The Nation Reacts to Yet Another Historical Moment in 2020
Cities across the country shook with cheers and screams from 8:30 a.m. PST on, following several media outlets’ confirmation that former vice president Joe Biden had won the presidential election over incumbent Donald Trump. According to the Associated Press (AP), Biden won Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral votes and Nevada’s six electoral votes, putting him over the 270 needed to win the race.
Just hours after Joe Biden was projected the 46th president of the United States, Los Angeles residents participated in a march to defend each other and demand democracy. The march started at Pershing Square and ended in front of Los Angeles City Hall on Sat., Nov 7, 2020, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Alex Ramirez Canales/The Corsair)
A coalition of social justice groups and labor unions already had a protest planned for Saturday, Nov. 7, before election results were finalized. Organizers aimed to unite those who joined in, “not only to defend but strengthen our democracy by advancing justice and inclusion,” AP reports. The protest was also planned against Trump, and his premature victory declaration earlier in the week. However, the protest shifted to that of a celebration, as Biden’s victory entirely discredited Trump’s claims.
Around 9 a.m., thousands culminated at Pershing Square, Mariachi Plaza, MacArthur Park, and the cross section of Martin Luther King Blvd. and South Figueroa St. in Downtown L.A. The groups began marching across the city around 10:30 a.m., gathering at City Hall by noon.
The organizers included Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, Democratic Socialists of America Los Angeles, Refuse Fascism, the California Faculty Association, and a number of other groups and labor unions. The coalition required participants to wear masks, socially distance, and remain nonviolent.
There were no arrests made or injuries reported, though a large body of riot-clad Los Angeles police officers lined Spring St., outside of LAPD headquarters. Demonstrators made their presence known, waving American, LGBTQ+, Mexican, and American flags.
A feeling of celebration and unity filled the chilly downtown L.A. air, as protestors exuded relief over the knowledge that Donald Trump was voted out of office.
Some demonstrators appeared more hopeful about Joe Biden than others. Lauren De Dios strided down First St. near City Hall, carrying a blue sign over her head that read “Sanity Restored, Biden 2020” in silver lettering. Her enthusiasm for Biden was highly motivated by her dissatisfaction with Trump.
“I’m tired of the bulls**t. I’m so glad [Trump’s] out of here,” De Dios said. “I’m so glad that there’s sanity restored back into this fu****g world. “I’m hoping that [Biden’s] going to restore everything that Trump destroyed.”
About 12 miles west, in Beverly Hills, Trump supporters took to the streets for a "Stop the Steal" protest. Adorned in "Keep America Great" hats, demonstrators held American flags and aggressively-worded signs while making allegations against Democrats, the Biden administration, and the overall voting process.
Of the hundreds of signs seen across Beverly Blvd., some particularly accusatory posters read, "Just say NO to RACIST Joe and Kamala the HO," "The Media Doesn't Matter," and "America will not elect a prostitute for vice-president. Kamala is not Black. Joe has dementia. Hunter is on cra[c]k."
Following the declared victory of Biden from MSNBC, CNN, FOX, and other major news stations, the 77-year-old President-elect issued a public statement confirming his win.
"I am honored and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me and in Vice President-elect Harris. In the face of unprecedented obstacles, a record number of Americans voted. Proving once again that democracy beats deep in the heart of America,” Biden said. ”With the campaign over, it's time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation. It's time for America to unite. And to heal. We are the United States of America. And there's nothing we can't do, if we do it together."
Vice President-elect, and now-former California senator, Kamala Harris also acknowledged the win, both via Twitter and Instagram. She posted a video of her on a phone call with Biden, laughing and saying, “We did it, we did it, Joe. You're going to be the next president of the United States.''
Just an hour before Biden was officially declared the winner, Trump tweeted “I WON THIS ELECTION, BY A LOT!”
Around the time that the results were announced, Trump’s lawyer and former New York City mayor, Rudy Guiliana, held a press conference in the parking lot of the Four Seasons Total Landscaping building in Philadelphia, after the president tweeted it would be held at the Four Seasons luxury hotel. There he claimed that election officials in the city failed to inspect mail-in ballots properly. Additionally, Trump issued the following statement while golfing at his club in Virginia, according to the AP.
“We all know why Joe Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner, and why his media allies are trying so hard to help him: they don’t want the truth to be exposed. The simple fact is this election is far from over,” the statement read.
Trump proceeded to make baseless claims regarding illegitimate ballot counting, unreliable media coverage, and general digs at the Democratic party.
“Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated,” the statement continued. “The American People are entitled to an honest election: that means counting all legal ballots, and not counting any illegal ballots. This is the only way to ensure the public has full confidence in our election.”
Vice President-elect Harris has made history as the first woman, Black person, and South Asian-American person to be elected as vice president.
On Saturday night at 5 p.m. PST, Biden addressed the nation from Wilmington, Delaware. The night started off with a speech by Harris, followed by a clear declaration of victory from the President-elect.
“My fellow Americans, the people of this nation have spoken. They have delivered us a clear victory. A convincing victory,” Biden said. “A victory for ‘We the people.’ We have won with the most votes ever cast for a presidential ticket in the history of this nation — 74 million.”
