Trump and Biden protesters duel outside vote-counting centers in cliffhanger election

Phoenix/Philadelphia, November 6

Backers of President Donald Trump, some carrying weapons, ramped up demonstrations on Thursday evening towards what he has baselessly known as a rigged election, in battleground states the place votes have been nonetheless being counted.

The demonstrations have been largely peaceable, though Trump supporters often shouted with counterprotesters. Trump says the election is being stolen however there was no proof of fraud.

In Arizona, one of many intently contested states within the too-close-to-call race between Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden, Trump and Biden supporters briefly scuffled outdoors the Maricopa County Elections Department in Phoenix.

Several closely armed right-wing teams assembled on the location as election staff counted votes inside, however the protests remained largely peaceable regardless of mounting pressure.

Local election officers continued to tabulate ballots throughout the nation, in some instances processing an unprecedented variety of mail-in ballots that gathered as a most well-liked voting possibility throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

In Philadelphia, police mentioned they arrested one man and seized a weapon as a part of an investigation right into a purported plot to assault the town’s Pennsylvania Convention Center, the place votes have been being counted.

But in any other case the scene in Philadelphia was much less confrontational—festive, even—where pro-Trump and pro-Biden demonstrators have been separated by waist-high moveable boundaries beneath a powerful police presence.

With the way forward for the presidency within the stability, restive encounters additionally unfolded in New York and Washington in addition to swing-state cities comparable to Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Las Vegas, Nevada; Detroit, Michigan; and Atlanta, Georgia.

On the web, Facebook eliminated a fast-growing group wherein Trump supporters posted violent rhetoric, because it and different social media corporations tackled baseless claims and potential violence.

Trump supporters took their cue from the president, who has repeatedly and falsely claimed that mail-in votes are particularly liable to fraud.

In Phoenix, Trump supporters briefly chased a person who held up an indication depicting the president as a Nazi pig behind a stage the place right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was talking.

Police intervened and broke up the altercation after the person and his small group of counterdemonstrators have been surrounded by Trump activists.

“They are trying to steal the election but America knows what happened and it’s fighting back,” Jones advised the throng of some 300 individuals.

Philadelphia freedom

As mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania reduce into Trump’s lead, Philadelphia demonstrators danced. Two individuals carrying postal field costumes bounced to pulsating music whereas carrying a banner that learn, “The battle isn’t over”. Others, backed by a reside drum corps, marched behind the signal, “Union members fight to count every vote”.

Trump activists waved flags and carried indicators saying, “Vote stops on Election Day”, and “Sorry, polls are closed”. Biden backers confirmed their assist for the civil servants who have been at work inside.

“We can’t allow the ballot counters to be intimidated,” mentioned Bob Posuney, 70, a retired social employee. “We’re not going to create a disturbance, or get anybody hurt.” In Milwaukee, some 50 Trump supporters gathered for a “Stop the Steal” rally in entrance of a metropolis constructing the place votes have been being counted, blasting nation music, waving flags and carrying indicators studying “Recount” and “Rigged”.

At least one man had a gun in holster.

Roughly a dozen counterprotesters arrived later, shouting “Black lives matter” and “say their names,” referring to victims of police brutality. Others threw eggs on the Trump supporters from a passing automotive.

“My country’s future is what brings me out here tonight,” mentioned Mitchell Landgraf, a 21-year-old building employee who solid his first vote in a presidential election for Trump. “I’m afraid if it goes one way that this country will go downhill fast.”

At least 400 protesters gathered outdoors the Clark County Election Department in Las Vegas. Loud patriotic anthems blared over audio system as individuals waved large Trump and American flags.

In Detroit, a Black Trump supporter and a Black Democratic supporter confronted off for a yelling match. Earlier, police tried to separate Black Lives Matter-aligned protesters from the Trump group however quickly relented, permitting them to mingle and shout at one another.

One lady carrying a holstered pistol she mentioned she represented the Michigan Home Guard, a right-wing militia.

“I’m not going to violently burn the city down, but I’m going to continue to fight for election integrity,” mentioned Michelle Gregoire, 29, in a state the place election returns confirmed Trump with a lead on election evening that become a Biden victory on Wednesday. “It’s not OK what they’re doing in there.” — Reuters

 

Activists increase their fists in solidarity throughout the road from the place votes are being counted two days after the 2020 U.S. presidential election in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, on November 5, 2020. Reuters picture