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Review Actions Continue Across the Country in Defence of Rights Across the U.S. in the days
before and since Election Day, November 3, working
people, youth, African Americans, Indigenous peoples and
national minorities have been boldly continuing to defend the rights of
all in the face of ongoing police brutality and the anarchy and
violence arising from the contending factions of the ruling circles in
the elections. The people are making clear that whatever the outcome of
the election, they will continue to press their demands and rely on
their own initiatives and organizations. Actions in Portland,
Minneapolis, Washington, DC and elsewhere made this clear. Sustained
protests against police brutality and impunity carried on in several
cities. Protesters also opposed the self-serving attempts to manipulate
the election process, adamantly defending their right to have a say in
the direction of the country by casting their votes and demanding that
at the very least, all their votes be counted. This was notable in
places like Detroit and Philadelphia, where there are disputes among
the rulers as to whether to count all the mail-in ballots. The demand
raised by the people is not so much about the outcome, but rather that
the existing electoral system excludes them and they demand to be
counted. In Seattle, on November 3, hundreds of
people carried on the more than 150 days of continual protests
demanding equality, justice and accountability. As has occurred since
May, they were met by a heavy police presence and arrests. Their
actions continue. Demonstrations also
continued in Portland. On November 4, the day after the elections,
state and county police again attacked people, declaring the action a
riot. The Oregon National Guard was already on standby for the
elections. It was activated by Governor Kate Brown to assist in "crowd
control." Some 50 National Guard troops joined the repression of
protesters. Other states, including Wisconsin,
Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas also had National Guard deployed, both in
anticipation of protests and to assist at polling stations Election
Day. In the ongoing protests for rights since May, about 40,000
National Guard have been deployed in various states at various times.
Some of them, like the many veterans joining protests, have taken their
stand with their neighbours demanding rights and refused to
participate in repressing people. In Minneapolis on
November 4, people persisted in their efforts to demand justice for
George Floyd and all those killed by police and for defunding,
demilitarizing and control of policing. They again marched on
Interstate 94 to focus attention on their demands. Local and state
police carried out mass arrests of 646 people. Undaunted, protests
continued November 5 and 6 to denounce the arrests and persist in their
demands for justice and equality. In New York City,
nightly protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement have
been underway since the evening of November 3. In
Washington, DC protests to oppose police brutality and demand rights
have been persisting since May and have been daily since Election Day.
The most recent case of racist police killings involves Karon Hylton,
the 20-year-old African American man who was killed in a traffic
collision in October as a result of an unjust police chase. Actions
here and elsewhere also demanded an end to detention of immigrant
children, and that detention camps be closed and expressed the unity of
African Americans and Latinx together with all those fighting for
equality and justice. On November 4, several organizations also raised
demands to protect the natural environment. It is
evident from all the actions that people of all nationalities and walks
of life are standing together as one and advancing their battles for
rights. The election chaos did not divert these efforts but rather
further affirmed the need for the people to be the decision-makers on
all matters that impact their lives. Seattle,
Washington November 4, 2020. Police
attack on the peaceful march left one person in serious condition in
hospital and a number of arrests were made. Organizers called for
further actions.
Portland, Oregon
Denver, Colorado
Dallas, Texas
Minneapolis, Minnesota November 5, 2020. Twin
Cities organizers hold a press conference outside Minnesota Governor
Tim Walz's mansion to denounce the mass arrests the previous day.
November
4, 2020. People are kettled by state and local police on Interstate 94
during a peaceful protest and 646 are arrested.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Chicago, Illinois
Detroit, Michigan
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania November 4, 2020. Rally
outside Pennsylvania state legislature.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Graham, North Carolina
November 3, 2020. Participants in an Election Day rally are violently
attacked by police. Georgia
Boston, Massachusetts New
York City, New York
Washington, DC November 4, 2020.
November 3, 2020.
Election night protests outside the White House.
This article was published in
Volume 50 Number 43 - November 7, 2020
Article Link:
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Review: Actions Continue Across the Country in Defence of Rights
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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