Photo 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.

(Photos: Unicorn Riot, O. Salisbury, Jaoquin, Top Quality DF, S. Burkey, Popular Mobilization, S. Olmos, Texas Working Families, G. Butterfield, D. Johnson, J. Potter, Vashon Photo, A. Azikiwe, E. Newman, We Are Michigan, Philly We Rise, Indivisibly Philadelphia, Tues Toomey HBG, Lancaster Stands Up, A. Criden, Its Going Down, New Georgia Project, New York Communities for Change, D. Turetsky, Make the road Action, G. Livingston, M. Jourdan, V. Pickering, Spaces in Action, M. Kerrigan, C. Folgar)


This article was published in

Volume 50 Number 43 - November 7, 2020

Article Link:
Photo Review: Actions Continue Across the Country in Defence of Rights


    

Website:  www.cpcml.ca   Email:  editor@cpcml.ca