US far-right group cancels San Francisco weekend rally

A far-right group has cancelled a rally scheduled to be held in San Francisco on Saturday.

Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson on Friday blamed elected officials, including Nancy Pelosi, a member of the US House of Representatives, and Ed Lee, San Francisco Mayor, for mislabelling the group as promoting white supremacy and hatred, reports Xinhua news agency.

In a Facebook Live broadcast together with three other organisers for the "free speech rally" at Crissy Field, a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Gibson said the event could be "a trap".

"After several conversations with the police and understanding, you know, the situation of what's going on we decided that tomorrow really seems like a setup," Gibson said, without elaboration.

"It doesn't seem safe. A lot of people's lives are going to be in danger tomorrow."

However, of several counter-protests scheduled for Saturday in the city , a major event called San Francisco Peacefully Unites Against White Nationalists will take place at the Civic Centre Plaza in front of the historical San Francisco City Hall.

Organisers of the counter-protest, from 15 diverse local organisations, have asked participants to stay away from Crissy Field and disengage with members of the far-right group.

In a statement releasedon Wednesday, the day when a permit for the Patriot Prayer rally was issued by federal authorities, Mayor Lee called on residents of the city not to interact with its members.

"Do not engage with the members of this group, whose only priority is to incite violence through divisive rhetoric, so as to avoid dignifying their display of hatred," Lee said.

Instead, Lee endorsed peaceful gatherings at the Civic Centre Plaza.

Patriot Prayer is based in Oregon state.

--IANS

ksk/vm