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Donald Trump election win prompts protests across US

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Protesters burned a giant orange-haired head of Donald Trump in effigy, lit fires in the streets and blocked traffic as rage over the billionaire's election victory spilled onto the streets of major US cities.

From New York to Los Angeles, thousands of people in around 10 cities rallied late Wednesday against the president-elect a day after his stunning win, some carrying signs declaiming "Not our President" and "Love trumps hate."

Donald Trump: the path to the presidency
Donald Trump: the path to the presidency
Paz PIZARRO, Christopher HUFFAKER, AFP

Most of the rallies were peaceful.

Outside Trump's residence in Trump Tower on New York's Fifth Avenue, protesters gathered with signs reading "Dump Trump". Police said they had arrested 15 people, the New York Times reported.

Protesters playing a game of cat and mouse with police blocked a major highway near downtown Los Angeles in a demonstration that continued into the wee hours of Thursday, bringing traffic to a standstill.

Police arrested 13 people, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Protesters demonstrate against president-elect Donald Trump in New York on November 9  2016
Protesters demonstrate against president-elect Donald Trump in New York on November 9, 2016
Kena Betancur, AFP

Demonstrators outside Los Angeles City Hall also hoisted a giant, box-shaped likeness of Trump's head, topped with bright orange hair, and set it ablaze.

In Washington, several hundred gathered in front of the White House for a candlelight vigil to decry what they called Trump's racism, sexism and xenophobia, carrying signs reading "We have a voice!" and "Education for all!"

Republican presidential elect Donald Trump stunned the world on November 9  2016 as he rode a wave o...
Republican presidential elect Donald Trump stunned the world on November 9, 2016 as he rode a wave of populist resentment to defeat Hillary Clinton in the race to become the 45th president of the United States
Jim Watson, AFP/File

Protesters also gathered outside the Trump International Hotel in the nation's capital and shouted "Impeach Donald Trump."

"People are justly frightened," said one of its organizers, Ben Wikler, director of the liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org.

"We are here because in these darkest moments, we are not alone," he told the crowd, before leading chants of "We are not alone!"

A man throws a cone on a fire during an anti-Trump protest in Oakland  California  on November 9  20...
A man throws a cone on a fire during an anti-Trump protest in Oakland, California, on November 9, 2016
Josh Edelson, AFP

Protests were also held in Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Portland and other cities.

In Oakland, California, about 7,000 people by police estimates lit fires in the street and stood around them chanting. Some threw bottles and firecrackers at police, and several officers were injured, police spokeswoman Johnna Watson told CNN.

She said two police cars also were burned.

People protest near Chicago's Trump Tower against president-elect Donald Trump on November 9  2...
People protest near Chicago's Trump Tower against president-elect Donald Trump on November 9, 2016
Paul Beaty, AFP

Ethan Miller of the workers' rights group Jobs with Justice said the Washington vigil was meant to show that civil society was resilient.

"It's a hard time for a lot of Americans," he told AFP. "We saw a campaign that was filled with racism and misogyny and a whole host of other terrible tactics that ultimately were successful for winning the electoral college."

"But we're not going to let a Donald Trump presidency stop the progress in this country."

- Electoral system 'broken' -

In New York, demonstrators holding signs saying "Love Trumps Hate" and "Trump Grabbed America by the Pussy!" marched uptown from Union Square to chant in front of Trump Tower.

"The electoral college is broken," protester Nicholas Forker said of the US indirect voting system. "I think it definitely needs to be reformed..."

Police arrest a protester rallying against President-elect Donald Trump in New York City
Police arrest a protester rallying against President-elect Donald Trump in New York City
Kena Betancur, AFP

In Chicago, several thousand people gathered around another Trump Tower, blocking downtown traffic. A counter-protest gathered on the other side of the building.

Across the country, high school and college students also staged campus demonstrations and walkouts from classes.

In Oregon, demonstrators blocked traffic in downtown Portland, forcing a delay on two light-rail lines.

The crowd there grew to about 300 people, local reports said, including some who sat in the middle of a road to block traffic. Others burned US flags.

In Pennsylvania, hundreds of University of Pittsburgh students marched through the streets.

The rallies followed protests overnight on Tuesday as voting results were being tallied, when at least one person was seriously injured in Oakland, California, where demonstrators broke store windows and set garbage alight.

Protesters burned a giant orange-haired head of Donald Trump in effigy, lit fires in the streets and blocked traffic as rage over the billionaire’s election victory spilled onto the streets of major US cities.

From New York to Los Angeles, thousands of people in around 10 cities rallied late Wednesday against the president-elect a day after his stunning win, some carrying signs declaiming “Not our President” and “Love trumps hate.”

Donald Trump: the path to the presidency

Donald Trump: the path to the presidency
Paz PIZARRO, Christopher HUFFAKER, AFP

Most of the rallies were peaceful.

Outside Trump’s residence in Trump Tower on New York’s Fifth Avenue, protesters gathered with signs reading “Dump Trump”. Police said they had arrested 15 people, the New York Times reported.

Protesters playing a game of cat and mouse with police blocked a major highway near downtown Los Angeles in a demonstration that continued into the wee hours of Thursday, bringing traffic to a standstill.

Police arrested 13 people, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Protesters demonstrate against president-elect Donald Trump in New York on November 9  2016

Protesters demonstrate against president-elect Donald Trump in New York on November 9, 2016
Kena Betancur, AFP

Demonstrators outside Los Angeles City Hall also hoisted a giant, box-shaped likeness of Trump’s head, topped with bright orange hair, and set it ablaze.

In Washington, several hundred gathered in front of the White House for a candlelight vigil to decry what they called Trump’s racism, sexism and xenophobia, carrying signs reading “We have a voice!” and “Education for all!”

Republican presidential elect Donald Trump stunned the world on November 9  2016 as he rode a wave o...

Republican presidential elect Donald Trump stunned the world on November 9, 2016 as he rode a wave of populist resentment to defeat Hillary Clinton in the race to become the 45th president of the United States
Jim Watson, AFP/File

Protesters also gathered outside the Trump International Hotel in the nation’s capital and shouted “Impeach Donald Trump.”

“People are justly frightened,” said one of its organizers, Ben Wikler, director of the liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org.

“We are here because in these darkest moments, we are not alone,” he told the crowd, before leading chants of “We are not alone!”

A man throws a cone on a fire during an anti-Trump protest in Oakland  California  on November 9  20...

A man throws a cone on a fire during an anti-Trump protest in Oakland, California, on November 9, 2016
Josh Edelson, AFP

Protests were also held in Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Portland and other cities.

In Oakland, California, about 7,000 people by police estimates lit fires in the street and stood around them chanting. Some threw bottles and firecrackers at police, and several officers were injured, police spokeswoman Johnna Watson told CNN.

She said two police cars also were burned.

People protest near Chicago's Trump Tower against president-elect Donald Trump on November 9  2...

People protest near Chicago's Trump Tower against president-elect Donald Trump on November 9, 2016
Paul Beaty, AFP

Ethan Miller of the workers’ rights group Jobs with Justice said the Washington vigil was meant to show that civil society was resilient.

“It’s a hard time for a lot of Americans,” he told AFP. “We saw a campaign that was filled with racism and misogyny and a whole host of other terrible tactics that ultimately were successful for winning the electoral college.”

“But we’re not going to let a Donald Trump presidency stop the progress in this country.”

– Electoral system ‘broken’ –

In New York, demonstrators holding signs saying “Love Trumps Hate” and “Trump Grabbed America by the Pussy!” marched uptown from Union Square to chant in front of Trump Tower.

“The electoral college is broken,” protester Nicholas Forker said of the US indirect voting system. “I think it definitely needs to be reformed…”

Police arrest a protester rallying against President-elect Donald Trump in New York City

Police arrest a protester rallying against President-elect Donald Trump in New York City
Kena Betancur, AFP

In Chicago, several thousand people gathered around another Trump Tower, blocking downtown traffic. A counter-protest gathered on the other side of the building.

Across the country, high school and college students also staged campus demonstrations and walkouts from classes.

In Oregon, demonstrators blocked traffic in downtown Portland, forcing a delay on two light-rail lines.

The crowd there grew to about 300 people, local reports said, including some who sat in the middle of a road to block traffic. Others burned US flags.

In Pennsylvania, hundreds of University of Pittsburgh students marched through the streets.

The rallies followed protests overnight on Tuesday as voting results were being tallied, when at least one person was seriously injured in Oakland, California, where demonstrators broke store windows and set garbage alight.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

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