Demonstrators took to the streets to rally against Donald Trump across the country Wednesday night, including in Los Angeles, where the melee intensified into the night. Approximately 3,000 protestors took the steps of City Hall, marched through the streets of downtown and eventually shut down the 101 freeway for several hours. According to the LAPD, 28 arrests were made. The L.A. Times reports that the traffic backup extended for miles, and that all lanes were reopened by 4 a.m.
The downtown protests were by and large peaceful, even as the scene grew rowdier in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Many of the protesters expressed solidarity with L.A.'s immigrant community, and rage and disbelief that a man they view as a racist will soon hold the highest office in the country.
"Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here," groups of people chanted.
At one point, hundreds of protesters stood at the edge of the freeway along Alameda Street, facing towards the Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal prison in downtown Los Angeles.
"We see you. We see you. We see you," the protesters chanted over and over while the prisoners flashed lights from their windows to show they could hear.
