Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

You must have used offensive words in a public place that and the words were likely to provoke a violent reaction. A charge that usually runs afoul of the First Amendment. You should ask for appointment of a public defender on the day of arraignment, unless your ticket specifies a different procedure. (I also surmise you are using a computer at a public library.)

I am not going to assume anything different from what you stated in your question. If that's how it went down, then your First Amendment right to freedom of expression was violated, and your local ACLU or legal aid organization would be the place to start.