Dozens arrested in post US election day demonstrations

Dozens of Americans were arrested around the US on Wednesday night after protests broke out across the country on the night after presidential elections.

Police in Portland, in Oregon, arrested a number of people on Wednesday night and seized fireworks, hammers and a rifle after late night demonstrations.

This comes after Oregon Governor Kate Brown activated the state’s National Guard in response to “widespread violence” Wednesday night.

Portland Police said it arrested ten people in demonstrations after declaring riots in the city’s downtown area while the New York Police Department (NYPD) said it made about 50 arrests in protests that spread in the city late on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

“All of the gatherings that were declared riots were downtown. We have made 10 arrests”, a Portland Police spokesman told Reuters.

Demonstrators also took to the streets in other cities including Atlanta, Detroit, New York, and Oakland calling for votes to be counted unimpeded.

Reuters reported that local partners of Protect the Results – a coalition of more than 165 grassroots organizations, advocacy groups and labor unions – have organised over 100 events planned across the country between Wednesday and Saturday.