Riots expanded across California on Wednesday night into Thursday morning, as the left rejected the results of a democratic election in which Donald Trump won, and in which much of the Golden State was out of sync with the rest of the country.
Some of the protests were peaceful. Some were not.
Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Times reports:
Thousands of people poured into the streets of downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday night, and hundreds of them later spilled onto the 101 Freeway, shutting down traffic as they forcefully denounced President-elect Donald J. Trump.
The 101 Freeway — a key thoroughfare in metropolitan Los Angeles — reopened after 4 a.m. once debris was cleaned up, according to a spokeswoman for the California Highway Patrol.
In the loud and aggressive demonstration, many chanted, “Not my president,” and “Respect all women.” The mostly young crowd marched through the city before heading onto the freeway near Alameda Street.
The pack of hundreds — many screaming against both Trump and law enforcement, others riding skateboards on the freeway — caused a traffic backup that extended for miles.
At least 13 people were arrested, LAPD Officer Tony Im said.
San Francisco: The San Francisco Chronicle reports:
A gathering of a few hundred at San Francisco’s Powell and Market streets quickly swelled to several thousand as a sea of demonstrators emerged downtown before veering toward the Mission District with signs reading “Stop Trump” and “Impeach.” The crowd roared with such slogans as “People united will never be divided,” in reference to the Republican’s divisive comments — often construed as sexist and racist — during the heated campaign.
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Scores of police officers, many in riot gear, helped divert traffic around the San Francisco march, which, after causing congestion along Market, triggered minor backups in parts of the Mission District. No major problems were immediately reported.
Oakland: The San Francisco Chronicle reports:
A demonstration in Oakland against President-elect Donald Trump got unruly late Wednesday as protesters lit fires in the streets and smashed windows in buildings, including City Hall, in defiance of police orders to leave.
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Several demonstrators were arrested or cited for suspected crimes including assaulting an officer, vandalism and failure to disperse, according to police.Firefighters were on the scene at several locations around Broadway and Telegraph Avenue, extinguishing burning trash cans, suitcases, cardboard boxes and other debris. At least one police vehicle was burned.
Windows were shattered at many businesses, and storefronts were tagged with graffiti, much of it demeaning Trump.
San Jose: The East Bay Times reports:
In San Jose, a peaceful crowd numbering in the hundreds gathered at San Jose State’s Olympic Black Power Statue to rally against the election of Trump.
A number of students shouted to the crowd, “We are the change. Si se puede” as a Mexican flag was on display. They talked about “being the change.”
Sacramento: The Sacramento Bee reports:
With chants of “No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA,” between 200 and 300 people took to the streets of downtown Sacramento on Wednesday evening to voice their opposition to President-elect Donald Trump.
The peaceful protest, which began in front of the Federal Building at Fifth and I streets, was organized by the ANSWER – Act Now to Stop War and End Racism – Coalition. It drew a culturally and racially diverse group of people, most of whom appeared to be in their 20s or 30s.
Santa Ana: The Orange County Register reports:
Angered by the election of Donald Trump as the next U.S. president, hundreds of students protested at three university campuses in Orange County. Residents also protested at a Santa Ana intersection.
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Also Wednesday night, an anti-Trump crowd that eventually swelled to about 250 protesters took over an intersection at McFadden Avenue and then traveled down Bristol Street in Santa Ana, said Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.
Some protesters began throwing rocks and bottles at police, he added. The Santa Police Department requested mutal aid from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to control the crowd.
There were no immediate reports of injuries, but just after 11 p.m. police started firing non-lethal rubber bullets and pepper balls in a bid to disperse the crowd. At least one person was arrested.
California was won easily by Democratic party nominee Hillary Clinton, who asked her supporters Wednesday to accept the results of the election and allow Trump “the chance to lead.”
Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News. His new book, See No Evil: 19 Hard Truths the Left Can’t Handle, is available from Regnery through Amazon. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.
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