Demonstrators march through downtown Los Angeles protesting police brutality and President Trump on Wednesday evening, November 4, 2020. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A smattering of peaceful election-related rallies were held across Los Angeles County on Wednesday, Nov. 4, as the result of the presidential election the day prior remained unclear.
The protests marked a shift from the night before, when Los Angeles Police Department officers arrested about 40 people and cited about 30 others protesting near Staples Center and at downtown intersections after declaring several unlawful assemblies in the area.
About 70 people gathered in front of Long Beach City Hall for a peaceful protest Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, following the long-awaited election of both local and national leaders. The protest was organized by local organizations including DSA Long Beach, Long Beach Forward, BLM LBC and Long Beach Immigrants Rights Coalition. (Hunter Lee, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
About 70 people gathered in front of Long Beach City Hall for a peaceful protest Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, following the long-awaited election of both local and national leaders. The protest was organized by local organizations including DSA Long Beach, Long Beach Forward, BLM LBC and Long Beach Immigrants Rights Coalition. (Hunter Lee, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
A protester takes a knee as cyclists and skateboarders block an intersection for demonstrators in downtown Los Angeles during a police brutality and President Trump protest Wednesday evening, November 4, 2020. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Luna Hernandez protests the election in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday evening, November 4, 2020. Protestors were calling on people to be prepared if the election is contested by Trump. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Los Angeles County Sheriff Department personnel block Temple Street as Black Lives Matter holds a rally outside the Los Angeles Hall of Justice to celebrate the defeat of Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey to reformer George Gascon, Wednesday, November 4, 2020. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Black Lives Matter holds a rally outside the Los Angeles Hall of Justice to celebrate the defeat of Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey to reformer George Gascon, Wednesday, November 4, 2020. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Demonstrators march through the streets of downtown Los Angeles protesting police brutality and President Trump on Wednesday evening, November 4, 2020. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Black Lives Matter holds a rally outside the Los Angeles Hall of Justice to celebrate the defeat of Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey to reformer George Gascon, Wednesday, November 4, 2020. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Black Lives Matter holds a rally outside the Los Angeles Hall of Justice to celebrate the defeat of Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey to reformer George Gascon, Wednesday, November 4, 2020. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Black Lives Matter holds a rally outside the Los Angeles Hall of Justice to celebrate the defeat of Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey to reformer George Gascon, Wednesday, November 4, 2020. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Black Lives Matter holds a rally outside the Los Angeles Hall of Justice to celebrate the defeat of Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey to reformer George Gascon, Wednesday, November 4, 2020. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Black Lives Matter holds a rally outside the Los Angeles Hall of Justice to celebrate the defeat of Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey to reformer George Gascon, Wednesday, November 4, 2020. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Black Lives Matter holds a rally outside the Los Angeles Hall of Justice to celebrate the defeat of Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey to reformer George Gascon, Wednesday, November 4, 2020. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Black Lives Matter holds a rally outside the Los Angeles Hall of Justice to celebrate the defeat of Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey to reformer George Gascon, Wednesday, November 4, 2020. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Black Lives Matter holds a rally outside the Los Angeles Hall of Justice to celebrate the defeat of Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey to reformer George Gascon, Wednesday, November 4, 2020. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Black Lives Matter holds a rally outside the Los Angeles Hall of Justice to celebrate the defeat of Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey to reformer George Gascon, Wednesday, November 4, 2020. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Black Lives Matter holds a rally outside the Los Angeles Hall of Justice to celebrate the defeat of Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey to reformer George Gascon, Wednesday, November 4, 2020. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Demonstrators march through downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday evening, November 4, 2020. Protestors were calling on people to be prepared if the election is contested by Trump. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Extension Rebellion heads to a police brutality and election protest in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday evening, November 4, 2020. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Demonstrators take over an intersection in downtown Los Angeles during a police brutality and President Trump protest Wednesday evening, November 4, 2020. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Vision, of City Hall Sessions, leads a peaceful demonstration through the streets of downtown Los Angeles protesting police brutality and President Trump on Wednesday evening, November 4, 2020. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Approximately 30 people from various community organizations, gathered in front of city hall the day after elections to encourage each other to continue their efforts for change and improvement no matter who wins the presidential office,
in Long Beach on Wednesday, November 4, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
About 70 people gathered in front of Long Beach City Hall for a peaceful protest Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, following the long-awaited election of both local and national leaders. The protest was organized by local organizations including DSA Long Beach, Long Beach Forward, BLM LBC and Long Beach Immigrants Rights Coalition. (Hunter Lee, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
About 70 people gathered in front of Long Beach City Hall for a peaceful protest Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, following the long-awaited election of both local and national leaders. The protest was organized by local organizations including DSA Long Beach, Long Beach Forward, BLM LBC and Long Beach Immigrants Rights Coalition. (Hunter Lee, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
About 70 people gathered in front of Long Beach City Hall for a peaceful protest Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, following the long-awaited election of both local and national leaders. The protest was organized by local organizations including DSA Long Beach, Long Beach Forward, BLM LBC and Long Beach Immigrants Rights Coalition. (Hunter Lee, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
In Long Beach on Wednesday afternoon, about 70 people gathered in front of City Hall for a protest that was organized by left-leaning local organizations, including DSA Long Beach, Long Beach Forward, Black Lives Matter Long Beach and the Long Beach Immigrants Rights Coalition.
As results continued to trickle in for the presidential contest between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, with no clear winner, much of the protest focused on the work that must be carried out at the local level.
“Regardless of who wins the (ultimate) office of U.S. politics, we still have work to do,” Audrena Redmond, an organizer with Black Lives Matter Long Beach, said. “Regardless of won last night in any city elected position or national position, we have to be there to hold them true to our progressive principals.”
Jimelet Ochoa, a community organizer for LBIRC, agreed.
“This isn’t about the election,” Ochoa said. “This is about the power we can build together. This is about organizing, about being intentional with what we want to see in this world.”
In downtown Los Angeles, a smaller crowd gathered.
About 30 people stood at the corner of Fifth and Hill streets shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday, preparing to March through downtown.
Michelle Xai, an organizer with Refuse Fascism, which called for the protest, said the group had one demand — and that was to remove the president from office.
“Our strategy is mass sustained nonviolent protests in the street,” Xai, 28, said.
Xai said the march was meant to reach out to people who might be feeling confused, anger or saddened.
“We want to let them know we don’t have to feel defeated in this moment,” she said, “and we have a chance to change the way this is going.”
There didn’t appear to be any rallies supporting the president in L.A. County Wednesday.
In Long Beach, protesters said the rally was just a hint of what’s to come. The organizers of the protest invited residents to join them again at city hall Saturday, Nov. 7, when other events are expected to be held nationwide.
Staff writer Jonah Valdez contributed to this report.
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