US Elections: Riot erupts in Oregon as protesters demand votes must count

US Elections: Riot erupts in Oregon as protesters demand votes must count

- There is mounting anxiety in the US as counting of votes continues with Donald Trump trailing Joe Biden in both popular and electoral college votes

- Violence has erupted in Portland, Oregon's largest city, as protesters were seen smashing windows

- The protesters demanded that every vote must count without undermining the democracy of America

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Oregon, a pacific northwest region on the west coast of the United States, has erupted in violence and riot as protesters took to the streets to demand that every vote must count.

The riot, which occurred on Wednesday, November 4, erupted in Portland, Oregon's largest city amid rising tension currently gripping the United States over the counting of the presidential election.

Joe Biden, a Democratic candidate, is seeking an election into the White House in a keen contest against the incumbent President Donald Trump of the Republicans.

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But it's the former vice president, 77, taking an incredible shot at victory with 264 electoral votes and over 72 million popular votes - the most ever garnered by any presidential candidate in the history of the country.

Earlier, President Trump had accused Biden of "electoral fraud" and further alleged that the counting of the ballots is characterised by irregularities and vote stealing.

US election: Tension as riot erupts in Portland, Oregon, protesters smash windows
Riot erupts in Portland, Oregon's largest city as protesters smashed windows, demanded votes must count. Credit: Independent via Associated Press.
Source: UGC

In an anger-infested Twitter rant, Trump declared that "we will never let them do it" as he declared himself the winner of the election and threatened to head to the Supreme Court to stop the vote-counting exercise.

However, American citizens in Portland saw Trump's threat as one capable of endangering the towering image of American democracy, hence the protest.

According to a report by Independent, hundreds were protesting against President Trump’s court threats to stop the vote count in battleground states.

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US election: Tension as protestors take to the streets near White House

Although the National Guard has been deployed to help local law enforcement manage the unrest, protesters were seen smashing windows at businesses. One of the protesters said:

“Our president seems to be making such a big deal about it and we need to clarify what the vote count is for. He doesn’t seem to get it."

Violence before election

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that in what suggested a hostile political atmosphere in the US before the election, supporters of President Trump and his Democratic challenger Biden were vandalising signs placed on lawns by Americans.

The signs were put by Americans on the lawns showing support for their respective candidates.

New York police warn against violence

Meanwhile, New York police said it would be out in full force to "protect everyone's right to vote"

In a statement issued on Monday, November 2, it also warned those "willing to cause damage and destruction"

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President Trump claims Democrats made his lead magically disappear

Foreseeing a possibility of riot after the Tuesday's election, NYPD cautioned against looting and clashes between demonstrators and police.

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Source: YEN.com.gh

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