Six people pardoned by President Donald Trump for their involvement in the Jan. 6 riot spoke in Salinas at the Portuguese Social Hall Thursday night organized by the Association of Monterey Bay Conservatives. The meet and greet came with significant controversy online. Once more people became aware of the event, protesters began to gather outside the building. “I realize that everybody has free speech, they’re in there telling their stories and we’re out here protesting it,” said protester Chris Barrera. “We don’t have the right to tell people what they can and cannot do, but we don’t agree with what happened on Jan. 6.”KSBW 8 reached out to event organizers, who declined to comment, but they sent one Friday morning. "Despite facing opposition and attempts to cancel our event, we are proud to announce that we prevailed against misinformation. A few establishments unfortunately yielded to external pressure, but we remained resolute in our mission. Ultimately, our determination allowed us to proceed with the event as planned, and it was a tremendous success. We are elated by the outcome and appreciate the support we received from those who stood with us," wrote organizer, Karen, who has asked us to keep her last night private. All six of the speakers were previously convicted of crimes related to Jan. 6. Some of the speakers pleaded guilty to assaulting officers. Daniel Goodwyn is a "self-proclaimed member of the Proud Boys," the right-wing extremist group, per prosecutors. He pleaded guilty to entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds. He was sentenced to 60 days of incarceration. James McGrew pleaded guilty to assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers or employees. He was sentenced to 78 months of incarceration. Jeffrey Scott Brown was found guilty of allegedly getting handed pepper spray taken from a police bag, and then he sprayed police officers with the irritant as the officers were trying to hold a line, officials said. He was sentenced to 54 months of incarceration. Edward Badalian was found guilty of conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding, aiding and abetting, and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds. He was sentenced to 51 months of incarceration. Sean Michael McHugh was found guilty of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon and obstruction of an official proceeding. He was sentenced to 78 months of incarceration. Jorge Riley pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding and was sentenced to 18 months of incarceration.While it was a private event, some protesters were hoping for the chance to talk directly with the rioters.“I’m very, very concerned about where things are going under this administration, but what I really want is to have a conversation with these people, that’s why I’m here,” said protester Maria-Elena Cordero. “Why they have done the things they’ve done, what motivated them to do what they did. If we don’t have conversation, if we don’t have civil discourse, we’re never going to get anywhere.”Once the event finished, confrontation intensified between attendees and protesters as they yelled profanities back and forth, held up middle fingers, shook the fence separating them, and at some points even got physical. The meet and greet at the Portuguese Social Hall was the fourth attempt by organizers to hold the event after the prior three venues canceled once they learned what the event was and faced major backlash on social media.