Trump Protests Spark Week of Gridlock, Arrests
by David Greene
An enjoyable breakfast at Tiffany’s was no longer possible after a week-long protest outside of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, the current home of President-elect Donald Trump, that has created a gridlock nightmare throughout Manhattan with groups marching in the street’s, forcing street closures in the center of Manhattan–as dozens of protests against Trump are taking place in cities across the nation.
Before Trump ever won the election, a large anti-Trump crowd had gathered outside of Trump Tower, when security officials took the unprecedented step of surrounding the front of the building with sanitation trucks. Hours later the Federal Aviation Administration would declare the air-space over Trump Tower, a no-fly zone.
Less than an hour after Trump was declared the winner, at just before 3 a.m. on Wednesday, November 9, demonstrators in Oakland, California were reported to be lighting fires and chanting, “Not my president.”
As the federal courthouse in White Plains, NY., opened for business on Wednesday morning, Hazmat and Bomb Squad units were called for a suspicious device and unknown powder, both which turned out to be harmless.
As sunset fell Wednesday, two groups of protesters gathered in Union Square and Columbus Circle in Manhattan. The Columbus Circle group marched to the West Side Highway, where many were arrested for blocking traffic.
That evening-long protest ended back at Trump Tower, where an estimated 10,000 demonstrated from across the street.
According to the NYPD, 65 individuals were arrested on Wednesday night and one person was arrested Thursday. The NYPD would later report that 69 anti-Trump protesters were arrested during the entire week. All of those arrested were processed and issued desk appearance tickets and would return to court to answer the charges, in most cases the charge was disorderly conduct.
Protests were also reported in Phoenix, Boston, Los Angeles, Portland and Philadelphia.
In Seattle, Washington five people were shot at an anti-Trump rally, but police say the shooting was unrelated to the protest.
Hillary Clinton edged out the popular vote, while Trump captured victory with the Electoral College vote.
The week ended with a massive demonstration on Sunday, November 13, outside of the Trump International Hotel on Central Park West, organized by Make the Road New York, who put their crowd estimate at 15,000, while other sources put that number at closer to 10,000.
Former Co-Op City resident Yaritza Mendes, a organizer at Make the Road New York, stated the protests were held because of Trumps stance against immigrants, the LGBTQ community and the Muslim community.
Mendes said of the demonstration, “That’s why all of us went out there yesterday to show him and remind him that were here to stay.” She added, We just want to make sure we’re strong and we’re not going to let these communities by themselves, so they have us as a back-up.”
One witnesses reported that organizers at the rally had vowed to disrupt traffic every day, much like the recent “Occupy” movement.
In a 60 Minutes interview that aired on Sunday, November 13, President-elect Trump stated he would first deport 2 – 3 million illegal immigrants with criminal records. On abortion rights, Trump said if an appointee on the Supreme Court ever overturned Roe vs. Wade, the law would revert back to the individual states.
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