THE LATEST: Activist Alexei Wood arrested at Austin anti-Trump rally

Jan. 20--1 p.m. update: The activist who was arrested during this morning's rally at Austin City Hall is Alexei Wood, one of the six defendants who were acquitted last month of causing rioting and destroying property during President Donald Trump's 2017 inauguration.

Wood was charged Saturday with theft from a person after a dustup at the Austin rally, where hundreds gathered to call for Trump's impeachment. After a Trump supporter started shouting over a speaker at the rally, Wood ran up, grabbed the Trump supporter's "Make America Great Again" hat, and took off.

Wood was booked shortly after noon Saturday at the Travis County jail.

A jury in Washington D.C. cleared Wood in December of five felony counts of destroying property and two misdemeanor counts of engaging in a riot and conspiracy to riot on Trump's Inauguration Day.

Wood, a freelance photographer, argued he was acting as a journalist as he livestreamed the Inauguration Day protest across 16 city blocks. The case drew national attention because of its potential implications for freedom of the press.

Noon update: An anti-Trump protester was arrested after a disturbance at this morning's impeachment rally at Austin City Hall.

The dustup happened after Trump supporter Jon Colgin ran up to one of the speakers at the event, blew an air horn and shouted about Antifa, a term for anti-fascist groups. Then a man ran up, pulled the "Make America Great Again" hat off Colgin's head and ran off. Colgin chased after the man.

Police caught up with Colgin and the man and placed them both in handcuffs. The anti-Trump protester, whose name has not been released, was charged with theft from a person. Colgin was released without charges after police determined someone had stolen his hat.

10:20 a.m. update: Hundreds of protesters have gathered at Austin City Hall for an event calling for the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

The event started with a performance by The Resistance Choir of South Central Austin. "I went down to the White House, and I took back what he stole from me, took it back, took it back," they sang. "He's under my feet ... Ain't gonna let no system walk all over me."

Signs at the event say things like "Resign Trump, then you can golf full time" and "Freedom of choice" and "Impeach now." Many people are also wearing pink cat-eared hats from last year's women's march.

The event has drawn some counterprotesters who support the president, but the rally organizers say this will be a peaceful event and urged the anti-Trump crowd not to engage them.

Earlier: Organizers are expecting hundreds to attend a day-long event consisting of various protests and marches against President Donald Trump, including a second annual Women's March.

Similar events will be held across the nation, coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the president's inauguration.

The event will begin with a rally at 10 a.m. at City Hall in Austin to call for Trump's impeachment.

"The President must be held accountable under the law, through the impeachment process, for these serious violations (of the U.S. Constitution's Foreign Emoluments Clause and Domestic Emoluments Clause) and for this unprecedented level of corruption of the Oval Office," the event's Facebook description reads.

The rally will be followed by the Women's March and Texas Handmaids Procession to the state Capitol for a rally defending abortion and other reproductive rights, according to the organizers' Facebook page.

This is a developing story. Watch here for updates.

___

(c)2018 Austin American-Statesman, Texas

Visit Austin American-Statesman, Texas at www.statesman.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.