In Downtown Los Angeles, Santa Ana, Oakland, Dallas, New York - from New England to heartland cities like Kansas City -, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets and highways to protest the election of Donald Trump.
L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti responded to the LA protests by saying that they're understandable, maybe even healthy for people unhappy with the election results, but must be peaceful. Portions of the 101 freeway were blocked by protesters for several hours, while others took to the steps of City Hall with placards saying “Not My President” and “Wall Street is the Enemy. Not Muslims and Immigrants.” Trump surrogate, former NY Mayor Rudy Giuliani, said on Fox News Channel's "Fox and Friends" that most of the protesters are college-age students and seem to be "1 percent of 1 percent of 1 percent.” He dismissed them as “college-student” “cry babies.”
In Oakland, the hectic anti-Trump rally swelled to 7,000 yesterday afternoon. Police arrested 30 people and issued 11 citations for assault on an officer, vandalism, unlawful assembly, failure to disperse, and possession of a firearm. More protests are being planned in the coming days.
What impact are the different degrees of protests having? Should the LAPD have allowed the freeway to be shut so long? Let's talk about it after the news. If you were out there protesting last night, we want to hear your thoughts on the night's goal and whether you thought the protests were successful. If you were stopped on the freeway, we also welcome your perspective.
With files from the Associated Press.
Guests:
Chief Charlie Beck, LAPD
Abraham Marquez, a Los Angeles-based member of Answer Coalition, the group behind the protests in L.A. and other cities across the country
Bennett Kaspar, protester who was out last night; he’s originally from Texas and has been living in Los Angeles since 2014