People in a number of states are taking part in protests in regards to the 2020 Presidential Election results.
Protests have been reported at multiple State Capitols including Oregon, Colorado, Arizona, and Washington state. The gatherings so far have been reported as peaceful. Earlier, Congress was set to count electoral votes confirming Joe Biden as the next President of the United States, but was halted after protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol.
Hundreds of supporters of President Trump gathered in California this morning to protest U.S. Congress certifying the Electoral College votes in favor of President-elect Joe Biden.
Several hundred Trump supporters showed up to hear speakers like former Republican Congressional candidates Buzz Patterson and Chris Bish decry the election results as fraud and urge those in attendance to support the recall effort of Governor Gavin Newsom. Bish says people attending the rally are frustrated.
The scene at the “Stop the Steal” rally in Sacramento was mostly calm, but not without confrontation. The heavy police presence by both Sacramento Police Department and California High Patrol officers kept things from escalating. Police are still working to keep the situation from getting out of control, including shutting down some streets surrounding the State Capitol.
Lawmakers were warned yesterday to work remotely in anticipation of today’s rally. Also in attendance were members of the far-right group the Proud Boys and some men and women who appeared to be part of a militia group, but would not identify themselves. Counter-protesters clashed with the Proud Boys members several times throughout the day, but law enforcement kept separating the groups to keep the interactions from becoming violent. The official number of arrests is not immediately available, but two people were taken into custody, cited and then released — one for carrying an illegal canister of pepper spray.
