Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across the United States Wednesday to protest the election of Donald Trump, who surged to victory over Hillary Clinton in Tuesday’s presidential election.
In California, at least 13 people were arrested as hundreds blocked traffic on both the 101 and the 110 freeways. Thousands more gathered at Los Angeles City Hall, where some burned a giant effigy of Donald Trump. In nearby Santa Ana, California, police fired rubber bullets and pepper spray at hundreds of protesters after the crowds took over major intersections. In Oakland, police also deployed tear gas and flashbang grenades against crowds of thousands of protesters, who blocked traffic with their bodies and by lighting fires and burning Trump piñatas.
In Seattle, thousands took to the streets for a protest called by Socialist Seattle City Councilwoman Kshama Sawant, while in Chicago thousands rallied outside Trump Tower, where at least five people were arrested.
Protests were also held in Portland, Oregon; Miami, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; Richmond, Virginia; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Austin, Texas; and outside the White House in Washington, D.C. In the Northeast, at least 4,000 people descended on the Boston Commons, more than 1,000 people rallied outside Philadelphia’s City Hall, and as many as 10,000 people surged through New York City’s streets and surrounded the barricaded-off Trump Tower, where Donald Trump lives. The crowd shouted “Not my president,” while workers in uniform cheered on the marchers. At least 65 people were arrested.
This is one of the protesters in New York City, Natasha Elena: “I think it speaks to the disenfranchisement of the people that someone like him could be seen as offering anything to the masses. I mean, I think Hillary is no savior either. I think she has an imperialist track record. I think she’s a very dangerous candidate. But I think Donald Trump’s ability to mobilize perhaps latent racist thoughts is incredibly terrifying, and it’s urgent to be out here today.”
Crowds also gathered for anti-Trump protests in Britain and the Philippines.