Fil-Am teacher in Berkeley charged for punching a neo-Nazi

Teacher Yvette Felarca.

SACRAMENTO— A Filipina American schoolteacher in Berkeley, California faced assault charges in court Thursday, Aug. 10, for punching a neo-Nazi, but she says assault charges against her should be dropped.

Yvette Felarca was seen on video punching a neo-Nazi demonstrator repeatedly during a June 2016 fight at the state capitol in Sacramento.

Her group, By Any Means Necessary, was protesting a rally by a white nationalist group.

Prosecutors charged Felarca with one count of felony assault and two misdemeanor counts of inciting and participating in a riot, according to KPIX 5.

“Standing up against fascism and the rise of Nazism and fascism in this country is not a crime. We have the right to defend ourselves,” she declared as her defense.

Berkeley, California teacher Yvette Felarca at a protest. BAMN

Her attorney, Shanta Driver, blames police for not intervening earlier to keep the peace. Driver said what’s shown in the video is “partial and incomplete.”

Felarca is scheduled to teach at her Berkeley Middle School at the end of the month. She cannot be fired unless she is convicted of a felony.