The not-so-peaceful progressive reaction to the Trump presidency continued for a third night, when thousands of protesters took their frustrations over Donald Trump’s election as the next U.S. president onto the streets on Friday and into Saturday in several cities, including Portland, Oregon – the city declared by the Associated Press as the center of America’s anti-Trump feeling – where one protester was shot.
The unidentified man was wounded on Portland’s Morrison Bridge at 12:45 a.m. local time as he and dozens of other protesters crossed it during their demonstration. In the Portland incident, police said in a statement that a man got out of a vehicle on the bridge where he confronted and then shot a protester, who was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The suspect is still at large, police added.
“One person down. Everyone needs to leave the area immediately!” police wrote on Twitter.
Before #portland #police took over medical attention was being given to him by protesters. #notrump http://pic.twitter.com/7ft6Mw6UUA
— Cole Howard (@RedheadNomad) November 12, 2016
Police described the possible suspect in the shooting “as African-American male, late teens, 5’8″, thin, wearing black dark hoodie and saggy blue jeans.”
“Preliminary information indicates that a suspect was in a vehicle on the bridge and there was a confrontation with someone in the protest. The suspect got out of the vehicle and fired multiple shots injuring the victim,” police said in a press release.
A local witness, Cameron Whitten, told the paper that the incident took place when the demonstrators were going across the bridge. He then saw a car “with multiple occupants in it… traveling east” and one of them was holding a gun. He first shot into the air and then shot one of the demonstrators in the lower body.
Earlier in the night, protesters blocked traffic and threw objects at Portland police dressed in riot gear who responded with pepper spray and flash-bang devices. At one point, police pushed protesters back and appeared to take at least one person into custody, according to footage on a local NBC affiliate.
Police officer sprays the crowd with an irritant during a protest in Portland, Oregon,, Nov.12
Demonstrators gesture in front of the police during a protest against in Portland, Oregon,
People march through downtown Portland to protest of the election of Donald Trump, Nov. 11, 2016
People try to move away from a gas cloud during a protest in Portland, Oregon
Hundreds of protesters also marched through the streets of Los Angeles, blocking traffic as they waved signs in opposition of Trump and chanted “We reject the president elect” and “Whose streets? Our Streets”.
Several hundred protestors are arrested by Los Angeles Police Department officers
Protestors detained by Los Angeles Police Department officers after a rally against Donald Trump
A protestor holds a sign during a rally against the election of Donald Trump
Several thousand activists marched through downtown Miami, with a few hundred making their way onto a highway, halting traffic in both directions.
Police officers stand guard during a protest against Donald Trump in Miami, Florida
People protest against Donald Trump in Miami, Florida
In New York, demonstrators again gathered in Washington Square Park and by Trump Tower, where the Republican president-elect lives, on Fifth Avenue.
Trump, who initially denounced Americans who protested against his election, saying they had been “incited” by the media, reversed course and praised them on Friday. “Love the fact that the small groups of protesters last night have passion for our great country. We will all come together and be proud!” Trump said on Twitter.
The tweets were further evidence of Trump’s mixed messages since he announced his candidacy 17 months ago. After Democrat Hillary Clinton conceded defeat early on Wednesday, he took a far more conciliatory tone than he had often displayed during his campaign and promised to be a president for all Americans.
Most of the protests across the country, which have also taken place in Washington, D.C., have been largely comprised of young adults and college students.
Security barricades now shield some of Trump’s most visible properties, including the newly opened Trump International Hotel near the White House and Trump Tower in New York.
Trump’s base of support in the election was the broad middle of the country, with voters in states that had long supported Democrats shifting to him after he promised to renegotiate trade deals with other countries.
More anti-Trump demonstrations are planned for the weekend, including in New York and Los Angeles. A group calling itself “#NotMyPresident” has scheduled an anti-Trump rally for Washington on Jan. 20, Inauguration Day, when the New York real-estate developer formally succeeds President Barack Obama.
via http://ift.tt/2fZXifc Tyler Durden