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Portland, United States:
Demonstrators burned US flags and marched by Portland armed with protest songs and assault rifles as a complicated election evening unfolded to excessive stress however with out violence within the northwestern metropolis.
The liberal enclave within the state of Oregon had braced for potential armed clashes after months of divisive rallies involving left-wing activists, right-wing militias and federal officers deployed by the Trump administration.
As President Donald Trump claimed he gained the US election early Wednesday, regardless of key states nonetheless counting ballots, activists gathered exterior the Portland federal courthouse — the epicenter of the summer time’s fraught anti-racism protests.
“We don’t like either candidate — I shamefully voted for Biden — but if Trump gets another four years people will be mad,” mentioned one 20-year-old protester, who requested to be referred to as “L,” as two American flags had been ignited in entrance of the constructing.
Many on the courthouse shouted slogans towards Trump in addition to Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, a bogeyman for anti-police protesters who gained re-election Tuesday, whereas others danced and twerked to loud hip-hop music.
The FBI has warned of the potential for armed clashes in Portland linked to the polls, however there have been no indicators of election evening exercise from right-wing teams such because the Proud Boys.
And by the early hours of Wednesday police had not engaged with the protesters, a few of whom earlier participated in a peaceable 400-strong Black Lives Matter march round east Portland.
‘It’s gonna be loopy’
The three-hour march was led by a convoy together with a minimum of half a dozen protesters armed with assault rifles, knives and a shotgun. Rumors and experiences of shifts within the nationwide and state races nonetheless being counted unfold amongst marchers.
“I heard Trump has the momentum now,” mentioned 20-year-old protest chief Ty Ford. “It’s gonna be a riot. Whenever it comes out, it’s gonna be crazy.”
“It is like picking between two evils but honestly, we’ll settle with Biden,” mentioned fellow chief “D.D.,” aged 22.
Demands ranged from abolishing ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to justice for Black victims of police violence together with George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, earlier than the march ended with a rendition of “Hallelujah.”
There had been additionally moments of levity as protest leaders cajoled these watching the march from their condominium home windows to affix the rally.
“Hey, stick your head out the window, tell us how the election is going — and then maybe slip on your shoes and come help us start a revolution,” shouted one activist.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
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