Election Protesters Take To The Streets In Washington D.C., L.A., Other U.S. Cities As Police Make Arrests

Tom Tapp
Updated ·7 min read

After a large crowd of demonstrators gathered near the Staples Center in Downtown L.A. on Tuesday night, the LAPD declared an unlawful assembly and, after a dispersal order, began making arrests. “At this time, anyone in the area is to leave immediately and follow all orders from any police officer,” the LAPD said on Twitter.

It was one of many protests across the nation.

In Washington D.C. on Tuesday afternoon, protesters gathered across from the White House voicing concerns about President Donald Trump’s coronavirus response, his personal behavior and his response to recent shootings of Black Americans by police.

Alejandro Alvarez, he digital editor for local D.C. radio station WTOP, later posted videos of more protesters gathered in the area after dark. He said they had laid in supplies for along stretch out on the streets.

The Washington Post put the number of protesters in the “hundreds” and said “the atmosphere was largely relaxed and peaceful.”

New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio earlier on Tuesday urged protesters to march peacefully as local merchants, fearing looting, boarded up windows. The mayor said there was no credible threat of violence but that authorities were prepared to step in.

The New York Post reported that a large police presence had been established outside Trump Tower, including “a barricade” of five NYPD dump trucks and a bus.

In Seattle, two marches were moving through the city and the Seattle Police Department tweeted warnings for residents to use caution in those areas.

According to police, protesters were blocking traffic and had moved traffic barricades into the middle of the street. One person was arrested when they allegedly drove a car through one barricade. Another was detained for vandalizing a parking meter.

Hundreds of mostly peaceful protesters took to the streets of Portland. According to the Oregonian, demonstrators coalesced outside Revolution Hall, “a common meeting spot since the near-nightly protests began in late May.”

Some of those gathered in L.A. were there to protest D.A. Jackie Lacey, who is facing challenger George Gascon in tonight’s election. Fox11 reported that some demonstrators have been detained. While that could not confirmed, an LAPD photo from the scene seemed to corroborate the Fox report.

NBCLA reported that one police captain said some of those gathered were questioned about what he called “Antifa garb.” Some demonstrators with knee pads and helmets were reportedly detained.

One attendee called the gathering “BLMLA’s election party.”

Earlier, videos posted to social media showed police arriving in force. Once there, they reportedly established a skirmish line in the area of Staples Center.

As Deadline reported earlier, the LAPD issued a tactical alert this afternoon in order to “address any incidents that may occur as a result of Election Day activities.”

Tuesday afternoon, Ava DuVernay spoke at a BLMLA event outside the Staples Center voting facility.

View this post on Instagram

Tomorrow is the LAST day to vote! Let’s make sure we go hard in this final push during the 2020 election season. Join us tomorrow at the Staples Center for a Marathon Party at the Polls! There will be food, music, giveaways, and special guests @ava, the cast of @goodtrouble, our very own @kendrick38, and more! #VoteAndOrganize #BlackLivesMatter ✅✊🏾

A post shared by Black Lives Matter Los Angeles (@blmlosangeles) on Nov 2, 2020 at 11:31am PST

According to Deadline’s Dominic Patten, large portions of DTLA, Hollywood and the eastern part of the city have been boarded up in anticipation of people taking to the streets if Donald Trump is reelected. Among other signs, the declaration of the tactical alert had been anticipated as the LAPD earlier today tightened restrictions of what protesters could and could not bring to demonstrations – as Deadline reported.

Stores in D.C. did likewise.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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