Name: Bay Area demands 'count every vote' after Trump falsely declares victory
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Bay Area demands 'count every vote' after Trump falsely declares victory

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GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | | Bay Area News GroupWith the election still too close to call, and President Donald Trump claiming that yet-to-be counted ballots are fraudulent, people rallied around the Bay Area on Wednesday with one message: Count all the votes.In Oakland, hundreds of people gathered in Frank Ogawa Plaza outside City Hall to demand states finish counting every mail-in and absentee ballot before a presidential victor is declared. More rallies were planned for later in the day and this weekend in San Jose and San Francisco. They were among protests across the country, including in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.Show Caption ofif you’re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device.The demonstrations follow Trump’s , and his unproven allegation that voter fraud is behind rival Joe Biden gaining ground in some states. Trump appeared to demand states stop counting absentee and mail-in ballots — though it’s standard practice to continue counting those votes after polls close on Election Day — and threatened to fight an unfavorable result in the Supreme Court. His campaign already has filed lawsuits in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Georgia, and is seeking a recount in Wisconsin.The Associated Press called California for Biden as soon as polls closed in the state, after voters again overwhelmingly chose the Democratic nominee in early voting.“Ultimately, we’re here to show that it is the people who choose the leadership. It is the people who choose the presidency,” said Zach Norris, executive director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, which helped organize Wednesday’s Oakland event. “The way we protect democracy is by not allowing someone to declare themselves the winner.”The rally followed a where law enforcement officers and businesses had been bracing for mass political protests and civil unrest that largely never happened. But in Oakland, police reported a “” hit dozens of marijuana businesses in the city, looted a wig store and a coffee shop and shot two security guards. Police shot one of the suspects, and two officers were injured in the clash.By contrast, Oakland’s Wednesday afternoon rally drew people from all walks of life for a peaceful, upbeat gathering. Activists, elected officials, poets and religious leaders took turns at a microphone to speak to the crowd. People waved signs reading “It ain’t over. Count every vote” and “We have patience for days.” Parents brought their children — there was even a designated kids’ area. A group of Buddhists sat on the grass and meditated. People handed out free sandwiches and vouchers for a meal in nearby Chinatown, as music blasted from several competing loudspeakers.Karen Cagan, a 71-year-old Berkeley resident, was there with fellow members of 1000 Grandmothers for Future Generations — a grassroots group dedicated to fighting climate change.“It’s great to see people out here,” she said.Cagan brought her 11-year-old yellow lab, Sophie.“She comes to every demonstration, every rally,” Cagan said. “Whatever I think is important, she thinks is important.”Jeff Grubler, a 52-year-old social worker and part-time street performer from San Francisco, took the day off work to attend the rally. He was dressed up as the Count from Sesame Street, and holding a “Count every vote” sign. He was joined by 48-year-old Nina Cestaro, in a Cookie Monster costume, who held a “Cookie not coup” sign.“It’s ridiculous that our current president is not supporting the democratic process,” Grubler said, adding that everyone, no matter who they voted for, should be out protesting.Charlotte Chang, of El Cerrito, joined the rally with her 4-year-old son, Ollie. Stopping the vote count early would be a huge blow to the country’s democracy, she said. She’s talked about the importance of that issue with Ollie, but so far, it’s hard to tell how much he understands.“I think it’s really important for him to see people out taking action,” Chang said.The Oakland event was part of a national movement by — which describes itself as “a nationwide group of voters ready to mobilize if Trump undermines the results of the 2020 presidential election.” The group, in partnership with organizations including the Black Lives Matter political action committee, Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, the Women’s March and Planned Parenthood, posted information about dozens of rallies around the country on its website.In San Jose, a coalition of community and faith leaders led a payer vigil and rally outside City Hall as night fell. The aim of the event, they said, was to encourage unity in a time of strife, as well as to send the message that every vote needs to be counted.“We knew that no matter what happened, no matter who won, that there was going to be unrest,” said the Rev. Nancy Palmer Jones of the First Unitarian Church of San Jose. “We wanted to get out ahead of that. We wanted to prepare for a non-violent peaceful response. We wanted to start with that tone of a prayer vigil that spoke to people across our different faiths — a vigil that said we could be together no matter who we are.”Celeste Walker, a member of the progressive group Orchard City Indivisible, and her 14-year-old son, Lorenzo, were among roughly 100 people who attended the event.“We’re here because we believe that it’s important that every single vote be counted,” said Walker, 38, of Campbell. “It’s un-American to think that we wouldn’t count every single vote.”“I’m not old enough to vote,” Lorenzo added. “To be out here encouraging other people is important to me.”With no clear indication of when states will finish counting their votes, or when a presidential victor will be declared, Bay Area activists are prepared to keep protesting. Another rally was planned for noon Saturday at Harry Bridges Plaza outside the Ferry Building in San Francisco.Jovanka Beckles, a former Richmond City Council member who won a seat on the AC Transit board Tuesday,&nbsp;encouraged&nbsp;the crowd,&nbsp;saying “we’re the only ones who can truly make sure every vote counts.”Staff writers Julia Prodis Sulek and Jason Green contributed to this report.Get Morning Report and other email newslettersClose

GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | | Bay Area News GroupWith the election still too close to call, and President Donald Trump claiming that yet-to-be counted ballots are fraudulent, people rallied around the Bay Area on Wednesday with one message: Count all the votes.In Oakland, hundreds of people gathered in Frank Ogawa Plaza outside City Hall to demand states finish counting every mail-in and absentee ballot before a presidential victor is declared. More rallies were planned for later in the day and this weekend in San Jose and San Francisco. They...

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Homelessness reporter for @mercnews / @EastBayTimes

Marisa Kendall

Latest Silicon Valley and San Francisco Bay Area news from reporters & columnists at The Mercury News.

Bay Area demands 'count every vote' after Trump falsely declares victory

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