2020–21 United States Election Protests
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Protests began in multiple cities in the United States following the
2020 United States presidential election United States presidential election, Presidential elections were held in the United States on November 3, 2020. The Democratic Party (United States), Democratic ticket of former vice president Joe Biden and California junior senator Kamala H ...
between then-President
Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...
and Democratic Party challenger
Vice President A vice president or vice-president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vi ...
Joe Biden Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who was the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice p ...
, held on November 3, 2020. Biden won the election, receiving 81.3 million votes (51.3%) to Trump's 74.2 million (46.9%) and winning the Electoral College by 306 to 232. Biden's victory became clear on November 7, after the ballots (including mail-in ballots) had been tabulated. The Electoral College voted on December 14, in accordance with law, formalizing Biden's victory. Before and after the election, Trump, his
presidential campaign A political campaign is an organized effort which seeks to influence the decision making progress within a specific group. In democracies, political campaigns often refer to electoral campaigns, by which representatives are chosen or referen ...
, and his allies challenged the legitimacy of the election and falsely claimed widespread
electoral fraud Electoral fraud, sometimes referred to as election manipulation, voter fraud, or vote rigging, involves illegal interference with the process of an election, either by increasing the vote share of a favored candidate, depressing the vote share o ...
. Trump and his allies filed dozens of legal challenges to the results, which were rejected by at least 86 judges from across the political spectrum, in both the
state State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...
and federal courts, including by federal judges appointed by Trump himself. The courts found that his claims had no factual or legal basis. His unsubstantiated allegations of widespread voting fraud were also refuted by state election officials. Pro-Trump protesters, including groups such as the
Proud Boys The Proud Boys is an American far-right politics, far-right, Neo-fascism, neo-fascist militant organization that promotes and engages in political violence.Far-right: * * Fascist: * * * * * Men only: * * * Political violence and militancy: ...
, engaged in multiple demonstrations in Washington, D.C., state capitols, and other locations nationwide protesting the election results and echoing Trump's claims of election fraud. In November and December 2020, there were nighttime clashes and street scuffles in Washington, D.C. between Trump supporters who refused to accept the president's defeat, including the Proud Boys, and counterprotesters.Antifa Snow, David Goldman & Lisa Marie Pane
'This isn't over!' Trump supporters refuse to accept defeat
Associated Press (November 7, 2020).
On January 6—the day when Congress formally counts the electoral votes—Trump supporters gathered for the "Save America" rally where attendees heard speeches from President Trump and his personal lawyer, former New York City mayor
Rudy Giuliani Rudolph William Louis Giuliani ( , ; born May 28, 1944) is an American politician and Disbarment, disbarred lawyer who served as the 107th mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001. He previously served as the United States Associate Attorney ...
. Before the speeches were over, a mob of protesters marched on Congress and stormed the Capitol building. Congress was in session at the time, certifying the Electoral College vote count. Several buildings in the U.S. Capitol complex were evacuated, and protesters broke past security to enter the U.S. Capitol building, including
National Statuary Hall The National Statuary Hall is a chamber in the United States Capitol devoted to sculptures of prominent Americans. The hall, also known as the Old Hall of the House, is a large, two-story, semicircular room with a second story gallery along the ...
. All buildings in the Capitol complex were subsequently locked down. There was reportedly an armed standoff at the doors to the
House A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air c ...
chambers, one person was shot within the Capitol building, and one Capitol Police officer died after having a stroke the next day. At least two
improvised explosive device An improvised explosive device (IED) is a bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional warfare, conventional military action. It may be constructed of conventional military explosives, such as an artillery shell, attached t ...
s were found. In the aftermath of the storming of the U.S. Capitol, at least 36 House Democrats called for Trump's immediate
impeachment Impeachment is a process by which a legislative body or other legally constituted tribunal initiates charges against a public official for misconduct. It may be understood as a unique process involving both political and legal elements. In Eur ...
and removal by Congress. State-level officials including Maryland Lieutenant Governor
Boyd Rutherford Boyd Kevin Rutherford (born April 1, 1957) is an American politician, businessman and attorney who served as the ninth lieutenant governor of Maryland from 2015 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, Rutherf ...
supported impeachment, and representatives called on Vice President
Mike Pence Michael Richard Pence (born June 7, 1959) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 48th vice president of the United States from 2017 to 2021 under President Donald Trump. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Repub ...
to remove Trump via the
Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution The Twenty-fifth Amendment (Amendment XXV) to the United States Constitution addresses issues related to presidential succession and disability. It clarifies that the Vice President of the United States, vice president becomes President of th ...
. Trump continued to face backlash in the days following and, due to his use of social media to encourage his supporters' protests and violence, was eventually restricted or banned from most online platforms including
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,
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,
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, and his preferred
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. Armed supporters of Trump have continued protesting in the aftermath of the storming of the US Capitol. In the lead-up to the inauguration ceremony for President Biden, thousands of
National Guard National guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards. ...
troops were dispatched to the capital, with up to 25,000 present on inauguration day.


Causes

In remarks from the
White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...
in the early hours of November 4, President Donald Trump alleged, without presenting evidence, that "fraud" was being committed during vote counting efforts and remarked, "We will win this. As far as I'm concerned, we already have won." Some major networks conducted live
fact-checking Fact-checking is the process of verifying the factual accuracy of questioned reporting and statements. Fact-checking can be conducted before or after the text or content is published or otherwise disseminated. Internal fact-checking is such che ...
and interrupted the president's speech while others offered uninterrupted coverage. Former
White House Chief Strategist Stephen Kevin Bannon (born November 27, 1953) is an American media executive, political strategist, and former investment banker. He served as the White House's chief strategist for the first seven months of president Donald Trump's first ...
Steve Bannon Stephen Kevin Bannon (born November 27, 1953) is an American media executive, political strategist, and former investment banker. He served as the White House's chief strategist for the first seven months of president Donald Trump's first ...
suggested that Trump begin his second term of office by ordering the executions of Dr.
Anthony Fauci Anthony Stephen Fauci ( ; born December 24, 1940) is an American physician-scientist and immunologist who served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) from 1984 to 2022, and the chief medical ...
and FBI Director
Christopher A. Wray Christopher Asher Wray (born December 17, 1966) is an American attorney who served as the eighth director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 2017 to 2025. He was nominated by President Donald Trump to replace James Comey. He was ...
as "a warning to federal bureaucrats". Political observers had suggested the possibility of a contested election and premature claim of victory by Trump in the months before of the election. This expectation was based on the likelihood that initial votes counted on election night would skew heavily Republican while mail-in ballots would skew heavily Democratic, a
blue shift In physics, a redshift is an increase in the wavelength, and corresponding decrease in the frequency and photon energy, of electromagnetic radiation (such as light). The opposite change, a decrease in wavelength and increase in frequency and e ...
that became more favorable to Biden as more votes were counted and could be misrepresented as fraudulent.


Pro-Trump protests

Pro-Trump events related to the election outcome have taken place around the country beginning on November 4.


November 2020


November 4

* In
Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...
, pro-Trump protesters gathered to demand the city's remaining ballots be counted. Numerous other protests occurred that day in major cities including Los Angeles, Seattle, Houston, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis and San Diego, some about the election and some about
racial inequality Social inequality occurs when resources within a society are distributed unevenly, often as a result of inequitable allocation practices that create distinct unequal patterns based on socially defined categories of people. Differences in acce ...
in the country.


November 5

*
Facebook Facebook is a social media and social networking service owned by the American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms, Meta. Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with four other Harvard College students and roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andre ...
banned a group page called "
Stop the Steal After Democratic nominee Joe Biden won the 2020 United States presidential election, Republican nominee and then-incumbent president Donald Trump pursued an unprecedented effort to overturn the election, with support from his campaign, ...
", which Trump supporters used to organize protests against the election results after his allegations of electoral fraud. It achieved 300,000 followers before Facebook shut it down, citing calls for violence by some participants. It was reported to have been adding a thousand new members every ten seconds. * In Atlanta, while poll workers inside
State Farm Arena State Farm Arena is a multi-purpose arena located in Atlanta, Georgia. The arena serves as the home venue for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). It also served as home to the Atlanta Thrashers of the National Hock ...
counted ballots, pro-Trump protesters gathered outside chanting "Stop the cheat!"


November 6

* In Detroit, more than 200 protesters, some of whom were armed, rallied outside the tally room at TCF Center as Biden and
Kamala Harris Kamala Devi Harris ( ; born October 20, 1964) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden. She is the first female, first African American, and ...
took the lead in the vote count for the state. Phil Robinson, founder of Michigan Liberty Militia, which has been deemed an "extreme anti-government group" by the
Southern Poverty Law Center The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, it is known for its legal cases against white ...
, said he was at the rally to fight "tyranny and
fraud In law, fraud is intent (law), intentional deception to deprive a victim of a legal right or to gain from a victim unlawfully or unfairly. Fraud can violate Civil law (common law), civil law (e.g., a fraud victim may sue the fraud perpetrato ...
." * In
Youngstown, Ohio Youngstown is a city in Mahoning County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Ohio, 11th-most populous city in Ohio with a population of 60,068 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Mahoning ...
, about fifty pro-Trump protesters rallied outside the WKBN TV news station. * Pro-Trump protests were held in
Arizona Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...
,
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
, and
Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...
. In Arizona, far-right conspiracy theorist
Alex Jones Alexander Emerick Jones (born February 11, 1974) is an American Far-right politics, far-right radio host, radio show host and prominent conspiracy theorist. He hosts ''The Alex Jones Show'' from Austin, Texas. ''The Alex Jones Show'' is the lo ...
called on protesters to "surround the
White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...
and support the President".


November 7

* In
Little Rock Little Rock is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Arkansas, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The city's population was 202,591 as of the 2020 census. The six-county Central Arkan ...
,
Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the West South Central region of the Southern United States. It borders Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, and Oklahoma ...
, a group of about fifty Trump supporters, many of whom were armed, were met with a smaller group of counter-protesters at the
State Capitol A capitol, or seat of government, is the building or complex of buildings from which a government such as that of a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, or the organized territories of the United States, exercises its authority. Although m ...
building. * In North Las Vegas, a hundred Trump supporters demonstrated outside the
Clark County Clark County may refer to: *Clark County, Arkansas *Clark County, Idaho *Clark County, Illinois *Clark County, Indiana *Clark County, Kansas *Clark County, Kentucky *Clark County, Missouri *Clark County, Nevada, containing Las Vegas *Clark County, ...
Election Department. * In
Lansing Lansing () is the capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan. The most populous city in Ingham County, parts of the city extend into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. It is the sixth-most populous city in Michigan with a popul ...
, more than five hundred Trump supporters protested the election results at the state Capitol. * In
Raleigh, North Carolina Raleigh ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, second-most populous city in the state (after Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlotte) ...
, Ryan Fournier led "Stop the Steal" rallies at Halifax Mall and the North Carolina Executive Mansion. Counter-protesters debated Trump supporters and transformed "Stop the Steal" into a party at Halifax Mall. * In
Salem, Oregon Salem ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County, Oregon, Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, w ...
, two separate protests were seen with participants questioning the results of the election. Four people were arrested during the protests.


November 8

* In
Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...
, hundreds of Trump supporters, many of whom were armed, protested Biden's victory, claiming that the Democratic Party had stolen the election. There were also small groups of counter-protesters. * In
Austintown, Ohio Austintown is an Unincorporated area#United States, unincorporated community and census-designated place within Austintown Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. The population was 29,594 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Loc ...
, hundreds of pro-Trump protesters rallied outside local businesses with the intention of marching towards the local
Walmart Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores in the United States and 23 other ...
.


November 14

* In Washington, D.C., thousands of protesters rallied to support President Trump's election claims.. Attendees included white nationalists and members of far-right groups such as the
Proud Boys The Proud Boys is an American far-right politics, far-right, Neo-fascism, neo-fascist militant organization that promotes and engages in political violence.Far-right: * * Fascist: * * * * * Men only: * * * Political violence and militancy: ...
, with some wearing helmets and bullet-proof vests. Some Republican members of
Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...
also attended. Demonstrators gave various names to their action, including "Million MAGA March", "Stop the Steal" rally, and "March for Trump".The President waved to demonstrators as his
Secret Service A secret service is a government agency, intelligence agency, or the activities of a government agency, concerned with the gathering of intelligence data. The tasks and powers of a secret service can vary greatly from one country to another. For i ...
motorcade passed
Freedom Plaza Freedom Plaza, originally known as Western Plaza, is an open plaza in Northwest Washington, D.C., United States, located near 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, adjacent to Pershing Park. The plaza features an inlay that partially depict ...
on
Pennsylvania Avenue Pennsylvania Avenue is a primarily diagonal street in Washington, D.C. that connects the United States Capitol with the White House and then crosses northwest Washington, D.C. to Georgetown (Washington, D.C.), Georgetown. Traveling through So ...
during the morning before traveling to the Trump National Golf Club northwest of Washington. The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department arrested 20 people for various offenses including firearm violations, assault, assaulting a police officer, and disorderly conduct.After nightfall, tensions escalated between demonstrators and counter-protesters. Anti-Trump demonstrators stole and burned MAGA merchandise, tables belonging to vendors of Trump apparel were overturned, and fireworks were set off. Five blocks east of the
White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...
, violence broke out between counter-protesters and the president's supporters, who wielded batons. The groups brawled for several minutes before police arrived and cleared the intersection. One man was stabbed in the back during the disturbance and was taken to a hospital.


November 15

* In
San Antonio San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...
, several hundred pro-Trump protesters marched through downtown San Antonio for approximately an hour. At the same time, a caravan of decorated cars drove through the city to celebrate Biden's victory.


November 18

* Talk-show host
Alex Jones Alexander Emerick Jones (born February 11, 1974) is an American Far-right politics, far-right radio host, radio show host and prominent conspiracy theorist. He hosts ''The Alex Jones Show'' from Austin, Texas. ''The Alex Jones Show'' is the lo ...
and political commentator
Nick Fuentes Nicholas Joseph Fuentes (born August 18, 1998) is an American Far-right politics, far-rightMultiple sources: * * * * * Pundit, political pundit, activist, and Online streamer, live streamer who promotes White supremacy, white supremacist, Hom ...
led a group of protesters in "Stop the Steal" protest in the
Georgia State Capitol The Georgia State Capitol is an architecturally and historically significant building in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The building has been named a National Historic Landmark which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As t ...
in Atlanta. He later called for fans to "go to the capital of Georgia now and you must surround the governor's mansion now."


November 21

* In
Sacramento Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the seat of Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers in Northern California's Sacramento Valley, Sacramento's 2020 p ...
, two hundred protesters attended a protest in support of the President. The protest became violent once protesters marched to Cesar Chavez Plaza, where the protest was declared an unlawful assembly due to fighting; one protestor was arrested.


November 22

* In Charlotte, dozens of protesters organized the city's first election protest in the form of a vehicle convoy at Marshall Park.


November 26

* In Chicago, 60 protesters held a rally in support of Trump at
Millennium Park Millennium Park is a public park located in the Chicago Loop, Loop Community areas of Chicago, community area of Chicago, operated by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. The park, opened in July 2004, is a prominent civic center near t ...
. Participants included Edgar "Remy Del Toro" Gonzalez, president of the Chicago chapter of the
Proud Boys The Proud Boys is an American far-right politics, far-right, Neo-fascism, neo-fascist militant organization that promotes and engages in political violence.Far-right: * * Fascist: * * * * * Men only: * * * Political violence and militancy: ...
, and Back the Blue supporters. A few dozen anti-Trump activists counter-protested.


December 2020


December 5

* In Michigan, the Michigan Secretary of State,
Jocelyn Benson Jocelyn Benson (born October 22, 1977) is an American politician and attorney who has served as the 43rd secretary of state of Michigan since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she is the former dean of Wayne State University Law School fr ...
tweeted that dozens of armed protesters gathered outside her home chanting "Stop the Steal" and held signs with the same message. Videos of the protest were later uploaded to social media and part of the protest was live streamed on Facebook.


December 12

* The
National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) is an List of federal agencies in the United States, agency of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government, within the US Department of the Interior. The service manages all List ...
granted a permit allowing a conservative organization, Women for America First, to host a gathering in Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on December 12, with a projected attendance of upwards of five thousand. On the day of the event, about 200 members of the
Proud Boys The Proud Boys is an American far-right politics, far-right, Neo-fascism, neo-fascist militant organization that promotes and engages in political violence.Far-right: * * Fascist: * * * * * Men only: * * * Political violence and militancy: ...
joined a march near the Plaza and the Trump International Hotel while dressed in combat fatigues and ballistic vests and reportedly carrying helmets. Reported antifa members were also present and both groups engaged in fights with one another later that night. In scuffles between protesters and counter-protesters, four people were stabbed and at least 23 were arrested.Trump acknowledged the Washington protest, tweeting "Wow! Thousands of people forming in Washington (D.C.) for Stop the Steal. Didn't know about this, but I'll be seeing them!" and drove by in a motorcade.
Mike Flynn Michael Thomas Flynn (born 24 December 1958) is a retired United States Army lieutenant general who served as the 24th U.S. national security advisor for the first 22 days of the first Trump administration. He resigned in light of reports tha ...
spoke to the crowds as well, stating "My charge to you is to go back to where you are from and make demands. The (
U.S. Constitution The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. Originally including seven articles, the Constituti ...
) is not about collective liberty it is about individual liberties, and they designed it that way." * Separate marches, called "Jericho marches" were pushed by church groups, and the "
Stop the Steal After Democratic nominee Joe Biden won the 2020 United States presidential election, Republican nominee and then-incumbent president Donald Trump pursued an unprecedented effort to overturn the election, with support from his campaign, ...
" organization linked to
Roger Stone Roger Jason Stone (born Roger Joseph Stone Jr.; August 27, 1952) is an American Political consulting, political consultant and lobbyist. He is Donald Trump's longest-serving political adviser, best known for the Mueller special counsel investi ...
, with marches planned in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, and Arizona. * In Indianapolis, demonstrators at the
Indiana Statehouse The Indiana Statehouse is the state capitol building of the U.S. state of Indiana. It houses the Indiana General Assembly, the office of the Governor of Indiana, the Indiana Supreme Court, and other state officials. The Statehouse is located i ...
, including members of the
Proud Boys The Proud Boys is an American far-right politics, far-right, Neo-fascism, neo-fascist militant organization that promotes and engages in political violence.Far-right: * * Fascist: * * * * * Men only: * * * Political violence and militancy: ...
, protested both the election results and mandatory
mask A mask is an object normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance, or entertainment, and often employed for rituals and rites. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes, ...
rules.


December 19

* In
Sacramento Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the seat of Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers in Northern California's Sacramento Valley, Sacramento's 2020 p ...
, police made several arrests near the
California State Capitol The California State Capitol is the seat of the California state government, located in Sacramento, the state capital of California. The building houses the chambers of the California State Legislature, made up of the Assembly and the Senat ...
as pro-Trump and anti-Trump protesters clashed over the election results. Far-right groups like the Proud Boys had been protesting the results near the Capitol every weekend since the election.


January 2021


January 4

*
Proud Boys The Proud Boys is an American far-right politics, far-right, Neo-fascism, neo-fascist militant organization that promotes and engages in political violence.Far-right: * * Fascist: * * * * * Men only: * * * Political violence and militancy: ...
leader
Enrique Tarrio Henry "Enrique" Tarrio (  ;  ; born ) is an American convicted seditionist and far-right activist. From 2018 to 2021, he was the chairman of the Proud Boys, a neo-fascist organization that promotes and engages in political violence ...
was arrested and charged with destroying a
Black Lives Matter Black Lives Matter (BLM) is a Decentralization, decentralized political and social movement that aims to highlight racism, discrimination and Racial inequality in the United States, racial inequality experienced by black people, and to pro ...
sign at Asbury United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C. during the pro-Trump rally on December 12.


January 5

* On January 5, 2021, Washington D.C. mayor
Muriel Bowser Muriel Elizabeth Bowser (born August 2, 1972) is an American politician who has served as the current mayor of the District of Columbia since 2015. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, she previously represented th ...
activated 340 of the
District of Columbia National Guard The District of Columbia National Guard is the branch of the United States National Guard, National Guard of the United States based in the District of Columbia. It comprises both the District of Columbia Army National Guard, D.C. Army National ...
due to an organized protest of pro-Trump supporters planning to rally that evening.


January 6 – Washington D.C.

On January 6, the protesters planned to march to the
United States Capitol The United States Capitol, often called the Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the Seat of government, seat of the United States Congress, the United States Congress, legislative branch of the Federal government of the United States, federal g ...
. President
Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...
supported the planned protest via tweets. Mayor Bowser asked residents not participating in the protests to "avoid confrontations with anybody who's looking for a fight". A crowd of several thousand first listened to a speech by Trump, in which he repeated his claims that the election had been stolen and said, "We will never give up. We will never concede.... Our country has had enough. We're not going to take it anymore." He urged them to march on the Capitol to "peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard" but also to "show strength". Many listeners then marched on the Capitol, where they breached the barricades, broke windows, and stormed inside the Capitol building. They marched through Statuary Hall. Rioters invaded the offices of
Speaker of the House The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England. Usage The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hung ...
Nancy Pelosi Nancy Patricia Pelosi ( ; ; born March 26, 1940) is an American politician who was the List of Speakers of the United States House of Representatives, 52nd speaker of the United States House of Representatives, serving from 2007 to 2011 an ...
, flipping tables and ripping photos from walls; there was
looting Looting is the act of stealing, or the taking of goods by force, typically in the midst of a military, political, or other social crisis, such as war, natural disasters (where law and civil enforcement are temporarily ineffective), or rioting. ...
in the Capitol. The Capitol was locked down, the Senate and House recessed from their discussions about the electoral count, and Vice President Pence was "whisked away" from the chamber. Members of Congress were told to put on
gas mask A gas mask is a piece of personal protective equipment used to protect the wearer from inhaling airborne pollutants and toxic gases. The mask forms a sealed cover over the nose and mouth, but may also cover the eyes and other vulnerable soft ...
s after law enforcement began using
tear gas Tear gas, also known as a lachrymatory agent or lachrymator (), sometimes colloquially known as "mace" after the Mace (spray), early commercial self-defense spray, is a chemical weapon that stimulates the nerves of the lacrimal gland in the ey ...
within the building.
ABC News ABC News most commonly refers to: * ABC News (Australia), a national news service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation * ABC News (United States), a news-gathering and broadcasting division of the American Broadcasting Company ABC News may a ...
reported shooting in the Capitol building and an armed standoff at the front door of the House chambers. ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' also said police drew their guns inside the House of Representatives chamber. Multiple officers were injured in the mob violence at the Capitol.Pamela Brown and Noah Gray
Multiple officers injured in the mob violence
CNN (January 6, 2021).
One 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sp ...
died the following day, and another committed suicide over the following weekend. A woman was shot inside the Capitol by a Capitol Police officer while climbing through a broken window into the Speaker's Lobby – she later died. At least one
improvised explosive device An improvised explosive device (IED) is a bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional warfare, conventional military action. It may be constructed of conventional military explosives, such as an artillery shell, attached t ...
was found on Capitol grounds, and another just blocks away at the headquarters of the Republican Party. In the aftermath of the storming of the US Capitol, more than 250 members of Congress called for Trump's immediate
impeachment Impeachment is a process by which a legislative body or other legally constituted tribunal initiates charges against a public official for misconduct. It may be understood as a unique process involving both political and legal elements. In Eur ...
and removal by Congress, or by invoking the
Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution The Twenty-fifth Amendment (Amendment XXV) to the United States Constitution addresses issues related to presidential succession and disability. It clarifies that the Vice President of the United States, vice president becomes President of th ...
. State-level officials who have described Trump's conduct as impeachable include Maryland Lieutenant Governor
Boyd Rutherford Boyd Kevin Rutherford (born April 1, 1957) is an American politician, businessman and attorney who served as the ninth lieutenant governor of Maryland from 2015 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, Rutherf ...
. Congresswoman
Cori Bush Cori Anika Bush (born July 21, 1976) is an American politician, nurse, pastor, and Black Lives Matter activist who served as the United States House of Representatives, U.S. representative for from 2021 to 2025. The district includes all of the ...
introduced a resolution to investigate and expel Republican House members who had supported challenging election results, asserting they had broken their
oath of office An oath of office is an oath or affirmation a person takes before assuming the duties of an office, usually a position in government or within a religious body, although such oaths are sometimes required of officers of other organizations. Suc ...
. , the resolution was still waiting to be voted on.


January 6 – state capitols and cities

A number of states experienced demonstrations and armed protests at state capitols or in the streets on January 6, numbering in dozens to hundreds of participants. Precautionary measures, such as closures of state capitols and evacuation of members and staff, were taken in several of the states in response to the events in Washington D.C. In some states the events were marked by incidents or particular security concerns. * In California, eleven people were arrested for illegal possession of pepper spray at a demonstration near the
state capitol A capitol, or seat of government, is the building or complex of buildings from which a government such as that of a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, or the organized territories of the United States, exercises its authority. Although m ...
in
Sacramento Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the seat of Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers in Northern California's Sacramento Valley, Sacramento's 2020 p ...
. There was at least one reported assault. Several roads were closed in downtown Sacramento and some bus lines were suspended, with more than two hundred police assigned to the demonstration. Some members of the crowd wore t-shirts supporting the far-right Proud Boys. There were also protests in the Los Angeles area, including at the
Los Angeles Police Department The City of Los Angeles Police Department, commonly referred to as Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), is the primary law enforcement agency of Los Angeles, California, United States. With 8,832 officers and 3,000 civilian staff, it is the th ...
headquarters downtown; as well as in
Beverly Hills Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. A notable and historic suburb of Los Angeles, it is located just southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Beverly Hil ...
and in
Newport Beach Newport Beach is a coastal city of about 85,000 in southern Orange County, California, United States. Located about southeast of downtown Los Angeles, Newport Beach is known for its sandy beaches. The city's harbor once supported maritime indu ...
. An incident was reported of a protester spraying a counter-protester with a chemical irritant. During the Los Angeles protests, a mob of thirty to forty Trump supporters physically assaulted a black woman who was walking down the street, shouting
racial slurs The following is a list of ethnic slurs, ethnophaulisms, or ethnic epithets that are, or have been, used as insinuations or allegations about members of a given ethnic, national, or racial group or to refer to them in a derogatory, pejorati ...
and chanting "
All Lives Matter All Lives Matter is a slogan that emerged as a negative response to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, initially popularized on social media following the police killings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner in 2014. The phrase has been widel ...
" while shoving, striking, spraying with pepper spray, and ripping off her
hair extension Artificial hair integrations, more commonly known as hair extensions, hair weaves, or fake hair, are cosmetic treatments which add length to human hair. Hair extensions are usually clipped, glued, or sewn on natural hair by incorporating addition ...
s. * In Georgia, about sixty pro-Trump activists gathered outside the
state capitol A capitol, or seat of government, is the building or complex of buildings from which a government such as that of a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, or the organized territories of the United States, exercises its authority. Although m ...
in Atlanta, including armed militia movement members. A courthouse complex and two other government buildings were closed as a precaution. Chester Doles, a former
Ku Klux Klan The Ku Klux Klan (), commonly shortened to KKK or Klan, is an American Protestant-led Christian terrorism, Christian extremist, white supremacist, Right-wing terrorism, far-right hate group. It was founded in 1865 during Reconstruction era, ...
member who leads the far-right group American Patriots USA, attempted to enter the state capitol to deliver a "redress of grievances" about the election to
Georgia Secretary of State The Secretary of state (U.S. state government), secretary of state of the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia is an elected official with a wide variety of responsibilities, including supervising elections and maintaining public records. ...
Brad Raffensperger Bradford Jay Raffensperger (born May 18, 1955) is an American businessman, civil engineer, and politician serving as the Georgia Secretary of State, secretary of state of Georgia since 2019. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Repub ...
; however, Raffensperger and his staff evacuated early as a precaution. * In Kansas, at the
state capitol A capitol, or seat of government, is the building or complex of buildings from which a government such as that of a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, or the organized territories of the United States, exercises its authority. Although m ...
in Topeka, thousands of pro-Trump protesters held a rally on the Capitol lawn. The protesters erected a
gallows A gallows (or less precisely scaffold) is a frame or elevated beam, typically wooden, from which objects can be suspended or "weighed". Gallows were thus widely used to suspend public weighing scales for large and heavy objects such as sa ...
with a
noose A noose is a loop at the end of a rope in which the knot tightens under load and can be loosened without untying the knot. The knot can be used to secure a rope to a post, pole, or animal but only where the end is in a position that the loop can ...
in front of the state capitol, with the words "death to tyrants" etched into the wood of the gallows. Nearly one hundred of the protesters made their way into the state capitol and chanted "Trump 2020" and "USA" before being asked to leave by state police. No reported arrests were made. * In Oklahoma, at the
state capitol A capitol, or seat of government, is the building or complex of buildings from which a government such as that of a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, or the organized territories of the United States, exercises its authority. Although m ...
in Oklahoma City, one arrest was made on charges of attempted arson as well as assault and battery for attempting to light other people's flags on fire. The protest numbered in the hundreds and was otherwise peaceful. * In Oregon, arrests were made after hundreds gathered outside the
Oregon State Capitol The Oregon State Capitol is the building housing the Oregon Legislative Assembly, state legislature and the offices of the Governor of Oregon, governor, Oregon Secretary of State, secretary of state, and Oregon State Treasurer, treasurer of t ...
in Salem. * In Washington, pro-Trump activists, some of whom were armed, broke through the gates at the Washington Governor's Mansion at the State Capitol Campus in Olympia, and occupied the front lawn, prompting a standoff with the
State Patrol A highway patrol is a police unit, detail, or law enforcement agency created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways within a jurisdiction. They are also referred to in many countrie ...
. Pro-Trump events were held without incident in Indiana, Minnesota, Nevada, Nebraska, Ohio, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.


January 9

* In Frankfort, about one hundred heavily armed protesters assembled for a "patriot rally" outside the
Kentucky State Capitol The Kentucky State Capitol is located in Frankfort, Kentucky, Frankfort and is the house of the three branches (executive, legislative, judicial) of the Politics of the United States, state government of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwe ...
while the
General Assembly A general assembly or general meeting is a meeting of all the members of an organization or shareholders of a company. Specific examples of general assembly include: Churches * General Assembly (presbyterian church), the highest court of presby ...
was in session. "Three days after domestic terrorists attacked our U.S. Capitol, there was a militia rally in Frankfort. They brought
zip ties A cable tie (also known as a hose tie, panduit, tie wrap, wire tie, zap-straps, or zip tie) is a type of fastener for holding items together, primarily electrical cables and wires. Because of their low cost, ease of use, and binding strength, ca ...
. We will not be intimidated,"
Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...
Andy Beshear Andrew Graham Beshear ( ; born November 29, 1977) is an American attorney and politician serving as the 63rd governor of Kentucky since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served as the 50th attorney gen ...
tweeted in response.


January 17

The
FBI The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and Federal law enforcement in the United States, its principal federal law enforcement ag ...
reported that protests were being planned for all U.S. state capitols (and Washington) likely January 16–20, the 17th being symbolic to
QAnon QAnon ( ) is a far-right conspiracy theories in United States politics, American political conspiracy theory and political movement that originated in 2017. QAnon centers on fabricated claims made by an anonymous individual or individuals kno ...
and the 20th Inauguration Day. Substantial security preparations were undertaken to protect the United States Capitol, state capitols, and other locations from potential threats, and the protests occurred only in about a dozen states, featuring a small number of participants. * In
Lansing Lansing () is the capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan. The most populous city in Ingham County, parts of the city extend into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. It is the sixth-most populous city in Michigan with a popul ...
, protests at the Michigan Capitol drew about 150 demonstrators and heavy
Michigan National Guard The Michigan National Guard consists of the Michigan Army National Guard and the Michigan Air National Guard. The State adjutant general is Major general Paul D. Rogers. Units Michigan Army National Guard units include: * Recruiting Office ...
presence. Some protesters with AR-15 rifles joined other demonstrators at the Capitol. Authorities said there had been no arrests or incidents of violence. In addition to National Guard, military vehicles were present near the Capitol building and a helicopter flew above the location for most of the day. * In
Austin Austin refers to: Common meanings * Austin, Texas, United States, a city * Austin (given name), a list of people and fictional characters * Austin (surname), a list of people and fictional characters * Austin Motor Company, a British car manufac ...
, a crowd of about a hundred, many armed and focused on gun rights, gathered outside the
Texas Capitol The Texas State Capitol is the capitol and seat of government of the U.S. state of Texas. Located in downtown Austin, Texas, the structure houses the offices and chambers of the Texas Legislature and of the Governor of Texas. Designed in 1881 b ...
. The
Texas Department of Public Safety Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous state in the South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the west, and has an international border wi ...
closed the Capitol to the public on January 15 after obtaining information that " violent extremists" were seeking to arrive at further protests over the weekend. * Smaller armed protests and demonstrations also took place at the state capitols of Kentucky, Maine, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia.


February 2021

* On February 15, a rally was held by Trump supporters in
West Palm Beach, Florida West Palm Beach is a city in and the county seat of Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is located immediately to the west of the adjacent Palm Beach, Florida, Palm Beach, which is situated on a barrier island across the Lake Worth Lag ...
for
Presidents' Day Presidents' Day, officially Washington's Birthday at the federal governmental level, is a holiday in the United States celebrated on the third Monday of February. It is often celebrated to honor all those who served as presidents of the United S ...
.


March 2021

* On March 5, in
Lafayette, California Lafayette (formerly La Fayette) is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. As of 2020, the city's population was 25,391. It was named after the Marquis de Lafayette, a French military officer of the American Revolutionary ...
, pro-Trump demonstrations continued on the El Curtola overpass, prompting the city to request additional support from
California Highway Patrol The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is the principal state police agency for the U.S. state of California. The CHP has primary jurisdiction, including patrol and Criminal investigation, investigations, over all California Controlled-access highw ...
and
California Department of Transportation The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is an Executive (government), executive department of the U.S. state of California. The department is part of the Government of California#State agencies, cabinet-level California State Tran ...
. * On March 6, armed Trump supporters in New York City clashed with anti-Trump protesters near
Trump Tower Trump Tower is a 58-story, mixed-use condominium skyscraper at 721–725 Fifth Avenue in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City, between East 56th and 57th Streets. The building contains the headquarters for the Trump Organiza ...
. During the event, a police officer was attacked with bleach. At least four people were arrested afterwards. * On March 20, over 100 Trump supporters in
Raleigh, North Carolina Raleigh ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, second-most populous city in the state (after Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlotte) ...
gathered to protest North Carolina's COVID-19 restrictions.


April 2021

* On April 11, a
White Lives Matter White Lives Matter (WLM) is a white supremacist slogan that emerged in 2015 as a reaction to the Black Lives Matter social justice movement that started a few years prior. The phrase has been used by neo-Nazis, Neo-Confederates, and other white ...
protest was held in
Huntington Beach, California Huntington Beach is a seaside city in Orange County, California, United States. The city was originally called Pacific City, but it was changed in 1903 to be named after American businessman Henry E. Huntington. The population was 198,711 as of ...
, with several Trump supporters turning violent when they clashed with counterprotesters.


Anti-Trump protests


November 2020


November 4

* Demonstrations were held in several cities, including Dallas,
Kansas City The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With and a population of more t ...
, and Pittsburgh, to demand the counting of every vote. * In Chicago, hundreds of anti-Trump protesters gathered to express their anger toward Trump's demand for vote counting to stop. City officials raised the
Wabash Avenue Bridge The Wabash Avenue Bridge (officially, Irv Kupcinet Bridge) over the Chicago River was built in 1930. Standing west of the Michigan Avenue Bridge and east of Marina City, the bascule bridge connects the River North, Chicago, Near North Side wit ...
in a preemptive move to ward off unrest near
Trump Tower Trump Tower is a 58-story, mixed-use condominium skyscraper at 721–725 Fifth Avenue in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City, between East 56th and 57th Streets. The building contains the headquarters for the Trump Organiza ...
. * In Houston, several different protests took place downtown. One group marched with anti-Trump posters from
Houston City Hall The Houston City Hall building is the headquarters of the City of Houston's municipal government. Constructed during 1938 and 1939, the City Hall complex is located on Bagby Street on the western side of Downtown Houston. It is surrounded by t ...
to a federal building. Fox 26 news reported that "members of the group carried guns and used a baseball bat to hit a President Donald Trump piñata." * In
Minneapolis Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the state's List of cities in Minnesota, most populous city. Locat ...
, two groups of protesters were expected to march two miles, one beginning on Cedar Avenue in Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, and another from Hennepin County Government Center downtown. Hundreds of protesters began to walk out onto eastbound Interstate 94, leading to traffic being backed up for miles. Police arrested and then released 646 protesters who were blocking
Interstate 94 Interstate 94 (I-94) is an east–west Interstate Highway connecting the Great Lakes and northern Great Plains regions of the United States. Its western terminus is just east of Billings, Montana, at a junction with I-90; its eastern ter ...
. * In
Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...
, protesters and police clashed near Union Square, resulting in 25 arrests and more than 30 summonses. Police reported finding weapons on some people at the march including knives, a
Taser Taser (stylized in all caps) is a line of handheld conducted energy devices (CED) sold by Axon Enterprise (formerly Taser International). The device fires two small barbed darts intended to puncture the skin and remain attached to the targe ...
and M-80 explosives. * In
Portland, Oregon Portland ( ) is the List of cities in Oregon, most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated close to northwest Oregon at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, ...
, anti-Trump protesters demanded that every vote in the election be counted. This led to the declaration of a riot after police saw people smashing business windows. Oregon Governor Kate Brown activated the state's National Guard to help police manage the unrest. * In
Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...
, hundreds took to the streets to demand a full count of all votes and a halt to Trump's challenges to stop counts in some key battleground states. Seven people were arrested on
Capitol Hill Capitol Hill is a neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., neighborhood in Washington, D.C., located in both the Northeast, Washington, D.C., Northeast and Southeast, Washington, D.C., Southeast quadrants. It is bounded by 14th Street SE & NE, F S ...
on suspicions of obstruction, pedestrian interference, property damage, resisting arrest, and assaulting officers.


November 5

* In Philadelphia, groups of both anti-Trump and pro-Trump protesters gathered and then clashed outside
Philadelphia Convention Center The Philadelphia Convention Hall and Civic Center, commonly known simply as the Philadelphia Civic Center, was a convention center complex located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It developed out of a series of buildings dedicated to expanding ...
.


November 8

* In
St. Louis St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...
, demonstrators from liberal groups gathered downtown to celebrate Trump's defeat and promote progressive policy reforms.


Anti-Trump and anti-Biden protests


November 2020

* In
Portland Portland most commonly refers to: *Portland, Oregon, the most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon *Portland, Maine, the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine *Isle of Portland, a tied island in the English Channel Portland may also r ...
, hundreds of
anarchists Anarchism is a political philosophy and movement that seeks to abolish all institutions that perpetuate authority, coercion, or hierarchy, primarily targeting the state and capitalism. Anarchism advocates for the replacement of the state w ...
and
anti-fascists Anti-fascism is a political movement in opposition to fascist ideologies, groups and individuals. Beginning in European countries in the 1920s, it was at its most significant shortly before and during World War II, where the Axis powers were op ...
protested against both presidential candidates. Protesters carried signs stating "strong communities make politicians obsolete" and "we don't want Biden we want revenge"; they also chanted "fuck Biden". A small section of protesters began
rioting A riot or mob violence is a form of civil disorder commonly characterized by a group lashing out in a violent public disturbance against authority, property, or people. Riots typically involve destruction of property, public or private. The p ...
near an
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE; ) is a Federal law enforcement in the United States, federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security. ICE's stated mission is to protect the Un ...
detention facility, and the
Oregon Army National Guard The Oregon Army National Guard is a federally mandated and equipped military organization under the civilian direction of the Oregon Military Department, with the Governor of Oregon as its Commander-in-Chief. It responds to state and national eme ...
was sent into Portland. 17 protesters were arrested. Anarchists generally embrace the notion of the "ungovernable generation", the idea that the political system is inherently broken; they reject party politics as well as the electoral system, arguing instead that change should be done through
grassroots A grassroots movement is one that uses the people in a given district, region or community as the basis for a political or continent movement. Grassroots movements and organizations use collective action from volunteers at the local level to imp ...
organizing,
solidarity Solidarity or solidarism is an awareness of shared interests, objectives, standards, and sympathies creating a psychological sense of unity of groups or classes. True solidarity means moving beyond individual identities and single issue politics ...
, and
mutual aid Mutual aid is an organizational model where voluntary, collaborative exchanges of resources and services for common benefit take place amongst community members to overcome social, economic, and political barriers to meeting common needs. This ...
.(1)
(2) .
(3)


January 2021


January 20

* In downtown
Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...
, riots broke out following the
inauguration of Joe Biden The inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States took place on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, on the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. It was the 59th inauguration and marked the commencement o ...
. During the unrest, vehicles and buildings were damaged, including the William Kenzo Nakamura Courthouse. Two people were arrested, one for assault, and the other for property damage. * In
Portland Portland most commonly refers to: *Portland, Oregon, the most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon *Portland, Maine, the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine *Isle of Portland, a tied island in the English Channel Portland may also r ...
, similar demonstrations, nicknamed "J20", broke out between
anti-fascist Anti-fascism is a political movement in opposition to fascist ideologies, groups and individuals. Beginning in European countries in the 1920s, it was at its most significant shortly before and during World War II, where the Axis powers were op ...
protesters and local authorities. According to the
Portland Police Bureau The Portland Police Bureau (PPB), officially the Portland Bureau of Police, is the law enforcement agency of the city of Portland, Oregon, Portland, the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of September 2024, the Bureau has around 800 ...
, up to 150 demonstrators gathered at
Revolution Hall Revolution Hall is a music venue in the Buckman neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. It is located within the former Washington High School, and was originally constructed as the school's auditorium. The auditorium was in use from the school's op ...
and marched to the headquarters of the
Democratic Party of Oregon The Democratic Party of Oregon is the Oregon affiliate of the Democratic Party. The State Central Committee, made up of two delegates elected from each of Oregon's 36 counties and one additional delegate for every 15,000 registered Democrats, is ...
, and clashes with police followed. Rioters publicly denounced Biden while advocating for a variety of social justice causes. Eight adults were arrested. A second peaceful protest was held at Irving Park in northeast Portland, where about 150 people gathered in protest of Biden's presidency and policies.


See also

*
American decline American decline is the idea that the United States is diminishing in power on a relative basis geopolitically, militarily, financially, economically, and technologically. It can also refer to absolute declines demographically, socially, m ...
*
Big lie A big lie () is a gross distortion or misrepresentation of the truth primarily used as a political propaganda technique. The German expression was first used by Adolf Hitler in his book ''Mein Kampf'' (1925) to describe how people could be in ...
*
COVID-19 anti-lockdown protests in the United States Beginning in early April 2020, there were protests in several U.S. states against government-imposed lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The protests, mostly organized by conservative groups and individuals, d ...
*
Democratic backsliding Democratic backsliding or autocratization is a process of regime change toward autocracy in which the exercise of political power becomes more arbitrary and repressive. The process typically restricts the space for public contest and politi ...
* Demonstrations in support of Donald Trump * List of incidents of political violence in Washington, D.C. *
List of post–2016 election Donald Trump rallies A list is a set of discrete items of information collected and set forth in some format for utility, entertainment, or other purposes. A list may be memorialized in any number of ways, including existing only in the mind of the list-maker, but ...
*
Protests against Donald Trump Protests against Donald Trump have occurred in the United States and internationally since Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign, his entry into the 2016 presidential campaign. Protests have expressed opposition to Trump's campaign rhetoric, ...
*
Republican efforts to restrict voting following the 2020 presidential election Following the 2020 United States presidential election and the unsuccessful attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election, attempts by Donald Trump and various other Republican officials to overturn it, Republican Party (US), ...
*
Second impeachment of Donald Trump Donald Trump, serving as the 45th president of the United States, was impeached for the second time on January 13, 2021, one week before his term expired. On that date, the House of Representatives adopted one article of impeachment again ...
(
trial In law, a trial is a coming together of parties to a dispute, to present information (in the form of evidence) in a tribunal, a formal setting with the authority to adjudicate claims or disputes. One form of tribunal is a court. The tribunal, w ...
) *
Stop the steal After Democratic nominee Joe Biden won the 2020 United States presidential election, Republican nominee and then-incumbent president Donald Trump pursued an unprecedented effort to overturn the election, with support from his campaign, ...


References


Further reading

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:United States election protests, 2020-2021 2020 protests 2020 United States presidential election 2021 protests Controversies of the 2020 United States presidential election Political riots in the United States Presidency of Joe Biden Protests against results of United States elections Protests in the United States First Trump administration controversies