Protesters briefly scuffled with police at the Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C.
USA TODAY
Protesters took to the streets in cities across the U.S. Wednesday for a second night in a row as the 2020 presidential election inched closer to results.
Demonstrations and marches – largely peaceful – were underway in cities such as Philadelphia, Detroit and Chicago. But at times, emotions ran high and chaos erupted in Michigan, a key state in the race.
More than 100 events are planned nationwide between Wednesday and Saturday, organized by local partners of Protect the Results, a coalition of more than 165 grassroots organizations, advocacy groups and labor unions. The group, led by activist groups Indivisible and Stand Up America, has decided not to hold hundreds more events that were initially planned.
Organizers at ShutDownDC plan for more aggressive actions as the week goes on depending on the outcome whether President Donald Trump wins or whether he tries to question the results.
“We knew this would happen,” the advocacy group said in a tweet calling for a rally Wednesday with the hashtags #DeliverDemocracy and #CountEveryVote.
The Los Angeles Police Department announced for the second day in a row a citywide tactical alert “to ensure sufficient resources to address any incidents that may arise as a result of Election Day activities.” The alert comes after arrests were made Tuesday night.
A Black Lives Matter protester chants slogans on Wednesday early morning, Nov. 4, 2020, in Portland, Ore.
(Photo: Paula Bronstein)
Arrests in Minneapolis after protesters march to interstate
Minnesota State Patrol and the Minneapolis Police Department arrested protesters Wednesday after they marched to Interstate 94 and blocked traffic, police announced on Twitter.
A crowd of about 200 people marched to the interstate, the Minnesota State Patrol reported. The Minneapolis Police Department added areas of I-94 were shut down, and updated Twitter followers on the crowd’s location.
Troopers were working with police department officers to “arrest protestors who entered the freeway,” Minnesota State Patrol reported.
The Star-Tribune of Minneapolis reported the march was organized by Twin Cities for Justice 4 Jamar in coordination with the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Regression. The outlet added that group eventually merged with a second protest.
Despite the arrests, protesters remained “calm overall,” Jeff Wagner of WCCO-TV reported.
Hundreds gather in downtown Chicago
As night fell in Chicago, hundreds of people gathered at a downtown plaza for a Trump out! Power to the people! protest, co-organized by more than a dozen organizations and billed as a post-election protest to demand the defunding of the police, immigrant rights and more.
The group chanted count every vote! Some people with the American Federation of Teachers wore t-shirts that said count every vote. Several groups held long banners bearing the same words.
We must count every vote because too many of our people have already had their rights stolen from them, said Amisha Patel, executive director of the Grassroots Collaborative, a Chicago-based labor coalition.
— Grace Hauck
Protesters march in Philadelphia, New York
Pennsylvania has become a focal point of the presidential election, and protesters took to the streets Wednesday afternoon to demand every vote be counted.
An ABC News aerial shot of the scene in Philadelphia shows marchers with banners that say “Count Every Vote.” President Donald Trumps campaign on Wednesday filed a request with the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a Pennsylvania state Supreme Court ruling allowing election officials to count mail-in ballots received by Nov. 6.
The Washington Post reported demonstrators gathered near Independence Hall in downtown Philadelphia, with two holding a banner that said “Count every vote.”
A similar march, with people carrying “Count every vote” banners, was underway in New York, CNN reported.
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Chaos erupts as Republican vote challengers cry foul in Detroit
A chaotic scene erupted outside the vote tally room at TCF Center in Detroit as election officials informed dozens of challengers that they could not reenter the room due to it being over-capacity.
People gathered outside the ballot counting area pounded on the doors and windows, shouting, Let us in and Stop the count as only about a half-dozen tables continued to count ballots.
Police had to push back crowds as they argued to be allowed in the vote-counting arena. Republicans shouted that they were unfairly being kept out, but then Democratic challengers countered that it was not true because they were being kept outside, too.
— Tresa Baldas and Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press
Small groups of peaceful protesters gather in Baltimore, Detroit
About 30 demonstrators gathered in front of Baltimore’s City Hall on Wednesday afternoon to protest Trump’s false declaration of victory, the Baltimore Sun reported. The crowd, led by the Sunrise Movement, sang songs and listened to speeches about the country’s political state.
Organizer Kate Ericksen told the Sun that the group knew the results would still be up in the air when they planned the rally but wanted a place for people in the movement to gather.
In downtown Detroit, Reuters reported about 100 people gathered for an interfaith event and a planned march Wednesday morning to demand officials count all votes and stop Trump from stealing the election.
Protesters chanting “stop the vote” also gathered outside a convention center in Detroit, according to social media footageshared by reporters.
ShutDownDC to ‘disrupt business as usual’ if Trump wins election
The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department reported four arrests overnight. The charges included crossing police lines, assault, inciting violence and resisting arrest. The four suspects ranged in age from 23 to 32.
A group of protesters from Extinction Rebellion gathered Wednesday at Union Station, according to social media posts, with plans to march to Fox News, the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the American Petroleum Institute as part of the larger ShutDownDC protests happening this week.
Outside the @FoxNews DC bureau, protesters pause to chant Media, tell the truth! and Fox News, you cant hide, we can see your greedy side!
Demonstrators blame the network for broadcasting misinformation that has cost lives in the pandemic and enabling Trump. #DCpic.twitter.com/9IkvqPj25x
Marissa J. Lang (@Marissa_Jae) November 4, 2020
On Thursday, ShutDownDC activists plan to host a caravan of motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. Depending on the outcome, organizers have plans to possibly “disrupt business as usual for some of the institutions that are most complicit in Trumps attack on democracy.”
Contributing: Grace Hauck, Chris Quintana and Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY; The Associated Press
Follow N’dea Yancey-Bragg on Twitter: @NdeaYanceyBragg
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