Supporters of President-elect Joe Biden are flocking Saturday to the streets in Washington D.C., to celebrate the news of the Democrat surpassing 270 electoral votes, according to The Associated Press and other news organizations. A large crowd is gathering in Lafayette Square and Black Lives Matter Plaza, areas right next to the White House.
These spots, now the scene of jubilance, were the same site of mass protests over the summer following the killings of several Black Americans by police officers. Some chanted, "Bye, bye, Trump."
Just got to BLM Plaza people chanting, “Bye bye Trump!” pic.twitter.com/4hzYHsONri
— Dominique Maria Bonessi (@dbonessi) November 7, 2020
On June 1, a number of protesters were tear-gassed by U.S. Park Police and National Guard troops in the area, clearing the way for President Trump to take pictures in front of St. John's Episcopal Church holding a Bible. The church is on the corner of Lafayette Square and the start of Black Lives Matter Plaza.
As NPR member station WAMU's Dominique Maria Bonessi reported, emotions are high, with people cheering and holding up signs.
Spoke to a DACA recipient who was in tears watching the results. She says she’s not done fighting and she will hold Biden accountable for a pathway to citizenship. pic.twitter.com/hhseH4bxC4
— Dominique Maria Bonessi (@dbonessi) November 7, 2020
Supporters are also gathering in other cities, including Philadelphia and New York.
WAMU's Dominique Maria Bonessi contributed to this report. Follow her reporting here.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
