While Donald Trump basked in the glow of his unanticipated upset victory, thousands of disappointed supporters of the defeated Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, reacted by taking to the streets in mass protests in dozens of cities across the US.
An orange-colored Trump effigy was burned in Los Angeles, while signs declaring “Not our President” were displayed all over the country. Though most of the protests were reported to have been peaceful, arrests were made at several rallies and many of the marches intentionally blocked major thoroughfares.
Crowds now chanting “Not My President.” pic.twitter.com/36C5Kjo4yY
— Stacy St. Clair (@StacyStClair) November 9, 2016
A New York Police Department spokesman reported to the media that approximately 5,000 protesters gathered outside Trump Tower in Manhattan on Wednesday night, leading to 15 arrests for disorderly conduct. Lady Gaga, a well-known singer and performing artist who was a prominent supporter of Clinton during the campaign, was present at that protest.
At the same time, 2,000 protesters in Chicago blocked Lake Shore Drive, an eight-lane expressway, as they marched to the Trump International Hotel and Tower. Police arrested five people: two men were charged with obstructing traffic, one man was charged with reckless conduct, and another man was charged with criminal trespass to land. A juvenile was arrested and may be charged with criminal trespass and resisting arrest.
Thousands of anti-Trump protestors are marching through downtown Chicago. Crowd is moving down Michigan Avenue, back towards Trump Tower pic.twitter.com/w5j8NGne2P
— Nereida Moreno (@nereidamorenos) November 10, 2016
In Dallas, about 300 protesters gathered outside the AT&T Plaza at Victory Park in a rally organized by Next Generation Action Network, a social cause NGO.
Minister Dominique R. Alexander, the President and founder of the NGO, released a statement to the press, saying Trump’s rise to power threatens the country’s progression “into a more unified, dignified, and economically stable society”.
“When human rights, social justice, and common decency is put on the back burner for bigotry and hate as we have witnessed as citizens of the United States of America we have no other choice but to rebel,” Alexander said.
A large crowd gathered near Los Angeles City Hall, spraying graffiti on walls and fences. Approximately 1,000 Los Angeles high school students marched out of their classes on Wednesday afternoon to protest at the city hall, blocking traffic and burning Trump in effigy.
In Berkeley, hundreds of protesters marched through the streets early Wednesday. California Highway Patrol reported that one protester was seriously injured after being struck by a car when protesters attempted to move onto a freeway.
In Portland, Oregon, 300 protesters gather, obstructing traffic and light rail train service.
In Seattle, Washington, 100 protesters gathered in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, blocked roads and set trash to a bin.
Protests were prevalent at college campuses around the country. Hundreds of University of Pittsburgh students marched through the streets of the city. The student newspaper, The Pitt News, posted that several students were handcuffed but no arrests were made.
The chanting comes in waves here. The latest: “No KKK, no fascist U.S.A, no Trump.” @ThePittNews pic.twitter.com/gAWtNMgscO
— J. Dale Shoemaker (@JDale_Shoemaker) November 9, 2016
The Philadelphia Socialist Alternative, a socialist organization, sent out a call on social media as soon as the election results came in, and a few hours later, more than 2,000 people gathered at the Thomas Paine Plaza outside the Municipal Services Building to protest Trump’s victory. The organization’s ire was not focused solely on the president-elect. They also blamed the Democratic party for backing Hillary Clinton after the primaries, rather than Bernie Sanders, while declaring plans to create a new political party.
Anger over the US election results crossed the Atlantic Ocean, as protesters gathered outside the US Embassy in London. There were reports of confrontations with members of a right-wing racist group. Scotland Yard reported that there were no arrests.
