Thousands protest Trump win in Downtown LA; Orange County

LOS ANGELES (FOX 11 / AP / CNS) - Protesters angry over Donald J. Trump's election as president marched in downtown Los Angeles early Thursday and shut down portions of the Hollywood (101) Freeway while in Orange County, police broke up a demonstration that included hurling objects at officers.

Thirty people out of hundreds were taken into custody in Los Angeles and in some cases, force was used, said Officer Tony Im of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section.

In Santa Ana, police worked to tame a crowd that dispersed shortly before 1:30 a.m. today following violent protests that produced no reports of injuries.

A boisterous crowd, which reached around 600 people at its height, gathered around 7 p.m. Wednesday near the intersection of Bristol Street and McFadden Avenue, said Santa Ana police Sgt. Carol Salvatierra. Demonstrators
threw bottles, rocks and fireworks at officers, she said, and at least one police squad car was vandalized. Police formed scrimmage lines and used other tactics to tame the crowd.

Salvatierra said "several'' people were arrested.

In Los Angeles, officers were in full riot gear as they walked protesters off the freeway this morning in what was otherwise a peaceful demonstration, LAPD Public Information Director Josh Rubenstein said. By 1:30a.m., the freeway was clear of demonstrators but lanes were closed for cleanup and reopened about 3:45 a.m.

Demonstrators were cleared from the downtown area shortly before 3 a.m.

With the exception of some protesters throwing rocks at officers and vandalizing portions of the freeway, Rubenstein said the protest had been non-violent.

"The minute you start throwing rocks and the minute you start blocking freeways, that's where things start to ratchet up,'' Rubenstein said. "At the height of the crowd there were thousands but it's certainly dispersed a whole bunch by now.''

Officers were working to keep protesters off the freeway, which became a difficult task as the large group continued to break up into smaller groups. "We're here to protect everybody's right to free speech but not when it
impedes everyone else and not when it puts people in harm's way,'' Rubenstein said.

The rally and march in Los Angeles began about 7 p.m. Wednesday outside city hall, drawing an ethnically diverse crowd of more than 5,000, many of whom appeared to be high school and college age.

More than 300 youthful-looking demonstrators earlier rallied outside City Hall before marching to LAPD headquarters and then on toward Staples Center.

Some protesters chanted "Not my president,'' and at least one had a sign that stated: "Trump Equals Death.'' Other signs read "Epic Fail,'' "Rapist President'' and "Artists Against Trump.''

While some of the signs and chants contained expletives, the protests were noisy but initially peaceful, and appeared to be growing as the day wore on.

Some motorists honked their horns when they saw the crowds. Helicopters hovered overhead as law enforcement officers controlled traffic and watched for signs of trouble.

In Chicago, where thousands had recently poured into the streets to celebrate the Chicago Cubs' first World Series victory in over a century, 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.

A similar protest in Manhattan drew about 1,000 people. Outside Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in midtown, police installed barricades to keep the demonstrators at bay.

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, who lost to Clinton in the primary -- 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." Clinton appears to be on pace to win the popular vote, despite losing the electoral count that decides the presidential race.

The protesters gathered on Boston Common before marching toward the Massachusetts Statehouse, with beefed-up security including extra police officers.

Protests flared at universities in California and Connecticut, while several hundred people marched in San Francisco. And they spread south to Richmond, Virginia, and to middle American cities like Kansas City and Omaha, Nebraska.

Hundreds of University of Texas students spilled out of classrooms to march through downtown Austin. They marched along streets near the Texas Capitol, then briefly blocked a crowded traffic bridge.

Marchers protesting Trump's election as president chanted and carried signs in front of the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Media outlets broadcast video Wednesday night showing a peaceful crowd in front of the new downtown hotel. Many chanted "No racist USA, no Trump, no KKK."

Another group stood outside the White House. They held candles, listened to speeches and sang songs.

Earlier Wednesday, protesters at American University burned U.S. flags on campus.

In Oregon, dozens of people blocked traffic in downtown Portland, burned American flags and forced a delay for trains on two light-rail lines. Earlier, the protest in downtown drew several Trump supporters, who taunted the demonstrators with signs. A lone Trump supporter was chased across Pioneer Courthouse Square and hit in the back with a skateboard before others intervened.

The only major violence was reported in Oakland, California, during a protest that began shortly before midnight and lasted into early Wednesday morning.

Some demonstrators set garbage bins on fire, broke windows and sprayed graffiti at five businesses in the downtown area, police said. No arrests were made.

Another protest began Wednesday evening downtown, with several hundred chanting, sign-waving people gathering in Frank Ogawa Plaza.

In San Francisco, hundreds are marching along Market Avenue, one of the city's main avenues, to join a vigil in the Castro District, a predominantly gay neighborhood.

Hundreds massed in downtown Seattle streets.

Many held anti-Trump and Black Lives Matter signs and chanted slogans, including "Misogyny has to go," and "The people united, will never be defeated."

At Evergreen State College south of Seattle, scores of students walked out of classes Wednesday to gather with anti-Trump signs.

Back in New York, several groups of protesters caused massive gridlock as police mobilized to contain them under a light rain.

They held signs that read "Trump Makes America Hate" and chanted "hey, hey, ho, ho Donald Trump has got to go." and "Impeach Trump."

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