Hamilton police arrested four people during a protest against a People’s Party of Canada fundraising event on Sunday featuring leader Maxime Bernier at Mohawk College after violent clashes broke out.

About 100 protesters yelled and impeded people who had bought tickets to the event, called “Uncensored: The State of Free Speech in Canada,” which also featured American political commentator Dave Rubin and People’s Party of Canada candidates Frank Vaughan and David Haskell, who is also a Laurier University professor.

Hamilton police and Mohawk security officials established a line separating the protesters, and supporters of the People’s Party of Canada. Protesters and supporters yelled at each other, chanting slogans and eventually throwing some punches.

Protesters yelled “Nazi scum” at the attendees as they crossed the road to enter Mohawk College. At times, the protesters tried to prevent attendees from entering Mohawk College, and in a few cases, took attendees' red “Make Canada Great Again” caps and threw the hats to the ground. Police were called upon to form a barrier between the supporters and protesters when it became difficult for people to wade through the crowd. Protesters also chanted “Cops and Klan go hand-in-hand” at the police as they established a barrier protecting the attendees.

Hamilton police had to contain two protesters, including Max Guerrero of Hamilton, when it turned violent, throwing them to the ground, then marching them to police vehicles as supporters yelled for the police to release them.

Police said the four individuals, including one People’s Party of Canada supporter, were charged with breach of peace and were later released unconditionally.

Retired Hamilton steelworker Bill Mahoney, known for his protest poetry, said he applauded what the young protesters were doing to raise awareness about Bernier and the People’s Party of Canada.

“This is what happened in Nazi Germany,” he said. “I’m glad these young people are pushing back.”

There was some question earlier in the week whether the Bernier event would be held after Rubin tweeted that it had been cancelled because Mohawk College requested additional security anticipating a heightened level of protests after party officials received threatening messages.

The party’s executive director decided to move forward, said party officials, because “the PPC will continue to stand up for the people against censorship and discrimination.”

“We have people outside as we were coming in here, we were pushed, we were threatened,” said Frank Vaughan, People’s Party of Canada candidate for Northumberland—Peterborough South to an enthusiastic crowd of about 800 people. “They were calling us fascists and Nazis and everything else.”

Candidate Haskell said to a standing ovation, “You need to come in through the door, through the people out there that are trying to stop you and you need to come in here and say no, I stand up for freedom.”

Bernier told the forum that to defy the protesters, people must “have the courage of your convictions” and stand up for what you believe in.

Earlier in an interview, Bernier acknowledged that “people have a right to protest peacefully.” But that “it’s important to have a discussion about climate change and immigration. I will do that. The population will judge them.”

During the discussion on the McIntyre Performing Art Centre’s stage, which touched on such topics as climate change, immigration and media bias against the party and right-wing policies, Rubin said there is “something going on” across western countries.

“If you believe in freedom, if you believe in the sovereignty of the individual, we are now officially in the fight to defend that,” he said.

Bernier added that “fighting for freedom is the best thing we can do.”