Protesters Return To Trump Tower For Second Night After Trump's Election Win
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Protesters returned to Trump Tower Tuesday night to express anger about Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election this week.
CBS2's Valerie Castro estimated that about 200 people were gathered across the street from the building on the sidewalk. Unlike Wednesday night, Fifth Avenue remained open.
The group again held signs reading, "Bump Trump," and "Not My President."
Protests were also held elsewhere around the country again on Thursday. Trump took to Twitter Thursday evening to express his disapproval of the protests.
Overnight Wednesday into Thursday, the NYPD said dozens of people were arrested as thousands of protesters marched and converged outside Trump Tower.
Around 65 people were arrested mostly for disorderly conduct with some for obstructing government administration and resisting arrest, police said.
Outside Trump Tower afterward, police installed barricades to keep the demonstrators at bay.
"He's a racist, homophobic, xenophobic, nightmare," protester KC Trommer said on Wednesday. "Misogynist nightmare."
Similar protests took place in major cities around the country on Wednesday.
From New England to heartland cities and along the West Coast, demonstrators bore flags and effigies of the president-elect, disrupting traffic and declaring that they refused to accept Trump's victory.
Thousands of protesters burned a giant papier-mache Trump head in Los Angeles and started fires in Oakland intersections. Late in the evening, several hundred people blocked one of the city's busiest freeways, U.S. 101 between downtown and Hollywood.
In Chicago, several thousand people marched through the Loop. They gathered outside Trump Tower, chanting "Not my president!''
Chicago resident Michael Burke said he believes the president-elect will "divide the country and stir up hatred.'' He added there was a constitutional duty not to accept that outcome.
Hundreds of protesters gathered near Philadelphia's City Hall despite chilly, wet weather. Participants, who included both supporters of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, expressed anger at both Republicans and Democrats over the election's outcome.
In Boston, thousands of anti-Trump protesters streamed through downtown, chanting "Trump's a racist'' and carrying signs that said "Impeach Trump'' and "Abolish Electoral College.''
There were other Midwest protest marches in Omaha, Nebraska, and Kansas City, Missouri.
Marchers protesting Trump's election chanted and carried signs in front of the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Dallas activists gathered by the dozens outside the city's sports arena, the American Airlines Center.
In Oregon, dozens of people blocked traffic in downtown Portland, burned American flags and forced a delay for trains on two light-rail lines and hundreds massed in downtown Seattle streets.
But the fact is, American voters marched to the polls Tuesday and elected Trump to be the 45th president of the United States, CBS2's Magdalena Doris reported.
For those marching in protest back in New York, it was reality they had not accepted Wednesday.
"We reject the president-elect," one protester said.
Protestors say they are fearful of policies that may marginalize many Americans, but are reassured by the popular vote, which Clinton appears to be on pace to win despite losing the electoral count that decides the presidential race.
"If there is some comfort in this, it's to know the majority of Americans didn't want this guy," filmmaker and activist Michael Moore said.
However, the ground swell will not change the outcome of the election.
"I don't think it will change anything because we have laws in place and they need to be respected in order for this country to be OK," said Brooklyn resident Lauren Slakter.
And while there were resounding demonstrations across the country, others believe it's time to get behind the new president-elect as a nation.
"I want them to give him a chance because they're gonna see , he's gonna make a change and we need it desperately," said Trump supporter Cynthia Richmond.
"I think we have a new president, we should all unify and rally around President Trump," another man said. "I think it's done, move on give our streets back."
Trump met with President Barack Obama Thursday at the White House.
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