2020–21 United States election protests

nationwide protests in the aftermath of the 2020 United States election

The 2020–21 United States election protests were a series of protests across the United States after the 2020 United States presidential election between then-President Donald Trump and former vice president Joe Biden. The election was held on November 3, 2020. Biden won the election with 306 votes in the Electoral College to Donald Trump's 232.

2020–21 United States election protests
Part of the aftermath of the 2020 United States presidential election
Pro-Trump march to protest the election results in Washington, D.C., on November 14, 2020
DateNovember 4, 2020 – present
(3 years, 143 days)
Caused by
Goals
  • Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election[5]
Methods
StatusOngoing
Casualties
Death(s)5 (all during the January 6 United States Capitol Attack)[14][15][16]
Injuries56 officers[12]
5 non-police officers[13]
Arrested+1,000[19][20][21]

Before the election Donald Trump claimed without any evidence that there was election fraud. He refused to give up and him and his allies attempted to overturn the results of the election. Trump filed dozens of legal challenges to the results, which were rejected by at least 86 judges, some that Trump even hired. The courts found that his claims had no evidence to prove that there was fraud.[22]

Pro-Trump protesters, including groups such as the Proud Boys, took part in many protests in Washington, D.C., state capitals, and other locations across the nation to show that they did not agree with the election results and shout Trump's claims of election fraud.[23][24]

On January 6—the day when the U.S. Congress counts the electoral votes—Trump supporters got together for the "Save America" rally where people heard speeches from Trump and Rudy Giuliani. Before the speeches were over, a large mob of protesters marched on to Congress and stormed the building.[25] Congress was in session at the time, certifying the Electoral College vote count. Several buildings in the U.S. Capitol complex were evacuated, and protesters broke past security to enter the U.S. Capitol building, including National Statuary Hall.[26]

After the storming of the U.S. Capitol, at least 36 House Democrats called for Trump's immediate impeachment and removal by Congress.[27]

Armed supporters of Trump have continued protesting after of the storming of the US Capitol.[28] As of January 10, armed protests were being planned at the state capitals of most states.[29] Thousands of soldiers were sent to protect the capital, and by the inauguration ceremony for Biden, up to 25,000 soldiers were sent to guard against anymore threats to security.[30] Protests have continued in some U.S. cities after Biden became president.[31][32]

Protest change

Protest in support of Donald Trump started on November 4.

November 4 change

  • In Phoenix, Arizona, pro-Trump protesters joined together and demanded that the city's remaining votes be counted.[33]

November 5 change

  • In Atlanta, while poll workers inside State Farm Arena counted ballots, pro-Trump protesters gathered outside chanting "Stop the cheat!"[34]

November 7 change

  • In Lansing, more than 500 Trump supporters protested at the state Capitol over what they thought was a cheated presidential race that led to Biden's election as the president.[35]

November 14 change

December 19 change

January 4 change

January 5 change

January 6 change

 
Pro-Trump protesters overrun the U.S. Capitol building, January 6, 2021

On January 6, the protesters planned to march to the United States Capitol.[40] A crowd of thousands of Trump supporters first listened to a speech by Trump. He told them again the election had been stolen and said, "We will never give up. We will never concede. ... Our country has had enough. We're not going to take it anymore." He urged them to march on the Capitol and "show strength".[41] Many people then marched on the Capitol, where they got past the police, broke windows, and stormed inside the Capitol building. They marched through Statuary Hall.[42] Rioters took over the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's office, flipping tables and ripping photos from walls; there was looting in the Capitol.[43][44] Many police officers were injured in the violence at the Capitol.[45][46] One died of his injuries, and another committed suicide over the following weekend. A woman was shot inside the Capitol and later died; no information has been told about the shooter.[47] At least one improvised explosive device was found on Capitol, and another was close by at the headquarters of the Republican Party.

January 9 change

January 17 change

The FBI reported that protests were being planned at all United States state capitols and in Washington, D.C., and that they are likely to take place from January 16 to 20.

  • In Austin, a crowd of about 100 protesters, many armed and supported gun rights, gathered outside the Texas Capitol. People thought it would be violent but it was not. There were no reports of any fights.[48]

References change

  1. "Vote counts push Biden closer to victory as Trump falsely claims election being 'stolen'". Reuters. November 5, 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  2. "Facebook group pushing false claim of stolen U.S. election rapidly gains 325,000 members". Reuters. Reuters. November 5, 2020.
  3. "Facebook Imposes Limits on Election Content, Bans 'Stop the Steal' Group". Wall Street Journal. November 5, 2020.
  4. McCluskey, Megan (November 5, 2020). "Facebook Shuts Down Large Pro-Trump 'Stop the Steal' Group for Spreading Election Misinformation and Calling for Violence". TIME.
  5. Jonathan Landay & Timothy Gardner, Pro-Trump protests decry president's election loss, opposing groups clash in Washington (December 12, 2020).
  6. WCVB (January 7, 2021). "Pipe bombs defused at party headquarters". Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  7. "Ilhan Omar drawing up impeachment articles as seven Dems call for Trump's removal". The Independent. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  8. Lemire, Jonathan; Miller, Zeke (January 7, 2020). "Trump finally acknowledges his electoral defeat — amid growing talk of ouster from office". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  9. "Twitter permanently suspends Trump from its platform, citing 'risk of further incitement of violence'". KWWL. The Associated Press. January 8, 2021. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  10. Andriotis, AnnaMaria; Rudegeair, Peter; Glazer, Emily (January 10, 2021). "WSJ News Exclusive | Stripe Stops Processing Payments for Trump Campaign Website". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 11, 2021 – via www.wsj.com.
  11. Reuters Staff (January 9, 2021). "U.S. House Democrats to introduce Trump impeachment article on Monday". Reuters. Retrieved January 11, 2021 – via www.reuters.com. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  12. Raju, Manu; Barrett, Ted (January 7, 2021). "Facing criticism, US Capitol Police details response to violent mob, 14 suspects arrested and 50 officers injured". CNN. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  13. Melendez, Pilar; Bredderman, William; Montgomery, Blake (January 6, 2021). "Woman Shot Dead as Mob Overran Capitol ID'ed as Air Force Vet". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  14. Wilson, Kristin; Perez, Evan; Brooks, David; LeBlanc, Paul (January 7, 2021). "US Capitol Police officer has died following pro-Trump riot". CNN. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  15. Boykin, Nick (7 January 2021). "53 arrested, 4 dead, 14 DC police officers injured amid pro-Trump riots at the U.S. Capitol". wusa9.com.
  16. Schroeder, Pete (January 7, 2020). "U.S. Capitol Police say reports of officer death not accurate". Reuters. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  17. "34-year-old Kennesaw woman among 5 dead at U.S. Capitol". WSBTV. 8 January 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  18. Diaz, Jaclyn; Chappell, Bill; Moore, Elena (7 January 2021). "Police Confirm Death Of Officer Injured During Attack On Capitol". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
  19. Chappell, Bill (5 November 2020). "'Count Every Vote!' Large Postelection Protests Seen In Several U.S. Cities". NPR.org. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  20. "Police arrest 11 in Portland, 50 in New York over U.S. election protests". Global News. Archived from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  21. Farivar, Masood. "Arrests Mount in US Capitol Riot With Nearly 300 Suspects Identified | Voice of America - English". VOA News. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  22. Helderman, Rosalind S.; Viebeck, Elise (December 12, 2020). "'The last wall': How dozens of judges across the political spectrum rejected Trump's efforts to overturn the election". The Washington Post.
  23. Nearly 2 dozen arrested in Trump protests in Washington, Associated Press (November 15, 2020).
  24. Antifa Snow, David Goldman & Lisa Marie Pane, 'This isn't over!' Trump supporters refuse to accept defeat, Associated Press (November 7, 2020).
  25. Ted Barrett, Manu Raju and Peter Nickeas. "Pro-Trump mob storms US Capitol as armed standoff takes place outside House chamber". CNN. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  26. McEvoy, Jemima (January 6, 2021). "DC Protests Live Coverage: Entire Capitol Now On Lockdown As Protesters Enter The Building". Forbes. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  27. "Ilhan Omar drawing up impeachment articles as seven Dems call for Trump's removal". The Independent. January 6, 2021. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  28. Andrea, Lawrence. "Rally against election results draws protesters and Proud Boys to the Statehouse". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  29. "FBI warns of possible armed protests at 50 state Capitols on Jan. 16". NBC News. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  30. Schwartz, Matthew S. (16 January 2021). "Up To 25,000 Troops Descend On Washington For Biden's Inauguration". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  31. Aaro, David (2021-01-20). "Seattle protesters oppose Biden and police, vandalize buildings, cause other damage: reports". Fox News. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  32. Casiano, Louis (2021-01-20). "Anti-Biden Antifa attack Portland police officers forcing cops to retreat". Fox News. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  33. Beaumont, Peter (November 5, 2020). "Trump supporters descend on Arizona voting centre". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  34. Boone, Christian; Journal-Constitution, The Atlanta. "Pro-Trump protesters convinced the fix is in". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  35. Martinez, Mark; Johnson, Christian. "Michigan protest: Trump supporters in Lansing rally against election results as race is called for Joe Biden". Lansing State Journal. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  36. Lang, Marissa J.; Miller, Michael E.; Jamison, Peter; Moyer, Justin Wm; Williams, Clarence; Hermann, Peter; Kunkle, Fredrick; Cox, John Woodrow. "After thousands of Trump supporters rally in D.C., violence erupts when night falls". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020..
  37. Moleski, Vincent. "More violence, arrests during another weekend of protests over election in Sacramento". The Sacramento Bee.
  38. "Proud Boys leader arrested, accused of destroying D.C. church's Black Lives Matter sign". NBC News. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  39. Steinhauer, Jennifer (January 4, 2021). "Leader of Proud Boys, a Far-Right Group, Is Arrested as D.C. Braces for Protests". The New York Times. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  40. "Nation's capital braces for violence as extremist groups converge to protest Trump's election loss". USA Today. USA Today. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  41. Fins, Antonio (January 6, 2020). "What Trump said in rally speech to spark U.S. Capitol storming". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  42. Moneymaker, Anna (January 6, 2021). "In Photos: Angry protesters and broken windows inside Statuary Hall". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  43. Benner, Katie; Haberman, Maggie; Schmidt, Michael S. (2021-01-06). "Live Updates: Pro-Trump Mob Breaches Capitol, Halting Vote Certification". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  44. Schaff, Erin; Tavernise, Sabrina (January 6, 2021). "Marauding protesters vandalize Speaker Pelosi's office". The New York Times. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  45. "Woman shot and Congress on lockdown, as 'explosive device' found at Republican HQ - follow live". The Independent. 2021-01-06. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  46. Pamela Brown and Noah Gray, Multiple officers injured in the mob violence, CNN (January 6, 2021).
  47. Pereira, Ivan (January 6, 2021). "Updates: Capitol breached by pro-Trump protesters, woman shot inside dies". ABC News. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  48. Hall, Katie. "Armed gun rights activists gather at Texas Capitol, say protest is 'not about the election'". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2021-01-18.