World News – UA – Protesters take to streets after US election, National Guard activated in Portland

Americans on both sides of the political divide vent their anger and frustration over the indecisive presidential challenge in protests scattered across the United States

Dozens of supporters of US President Donald Trump chant « Stop the count! » went down to a vote counting center in Detroit on Wednesday local time

Another vocal pro-Trump group has descended on Phoenix, with Joe Biden holding a narrow lead in crucial Arizona

The protests in Detroit began shortly before the PA said Mr. Biden won the State of Michigan

Video filmed by local media showed angry people gathered outside the TCF center and inside the lobby, with police lined up to prevent them from entering the counting area

Previously, the Republican campaign had filed a lawsuit to try to stop the count, demanding that the Michigan Democratic Secretary of State allow more inspectors

M Trump has repeatedly insisted without evidence that there are major issues with the voting and counting

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Democrat, insisted that both parties and the public had access to the tally « using a robust system of checks and balances to ensure all ballots are fairly and accurately counted « 

In Portland, Oregon, Governor Kate Brown activated the National Guard after protesters engaged in what authorities described as widespread violence in the downtown area, including shattered windows

Protesters were protesting over various issues, including police brutality and the counting of votes

« Questioning this election has terrible consequences for our democracy and I worry about what will happen in the coming days, weeks and months, » said anti-Trump protester Richard March

Two hundred people gathered at Oakland Town Hall on Wednesday to urge state officials to « count every vote, » after Mr. Trump called for shutdown of voting tables as election result remains uncertain

Jose Bernal, 32, organizer of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, said he was terrified of what could happen following Tuesday’s election, which pitted Mr. Trump to his Democratic rival Joe Biden

Send us your questions, thoughts and stories about the 2020 US Election Your question will help guide our coverage

« We are a community, we are going to stay strong and we are going to defend every bit of democracy we have left This is what we want to do here This is our goal », he said

« Our interest today is to count every vote Support democracy Count every vote, » said Mary Foran, who voted for Mr. Biden

In Poway, northeast of San Diego, a small group gathered by the side of the road waving signs that read « Count Every Vote » and « Every Vote Counts »

A group of protesters marched through downtown Chicago on Wednesday evening, demanding that Mr. Trump concedes the presidential election

At least 100 people marched north on Michigan Avenue carrying signs and large banners that read « Count all the votes » and « Get out now! »

The protest came a day after Mr. Trump falsely and prematurely declared his victory in the race and then filed a number of lawsuits to prevent the vote count in a few key states

The Boston Globe newspaper reported that hundreds of protesters gathered in the city on Wednesday to demand that every vote be counted

But many protesters in downtown Boston have directed anger at Mr. Trump, carrying signs and chanting slogans such as « No justice, no peace »

Protesters gathered for a rally in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood, where speakers criticized the US electoral system and political power structures

« No matter how many times I smashed that refresh button last night, I didn’t feel refreshed, I didn’t feel relieved, » said Blaze Travis, a Roxbury resident. 27 years at the Boston Globe

While many businesses near Copley Square reportedly closed windows, rally organizers told local 7 News broadcaster that they wanted the protest to be peaceful and « not to engage with the police « 

On Tuesday evening, scattered protests erupted after the vote ended, stretching from Washington DC to Seattle, but there was no widespread unrest or significant violence

In Portland, Oregon, Richard March came to an anti-Trump protest despite heart disease that made him vulnerable to COVID-19

« I think we are a very polarized society now – and I worry about what will happen in the coming days, weeks and months »

The protracted task of counting this year’s deluge of mail-in votes has raised fears that lack of clarity in presidential race could spark conflict

This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyrighted and may not be reproduced

AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time, which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)

Portland, Oregon, Kate Brown