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Updates below
Protestors took to downtown on Wednesday, adding to the number of anti-Trump protests that have been happening in L.A. and across the nation since Tuesday night.
Protests in downtown on Wednesday evening had started at 7 p.m. in Pershing Square and continued to grow as the night went on. By 8:50 p.m., there were reports that the crowd of demonstrators in the downtown area had grown to more than 1,000. As shown on live aerial cams at different outlets, while some protestors were standing by the steps of City Hall, others had taken to the streets and walked through the traffic of stopped cars. Protestors were seen walking through Spring and First Streets.
Anti-Trump protests in #DTLA just a few minutes ago. Heading toward City Hall. pic.twitter.com/lPk3zSEAGb
— Joseph Lemon (@joseph_lem) November 10, 2016
As reported by NBC 4, some of the signs being held up included ones that said "Trump Equals Death" and "Rapist President."
An effigy of Trump's head was burned at the scene:
They burnt it #dtla #notmypresident pic.twitter.com/P0dHOTEvuZ
— lynda brendish (@lyndabrendish) November 10, 2016
Hundreds of protestors had filled the steps at City Hall, stretching out to Grand Park. The scene was chaotic—people climbed onto the bus shelters and the edges of buildings. One person had climbed onto a street light and waved a Mexican flag. An ABC news truck was graffitied with "Fuck Trump." A LAPD officer told LAist that, as of 9 p.m., no arrests have been made.
The crowd was overwhelmingly young. Many of them said they'd heard about the demonstration on social media. Chants heard among the crowd include "Fuck Reince Priebus," "Black Lives Matter," "We want better," and "Sí se puede."
There was a cacophony of identities at the scene, but everyone had one thing in common: rage at the election's result. "It's the first glimmer of hope I've had since yesterday. At least people are here and angry together," 23-year-old Emma Specter, who was among the protestors, told LAist.
By 9:20 p.m. the crowd was moving south of Spring. The crowd continued to move through downtown, shutting down streets and leaving "Fuck Trump" graffiti in its wake.
UPDATE: Just after 10 p.m., protesters and police were on the 101 freeway at Alameda in DTLA.
Demonstrators & police are at a standoff on the 101 freeway at Alameda in Downtown LA. pic.twitter.com/prUhLgIG7T
— Nidia Becerra (@nidia_b) November 10, 2016
UPDATE [11:30]: Around 11 p.m., CHP and LAPD began clearing the 101 freeway and making arrests. However, the crowd has only gotten larger and the freeway remains shut down.
I lost count of how many protesters tonight. Here they are on the 101 freeway. #dtla pic.twitter.com/Fl54LBZdyY
— Marcus Yam 文火 (@yamphoto) November 10, 2016
These videos from the scene come courtesy of Francisco Lozano:
Traffic is at stand still on both sides of the 101 freeway #donaldtrumpprotest #dtla #politics @latimes @LAist @CNN pic.twitter.com/lffsGtKqyG
— Francisco Lozano (@FrancisLozano7) November 10, 2016
Police just retreated from protestors shutting down the 101 freeway in #DTLA #trumpprotest #TRUMP @francineorr @LAist @CNN pic.twitter.com/HmFjieXsCA
— Francisco Lozano (@FrancisLozano7) November 10, 2016
Additional reporting by Julia Wick.
