples. “Protest Turns Violent at Donald Trump Rally in Costa Mesa, Calif.,” headlines the New York Times. “US election 2016: Clashes near Trump rally in California,” claims the BBC.

This sort of deliberate obscuring of aggressor and victim is not far removed from portraying Nazi Germany’s Kristallnacht as “Jews and Germans battle as protests erupt.”

Fortunately, pictures of the violence make it clear who is the aggressor and who is the victim. And local Southern California media did a much better job of telling the truth, perhaps because their audience is in a better position to hold them accountable. The Los Angeles Times:

Hundreds of demonstrators filled the street outside the Orange County amphitheater where Donald Trump held a rally Thursday night, stomping on cars, hurling rocks at motorists and forcefully declaring their opposition to the Republican presidential candidate.

Traffic came to a halt as a boisterous crowd walked in the roadway, some waving American and Mexican flags. Protesters smashed a window on at least one police cruiser, punctured the tires of a police sport utility vehicle, and at one point tried to flip a police car.

"Dump the Trump," said one sign. Another protester scrawled anti-Trump messages onto Costa Mesa police cruisers.

"I'm protesting because I want equal rights for everybody, and I want peaceful protest," said 19-year-old Daniel Lujan, one of hundreds in a crowd that appeared to be mostly Latinos in their late teens and 20s.

"I knew this was going to happen," Lujan added. "It was going to be a riot. He deserves what he gets."

Twitter also told the story in some detail, with Matt Pearce of the LA Times doing an outstanding job.

Trump supporter got hurt. pic.twitter.com/W7t1WDQOGM

— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) April 29, 2016

Couple hundred people here blocking the streets outside Trump rally. Mostly younger. Almost entirely Latino/Latina. pic.twitter.com/ly85Qr4Yyj

— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) April 29, 2016

Back window has been smashed out of a Costa Mesa police cruiser. Protester: "I think Donald Trump did it!" pic.twitter.com/FTj4JoiAdN

— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) April 29, 2016

Some video I shot of a police car being smashed by a protester: pic.twitter.com/aqHm5jP9y3

— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) April 29, 2016

Costa Mesa, now. pic.twitter.com/iA1PyeG7D6

— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) April 29, 2016

pic.twitter.com/msfXtWoMTi

— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) April 29, 2016