Anti-Trump protesters clash with NYPD in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village demanding ‘count every vote’ as National Guard is activated in Portland and LAPD declares ‘tactical alert’ for second night in a row
- Protesters took to the streets of New York City demanding every vote be counted after Trump falsely claimed victory amid a cliffhanger presidential election and called for voting to stop
- The demonstration was one of several ‘Protect the Results’ campaign that kicked off across the country
- Similar scenes unfolded in Philadelphia, where crowds marched past Independence Hall as they called for a fair count
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Election protests have descended into chaos in New York City where thousands of activists took to the streets to demand every vote be counted after President Trump falsely claimed victory amid a cliffhanger presidential race.
Crowds began mobilizing in Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue late Wednesday afternoon as part of several ‘Protect the Results’ demonstrations that kicked off in cities across the country.
Protesters had marched down the iconic thoroughfare in a generally peaceful rally while others convened in Washington Square Park as police officers in riot gear stood by in force.
The demonstrations however took a violent turn by nightfall when messages in support of democracy devolved into anti-police rhetoric and protesters began setting fires and throwing projectiles on the streets.
In the West Village, police officers in turn began moving on crowds while clashes erupted between cops and activists at a rally in Leroy Street and Seventh Avenue.
Footage shared on social media showed cops using heavy-handed crowd control tactics including kettling, by closing in on large groups before carrying out several arrests.
NEW YORK CITY: Police officers arrest a protester as he marched through the East Village during demonstration, Wednesday
NEW YORK CITY: Clashes broke out between protesters and cops, prompting at least four arrests on Wednesday evening
Protesters, police clash in New York City’s Greenwich Village amid demonstrations over presidential election; local media reports multiple arrests pic.twitter.com/ameE4wLL6V
— Factal News (@factal) November 5, 2020
NEW YORK CITY: Crowds of protesters began mobilizing in Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue late Wednesday afternoon as part of several ‘Protect the Results’ demonstrations that kicked off in cities across the country
NEW YORK CITY: Protesters rally and march form the New York Public Library down Fifth Avenue to protect the results of the US Presidential Election and to continue the count of ballots
NEW YORK CITY: Protesters rally and march form the New York Public Library down Fifth Avenue to protect the results of the US Presidential Election and to continue the count of ballots on November 4
The NYPD confirmed more than 20 people have been arrested as of 10pm Wednesday night.
‘We appreciate and value the importance of freedom of speech. Our top priority is and always will be safety. We have arrested more than 20 individuals who attempted to hijack a peaceful protest by lighting fires, throwing garbage and eggs in Manhattan,’ police said in a statement.
It comes after city and state officials had been bracing for potential unrest ahead of Election Day, with local businesses boarding up their property amid fears of violence and riots spurred by a potential Trump victory.
But those concerns did not materialize on Tuesday which only saw scattered protests after voting ended however, fears were heightened again on Wednesday after Trump called for voting to stop.
In New York City, protesters gathered near the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue while other groups convened on 59th Street before marching down the street chanting ‘count every vote’ and ‘every vote counts’.
Other demonstrations were staged in Washington Square Park where a crowd of about 200 people got together while cops surrounded the area and police helicopters hovered above.
At least four people were arrested in a scuffle near Leroy and Seventh Avenue, while others were seen being apprehended by cops in the East Village. It is unclear what prompted the arrests.
Similar scenes unfolded in Philadelphia, where crowds marched past Independence Hall as they called for a fair count.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: Demonstrators, including one carrying a Black Lives Matter flag, march past Independence Hall to urge that all votes be counted, Wednesday
WASHINGTON: Demonstrators attend a rally to support all votes being counted one day after Election Day, Wednesday in Washington
Earlier, the Republican campaign had urged officials to stop the count, demanding Michigan’s Democratic secretary of state allow in more inspectors after Biden was projected to be the winner in the state.
Trump’s remarks were the sort of call that protest organizers had planned for. The ‘Protect the Results’ coalition of over 130 groups, from Planned Parenthood to Republicans for the Rule of Law, has said it had about 500 protests organized around the country.
Meanwhile in Los Angeles, the LAPD declared a tactical alert as they prepare for a wave of ‘Count Every Vote’ marches in the city.
The prolonged task of counting this year’s deluge of mail-in votes raised fears that the lack of clarity in the presidential race could spark conflict.
Other anti-Trump demonstration were set for Wednesday evening, with protesters gathering in Houston, Minneapolis and Portland, Oregon.