Riot erupts in Portland as Trump files lawsuit to halt vote counting

Rallies held in New York City on Wednesday, with protesters chanting “Count The Vote” after President Donald Trump said he would file lawsuits to stop vote counts in several states where vote were underway.

The protests, however, turned violent in the evening in Lower Manhattan when demonstrators created carnage and set a fire in the street.

People were seen setting fire to a Joe Biden campaign sign, in a move that led to a round of applause and chants; “Burn the precinct to the ground.”

Police intervened and the confrontations resulted in the arrests of at least 60 people, according to New York Police Department (NYPD).

It said on Twitter that those arrested “attempted to hijack a peaceful protest by lighting fires, throwing garbage and eggs in Manhattan.”

Clashes also erupted when scores of officers, dressed in riot gear, were forcefully arresting people and struggling with others during the chaotic encounter.

“Move!” police officers shouted at the group, forcing them off the street as the protesters were shouting “Shame, shame, shame.”

Earlier in the day, NYPD Chief of Department Terrance Monahan warned his department would be on the lookout for any agitators trying to exploit otherwise peaceful protests.

“We are going to be on the lookout for anarchists who are trying to hijack these peaceful marches,” Monahan said. “We have also asked the organizers to help us identify these outside people.”

Reports said a day before Election Day that police forces were preparing for civil unrest and violence as Trump had planned to declare a premature victory if he is “ahead” on Tuesday night.

The Republican incumbent made a false declaration of victory in the early hours of Wednesday, even though the ballots of millions of people had yet to be tallied.

“Frankly, we did win this election,” Trump said, calling for votes stop being counted.

But no news organizations declared a winner between him and the Democratic candidate.

Citing voter fraud, Trump threatened that he will “be going to the US Supreme Court.”

This has concerned Democrats that in some cases a Supreme Court now dominated by conservative justices could ultimately limit vote-counting in a way that would aid Trump.

Biden, with 264 electoral votes, is now inching toward with the 270-mark.

Several key states, including Arizona, Georgia and Michigan, are expected to project a winner at some point on Wednesday or Thursday.

But if there are legal challenges to the results, it might take weeks before a candidate can officially declare victory.

Authorities declared riot in Portland, Oregon after protesters took to the streets demanding that every vote in be counted.

Governor Kate Brown activated the use of the state National Guard after protesters were seen smashing windows at businesses in Seattle, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.

Brown has previously said that she would keep state troopers, sheriff’s deputies and police officers under a unified command in Portland after the election.

Protesters were holding signs saying, “Count Every Vote,” and “Keeping Hope Alive."

Some others were also carrying signs, read; “Stop Trump's Racist Voter Suppression," “Black Lives Matter,” and “Don't Steal the Election.”

Portland, the scene of five months of near-nightly racial injustice protests, has lately become a concern over potential post-election violent protests.
Protests were sparked over the death of African American George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25.

To quell the protest rallies, Trump had deployed his federal forces to the city.

Minnesota police Department arrested protesters Wednesday after a crowd of about 200 people marched to Interstate 94 and blocked traffic, police announced on Twitter.

Troopers were working with police department officers to "arrest protesters who entered the freeway," Minnesota State Patrol reported.

Police also arrested several demonstrators after receiving reports of vandalism, including broken windows and the painting of graffiti, in downtown Denver.

They were expected to be booked for suspicion of criminal mischief and other charges after being taken into custody, said Doug Schepman, spokesman for the Denver Police Department.

They clashed with police along a stretch of East Colfax Avenue, a business corridor in the downtown.

Also, about 75 Trump supporters and vote challengers gathered for a brief protest outside the Clark County Election Center in Nevada Wednesday night where poll workers are certifying 2020 general election ballots.

They chanted "Stop the Steal," with a man wearing an American flag mask told cameras, "It's time for the purge."

There has been no evidence of fraud despite attacks on Nevada's voting system by the president and his campaign.