Thousands Protest Across US to Demand the Counting of All Votes
Protesters in various parts of the country assembled in rallies on Wednesday to fight for counting every vote with the results of this year's presidential election yet to be announced.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has tapped the state's National Guard as part of their effort to help local officials with "widespread violence" that started in Portland, said the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.
"It's important to trust the process, and the system that has ensured free and fair elections in this country through the decades, even in times of great crisis," Brown said in a Global News report.
The sheriff's office noted that Portland authorities declared a riot around 10 p.m., and at least eight people had been arrested a half-hour later. The next arrest was announced while the riot is still active.
Protesters around the country cautioned that more protests would ensue should President Donald Trump loses the election but fails to concede to Democratic bet Joe Biden or challenge the results.
Police and activists are seen in heated confrontation as videos shared to social media start to circulate.
The New York Police Department announced that at least 20 arrests were made in connection to alleged attempts to disrupt peaceful protests with violence and vandalism.
Minneapolis police closed Interstate 94 to traffic after protesters marched onto the highway. Demonstrators had also allegedly stopped traffic in the area.
In Los Angeles, police declared an unlawful assembly and ordered protesters to disperse.
In downtown Phoenix, protesters from both sides of the aisle gathered outside the Maricopa County Recorder's Office. Protesters were upset about the ongoing vote count there.
Trump supporters in Phoenix were shouting to "stop the steal." according to a Global News report. Detroit Trump supporters, on the other hand, were chanting stop the count.
Related story: Experts, Officials Cautioned Late Vote Count Can Lead to Rampant Election Disinformation
Rep. Paul Gosar joined the public in the protest. Gosar is an Arizona Republican and a supporter of the president.
"We're not going to let this election be stolen. Period," Gosar said in a report.
Richard March came to an anti-Trump protest in Oregon despite his preexisting heart condition, making him vulnerable to COVID-19.
He said that casting doubt on this election has terrible consequences for the nation's democracy. March added that he believes the nation is in a polarized situation now, saying that he is worried about what will come in days ahead.
Protests about the election took place in at least 12 cities, including Pittsburgh, Houston, and San Diego.
West Coast Results
As protests erupt around the country, Biden has managed to snatch the votes of West Coast voters. Many were forecasting Biden's easy win in the region.
Related story: Republicans Defend Unofficial Ballot Boxes as California Issues Subpoena
According to a The Hill report, California, Oregon, and Washington were called for the former vice president by The Associated Press and news networks shortly after polls closed.
All three states, longtime Democratic strongholds, comprised a gain of 74 Electoral College votes for Biden. Aside from that, Hawaii's four electoral votes also went to Biden.
The small Pacific island voted the Democratic as it has always been in every presidential election since 1988.
As of now, Biden's largest haul in the western region is the state of California. The state last voted for a Republican presidential nominee in 1988, when former president George H.W. Bush thinly edged Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis.
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