WASHINGTON (AFP, WASHINGTON POST) - Protesters burned a giant orange-haired head of Donald Trump in effigy, lit fires in the streets and blocked traffic as rage over the billionaire's election victory spilled onto the streets of major US cities.
From New York to Los Angeles, thousands of people in around 10 cities rallied late Wednesday (Nov 10) against the president-elect a day after his stunning win, some carrying signs declaiming "Not our President" and "Love trumps hate."
Most of the major demonstrations were peaceful and took place in urban centres in blue states Clinton won Tuesday - highlighting the demographic divide that shaped the election results.
In Washington, several hundred gathered in front of the White House for a candlelight vigil to decry what they called Trump's racism, sexism and xenophobia, carrying signs reading "We have a voice!" and "Education for all!"
Protesters also gathered outside the Trump International Hotel in the nation's capital and shouted "Impeach Donald Trump."
"People are justly frightened," said one of its organisers, Ben Wikler, director of the liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org.
"We are here because in these darkest moments, we are not alone," he told the crowd, before leading chants of "We are not alone!"
Protests were also held in Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Portland and other cities.
In Oakland, California, some 7,000 people by police estimates lit fires in the street and stood around them chanting. Some threw bottles and firecrackers at police, and several officers were injured, police spokeswoman Johnna Watson told CNN.
She said two police cars also were burned.
Ethan Miller of the workers' rights group Jobs with Justice said the Washington vigil was meant to show that civil society was resilient.
"It's a hard time for a lot of Americans," he told AFP. "We saw a campaign that was filled with racism and misogyny and a whole host of other terrible tactics that ultimately were successful for winning the electoral college." "But we're not going to let a Donald Trump presidency stop the progress in this country." .
In New York, demonstrators holding signs saying "Love Trumps Hate" marched uptown from Union Square to chant in front of Trump Tower.
"The electoral college is broken," protester Nicholas Forker said of the US indirect voting system. "I think it definitely needs to be reformed."
In Chicago, several thousand people gathered around another Trump Tower, blocking downtown traffic. A counter-protest gathered on the other side of the building.
Across the country, high school and college students also staged campus demonstrations and walkouts from classes.
In Oregon, demonstrators blocked traffic in downtown Portland, forcing a delay on two light-rail lines.
The crowd there grew to about 300 people, local reports said, including some who sat in the middle of a road to block traffic. Others burned US flags.
In Pennsylvania, hundreds of University of Pittsburgh students marched through the streets.
The rallies followed protests overnight on Tuesday as voting results were being tallied, when at least one person was seriously injured in Oakland, California, where demonstrators broke store windows and set garbage alight.
