Protests against President-elect Donald Trump erupted in multiple cities across the United States on Wednesday, following his victory over Kamala Harris by surpassing the 270 Electoral College votes needed to secure the presidency. In a preemptive victory speech, Trump vowed to “put our country first” and usher in a “golden age” for America.
On Wednesday night, demonstrators gathered in Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and other cities to voice their opposition to Trump’s win. Outside Chicago’s Trump International Hotel and Tower, protesters chanted “Donald Trump, you fascist clown,” as seen in videos circulating on social media. Marchers held banners reading “End the Trump Era” and “Trump Out!”
The rally in Chicago was organized not only to protest Trump’s victory but also to criticize U.S. support for Israel’s actions in Gaza and what organizers described as the “racist reactionary agenda” of Trump’s incoming administration.
Organizers of the Chicago protest emphasized that the demonstration was planned irrespective of the election results, citing their broader concerns. “This rally was called well before presidential election results as, regardless of the outcome, the genocide in Gaza won’t end as both the Democrats and Republicans have shown themselves to be united in their support of Israel in its genocide on Palestine,” read a statement posted on Instagram. The group also highlighted demands including “a free Palestine,” an “immediate arms embargo on Israel,” an end to U.S. aid to Israel, as well as calls for immigrant rights, LGBTQIA+ and reproductive rights, and police accountability.
In Brooklyn’s Cadman Plaza Park, protesters chanted for causes including Palestinian rights, women’s and trans rights, and peace, while opposing police violence and Trump’s presidency, according to videos shared online. The protest was covered by @protest_nyc, an account dedicated to tracking demonstrations.
Philadelphia also saw protests against Trump, with social media videos showing crowds gathering outside City Hall. The Philly Socialist Alternative, which organized the protest, declared in an Instagram post: “FIGHT TRUMP AND THE FAR RIGHT!”
