While the result of the presidential election is still pending, protests are taking place in several American cities.
In New York, thousands of Joe Biden supporters marched to demand that “all the ballots be counted”, as supporters of Donald Trump demonstrated in Detroit, Michigan, or Phoenix, in Arizona, to demand on the contrary the end of the counting in these key states.
The New York protest was peaceful and brought together people of all ages, who walked down 5th Avenue, AFP said. In the Democratic stronghold of New York, the attendees were supporters of Democratic candidate Joe Biden, though none dared claim the Democrat’s presidential victory for now.
“Donald Trump claimed victory before every vote [n’]has been counted and our message is that this is not acceptable. But I’m not afraid, we’re going to stop it, ”said Sarah Boyagian, 29, one of the organizers of this rally under close police surveillance.
“I am afraid that our democracy is hanging by a thread”
“I’m not sure Biden won, we have to wait until all the votes are tallied. I’m afraid that democracy hangs by a thread, ”said John Fraser, 47, software developer.
The demonstration in Detroit, outside the center where the ballot count was continuing, was much more tense, according to an AFP photographer and videos posted on social networks.
With cries of “Stop counting”, hundreds of pro-Trump demonstrators demanded that the counting stop and to be able to attend the counting, after Donald Trump announced a recourse to stop the counting in this state.
A counting center at a standstill
U.S. media reported Wednesday afternoon that Michigan was won by Joe Biden, bringing the Democrat closer to the gates of the White House.
Videos on social media showed the protesters, fists raised, prevented from entering the counting center by police.
According to Detroit Free Press, the protesters, initially pro-Trump, were joined by supporters of Joe Biden, helping to escalate tensions.
In Phoenix, the demonstrators, some armed, tried to stop the counting of votes in the counting center they surrounded. However, the count quickly resumed overnight, according to several other American media.
Original article by : www.leparisien.fr
