Reporting from New York — Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election sparked protests across the nation Wednesday, with crowds marching through city streets, rallying at college campuses and staging walkouts at schools in an open disavowal of the president-elect.
Students at several Bay Area high schools got up from their seats in the middle of class and filed out. A throng of more than 1,000 young protesters gathered on the steps of Los Angeles’ City Hall, burning a giant Trump head in effigy and blocking traffic along Spring and 1st streets.
“I expected better of my electorate,” Vishal Singh, 23, said in downtown L.A. late Wednesday. He said he was reeling in shock over the support for a man he saw as opposed to immigrants and LGBT rights. “I thought this country was different.”
Thousands of protesters blocked traffic in downtown Portland, Ore., Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia, with some torching flags. Demonstrators in Oakland smashed windows at five businesses and ignited trash containers and tires, police said.
In New York City, thousands clustered in front of Trump’s flagship building, the Trump Tower, and repeated a common refrain: “Not My President.”
The demonstrators were mostly young, and some said they came out spontaneously, hoping to vent their shock and disappointment at Trump’s upset victory over Hillary Clinton.
“I’ve been sad and angry all day,” said Claire Mordowanec, 22, of Brooklyn. “If I didn’t come out, how would I explain to my kids one day that I didn’t stand up for what’s right?”
The unrest began early Wednesday, soon after Trump delivered his victory speech. Shortly after midnight on UCLA’s Westwood campus, an estimated 2,000 people rallied, according to UCLA police Sgt. Miguel Banuelos.
N.J. Omorogieva, 19, said she was heartbroken by the election’s result when she spotted the growing crowd.
“Of course, I joined in,” she said. “To give hugs to people who were overcome by devastation.”
At Berkeley High School, about 1,500 students — half the entire student body — walked out of class after first period began at 8 a.m., Berkeley Unified School District officials said.
Students tweeted “#NotMyPresident” and pledged to unify. Others chanted “Si, se puede,” Spanish for “Yes, we can,” and waved Mexican flags, according to posts on social media.
“It’s not the first time we’ve had a walkout,” said Berkeley Unified spokesman Charles Burress. “We know what to expect, we know what we need to do.”
School officials accompanied students as they marched, and there were no plans to discipline the students, Burress said.
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Police arrest an anti-Trump protester in the early morning hours Saturday. The LAPD arrested about 150 people at Grand Park after a night of marching through downtown L.A.
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Police arrest about 150 anti-Trump protesters at Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles in Saturday’s early morning hours.
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An anti-Trump protester scales a fence at Grand Park in Los Angeles to avoid being arrested by police in the early morning hours Saturday.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIF. -- THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016: Anti-Trump protesters on the 101 freeway, in Los Angeles, Calif., on Nov. 10, 2016.
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Police prevent anti-Trump protesters from accessing the Harbor Freeway in downtown Los Angeles on Friday night.
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On Friday night an estimated 3,000 people marched throughout downtown Los Angeles protesting the election of Donald Trump.
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An estimated 3,000 people filled the streets of downtown Los Angeles on Friday night to protest the election of Donald Trump.
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LAPD officers circle a protester while he was being arrested during an anti-Trump protest Friday night.
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Anti-Trump protesters fill the streets of downtown Los Angeles Friday evening.
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A large group of anti-Trump protesters walks over the 4th St. ramp, off the I-110 south freeway on Friday night.
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A protester stands in the middle of Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles during an anti-trump march Friday night.
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Anti-Trump protesters on 4th steert marching into downtown Los Angeles on Friday night.
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Garrett Gage, 28, of Woodland Hills holds an American flag as he protests in downtown Los Angeles on Friday night.
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A passenger takes a video of anti-Trump protesters on downtown L.A. streets on Friday night.
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Hundreds of anti-Trump protesters stream down Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles on Friday night.
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Protesters gather on the steps of L.A. City Hall before beginning their march through the streets of downtown on Friday night.
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A protester waves the peace sign to LAPD officers blocking the intersection of Olive Street and Olympic Boulevard during an anti-Trump march through downtown Los Angeles.
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A police officer takes aim at demonstrators after cans and bottles were thrown at LAPD officers during an anti-Trump march through downtown Los Angeles
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Protesters chant and wave signs as LAPD officers halt their march through downtown Los Angeles. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Protesters raise their hands as LAPD officers halt their march through downtown Los Angeles.
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Police officers stand guard at LA Live as anti-Trump demonstrators hit the streets.
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A anti-Trump demonstrator waves a large Mexican flag as protesters on the march snarl traffic in downtown Los Angeles. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Motorists wait it out as anti-Trump protesters on the march snarl traffic in downtown Los Angeles.
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A small group of demonstrators blocks traffic at the intersection of Figueroa Street and Chick Hearn Way.
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Demonstrators gathers march near LA Live to protest President-elect Donald Trump on Thursdaynight.
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A small group of demonstrators march down Second Street in L.A. to protest President-elect Donald Trump.
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Demonstrators march down Spring Street in L.A. to protest President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday night.
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Some motorist join in to cheer on the anti-Trump protesters march up San Pedro street in Los Angeles on Nov. 9. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Anti-Trump protesters march down Spring Street in Los Angeles on Nov. 9. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Anti-Trump protesters gather outside Los Angeles City Hall chanting, “Love Trumps Hate” on Nov. 9. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Anti-Trump protesters flood the 101 Freeway. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Anti-Trump protesters gather outside of Los Angeles City Hall on Nov. 9. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Anti-Trump protesters gather outside of Los Angeles City Hall chanting, “Not my president, not my president,” in Los Angeles on Nov. 9. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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There was graffiti tagging along the sidelines of the anti-Trump protest downtown in Los Angeles on Nov. 9. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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An anti-Trump protester stands in defiance blind folded and holding an American flag in front of police officers, as protesters block up the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles on Nov. 9. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Police shout at anti-Trump protesters on the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles on Nov. 10. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A protesters with a Guy Fawkes mask stands aside watching other anti-Trump protesters on the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles on Nov. 10. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Anti-Trump protesters march on the 101 Freeway near downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 9.
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Protesters flood onto the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday night. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Protesters climb out of the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday night. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Protesters flood onto the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday night.
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A police officer watches protesters behind a concrete barrier along the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday night.
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Police officers form a line to prevent protesters from walking onto the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday night.
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Police block traffic on the 101 Freeway near downtown L.A. as protesters rally against Donald Trump’s election as president.
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Anti-Trump protesters on the 101 freeway, in Los Angeles, California.
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Anti-Trump protesters march on the 101 Freeway near downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 9.
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A driver is stuck in his car while Trump protesters block traffic in downtown Los Angeles.
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Protesters stop traffic in downtown Los Angeles.
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Anti-Trump protesters clear the road for an emergency vehicle in downtown Los Angeles.
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Protesters walk the streets of downtown Los Angeles, rallying against the election of Donald Trump.
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Protesters burn an effigy of Donald Trump outside Los Angeles City Hall.
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Protesters burn an effigy of Donald Trump outside Los Angeles City Hall on Wednesday.
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Hundreds of anti-Donald Trump protesters hold a demonstration in Washington Square Park as New Yorkers react to the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States.
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Hundreds of anti-Donald Trump protesters hold a demonstration in Washington Square Park as New Yorkers react to the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States.
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Demonstrators block traffic on the 580 Freeway during a march through the streets in protest against President-elect Donald Trump in Oakland, California.
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A demonstrator faces off with police during a march through the streets in protest against President-elect Donald Trump in Oakland, California.
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A protester in San Francisco holds up a sign for President Obama in opposition of Donald Trump’s presidential election victory.
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Thousands of anti-Trump protesters shut down Fifth Avenue in front of Trump Tower.
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Protesters yell in San Francisco.
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Students stage an anti-Trump rally on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall.
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Tears are shed at the postelection candlelight vigil outside the White House.
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Fletcher Jones, 14, joined other students at an anti-Trump rally at L.A. City Hall.
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An anti-Trump rally in Seattle.
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Emotions run high at the postelection protest at L.A. City Hall.
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Approximately 200 students protested President Elect Donald Trump on the steps of city hall
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Anti-Trump protesters in New York City.
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Anti-Trump protesters march through downtown L.A. early Wednesday, shortly after the election result was announced.
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A postelection vigil outside the White House.
(Michael Reynolds / EPA) In downtown L.A. early Wednesday, a crowd gathered near City Hall and property was defaced, including a fence scrawled with graffiti insulting the incoming commander in chief.
The mood was more buoyant at the president-elect’s star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, where a small crowd of about 30 Trump supporters gathered early Wednesday to celebrate.
Diane Mendez, 23, a Trump supporter who volunteered at a polling place, said she came to observe what she saw as a turning point.
“He said he would bring jobs back to America. We all need jobs,” Mendez said. “Who doesn’t need jobs?”
[email protected] | @MattHjourno
[email protected] | @JamesQueallyLAT
[email protected]
Demick reported from New York, Hamilton and Queally from Los Angeles. Times staff writers Joseph Serna and Alene Tchekmedyian contributed to this report.
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UPDATES:
9 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details on protests taking place across the U.S.
2:40 p.m.: This article was updated with reports of a protest at Los Angeles City Hall.
1:30 p.m.: This article was updated with reports of additional student walkouts in Northern California.
1 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from the Berkeley Unified School District.
10:10 a.m.: This article was updated with details of a student walkout in Berkeley and protests in other states.
7 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details on damage reported in Oakland.
3:20 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the demonstration at UCLA.
3 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details about protests in Oakland.
2:30 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details about demonstrations at UCLA and in Oakland.
2:10 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details about demonstrations in the Bay Area and downtown Los Angeles.
1:25 a.m.: This article was updated with a dispatch from a demonstration at Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
This article was originally published at 12:45 a.m.
