A group of people gathered in West Hollywood to celebrate the news that Joe Biden had defeated Donald Trump and was projected to be the next president of the United States on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
A massive planned protest against President Donald Trump in downtown Los Angeles turned into a victory celebration Saturday, hours after former Vice President Joe Biden and California Senator Kamala Harris were declared the winners of the presidential election.
The results are still not official, but multiple media outlets reported that Biden would win Pennsylvania's 20 electoral votes, putting the Democratic ticket over the 2-hundred-70 needed to win the presidency.
A crowd of people gathered in Venice to celebrate the projection of Joe Biden as the next president of the Unites States on Nov. 7, 2020.
The coalition of labor unions and advocacy groups that had planned a protest march against what they called Trump's premature victory declaration said the announcement of a Biden victory only strengthened their resolve to press Trump to accept the results of the voting and concede defeat.
Several marches and rallies were planned to culminate at Pershing Square shortly before noon in a "mass march" to Los Angeles City Hall. By noon, thousands of people had gathered downtown. Officer Norma Eisenman of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section had no estimate of the crowd, and said there had been no reports of any violence as of 12:25 p.m.
Organizers said participants were required to remain nonviolent and all attendees must wear a mask and follow local COVID-19 public health orders and social distancing guidelines.
LA County health officials urged demonstrators to be as careful as possible, with coronavirus cases still spiking across the county.
"As a reminder, public celebrations where people are close to each other, unable to stand 6ft apart, cheering & shouting, especially without face coverings is high risk for transmission of COVID-19," the department tweeted Saturday.
Meanwhile, supporters of the president were expected to hold their own rally later in Beverly Hills, as they have for the past several weekends.
Biden issued a statement Saturday morning declaring victory.
"I am honored and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me and in Vice President-elect Harris. In the face of unprecedented obstacles, a record number of Americans voted. Proving once again, that democracy beats deep in the heart of America,'' he said.
Watch video of people reacting to news of Joe Biden's projected victory in the 2020 presidential election.
"With the campaign over, it's time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation. It's time for America to unite. And to heal. We are the United States of America. And there's nothing we can't do, if we do it together."
Biden also scheduled an address to the nation for 5 p.m. PST from Wilmington, Delaware, where he was expected to be joined by Harris.
Harris also acknowledged the moment, tweeting: "This election is about so much more than @JoeBiden or me. It's about the soul of America and our willingness to fight for it. We have a lot of work ahead of us. Let's get started."
She tweeted a video moments later showing her on phone call with Biden, saying through laughter, "We did it, we did it, Joe. You're going to be the next president of the United States."
An hour before Biden was declared the winner, Trump issued an all-caps tweet that said, "I WON THIS ELECTION, BY A LOT!"
That followed an earlier tweet from the president that "Tens of thousands of votes were illegally received after 8 P.M. on Tuesday, Election Day, totally and easily changing the results in Pennsylvania and certain other razor thin states. As a separate matter, hundreds of thousands of Votes were illegally not allowed to be OBSERVED...''
A man dressed as Uncle Sam climbed a statue in front of Philadelphia’s City Hall on Saturday to celebrate the election of Joe Biden to president of the United States.
As Biden was declaring victory, Trump's lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was holding a news conference in Philadelphia claiming that election officials in that city failed to follow proper procedures to inspect mail-in ballots.
Trump himself issued the following statement Saturday, according to NBC News:
"The simple fact is this election is far from over. Joe Biden has not been certified as the winner of any states, let alone any of the highly contested states headed for mandatory recounts, or states where our campaign has valid and legitimate legal challenges that could determine the ultimate victor.
"Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated."
The coalition members planning Saturday's events said they will "lead a mass action with basic principles that should have long been our standard for all economic and social policy: we care for ourselves, we care for others and everyone counts. It is time ... to stand united, not only to defend but strengthen our democracy by advancing justice and inclusion.''
The coalition includes organizations and groups such as Black Lives Matter-LA, the California Faculty Association, CHIRLA, Community Coalition, Democratic Socialists of America-LA, Refuse Fascism, Extinction Rebellion, Ground Game LA and a number of other groups and labor unions.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
Angelique McKenna, left, and Vivian Mora, react to a speech by President-elect Joe Biden who defeated President Trump to become the 46th president of the United States, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Washington.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
People react to a victory speech by President-elect Joe Biden, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Washington.
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US President-elect Joe Biden’s supporters gather to celebrate the victory in front of the White House in Washington, United States on November 07, 2020.
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
Supporters arrive to attend an event with President-elect Joe Biden, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Wilmington, Del.
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
Children wave American flags before an event with President-elect Joe Biden, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Wilmington, Del.
AP Photo/Paul Sancya
Supporters of President-elect Joe Biden get ready for him to speak in Wilmington, Del., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
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A man dressed as Uncle Sam celebrates while standing on a statue outside City Hall after Joe Biden is declared the President-elect on Nov. 7, 2020 in Philadelphia.
Photo/Jim Gerberich
Pro Biden demonstrators rally around every vote counts in Lancaster, Pa.’s Penn Square after former vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden was announced as the winner over Pres. Donald Trump Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
Noah Berger/AP
Meredith Walsh celebrates the victory of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in Oakland, California, Nov. 7, 2020. Biden defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States on Saturday, positioning himself to lead a nation gripped by the historic pandemic and a confluence of economic and social turmoil.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
People celebrate Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Philadelphia, after Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump to become 46th President of the United States.
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Two women hug as Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden was named the presumptive winner of the 2020 US presidential election during a rally for a fair vote count in the 2020 presidential election in McPherson Square, Washington, D.C.. CNN, NBC and AP projected Biden to win the election as he has surpassed the 270 electoral votes.
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View of 7th avenue in New York, as people celebrate after Joe Biden was declared winner of the 2020 presidential election on Nov. 7, 2020.
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A woman waves a Joe Biden flag as people celebrate on Black Lives Matter plaza across from the White House in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 7, 2020, after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election.
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President Donald Trump returns to the White House from a round of golf in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 7, 2020, after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election.
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People react to the motorcade carrying President Donald Trump back to the White House on Nov. 7, 2020, in Washington, D.C., after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election.
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Supporters of President Donald Trump demonstrate in front of the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix, Arizona, on Nov. 7, 2020. Democrat Joe Biden has won the White House, U.S. media said on November 7, defeating Donald Trump and ending a presidency that convulsed American politics, shocked the world and left the United States more divided than at any time in decades.
Julio Cortez/AP
Supporters of President Donald Trump unfurl a giant American flag outside the Pennsylvania State Capitol, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, after Democrat Joe Biden defeated Trump to become the 46th president of the United States.
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Trump supporters continue to pray for favorable election results a Stop The Steal rally on the same day Biden was named President-elect, Nov. 7, 2020, at the State Capitol in Phoenix, Arizona.
Alex Brandon/AP
Amanda Madden sprays champagne as people celebrate at Black Lives Matter Plaza after CNN called the race in favor of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden over Pres. Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Washington.
Gerald Herbert/AP
People celebrate outside Vaughn’s Lounge in the Bywater section of New Orleans, Nov. 7, 2020, after news outlets called the election in favor of President-elect Joe Biden and his running mate, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
Paul Beaty/AP
A supporter of President-elect Joe Biden celebrates outside Trump Tower Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Chicago.
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People celebrate on Black Lives Matter plaza across from the White House in Washington, DC on Nov 7, 2020, after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election.
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People celebrate at Times Square after Joe Biden was declared winner of the 2020 presidential election on Nov. 7, 2020, in New York.
Alex Brandon/AP
People gathered in Black Lives Matter Plaza, react to the presidential race being called in Joe Biden’s favor, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Washington. Democrat Joe Biden has defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States.
David Goldman/AP
Trump supporters demonstrating during the election results, at right, pray with a counter protester after the presidential election was called for Joe Biden outside thestate Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
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Yei Boayue, center, celebrate news that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has presumptively won the election while waiting at the Chase Center where Mr. Biden is expected to make an announcement on November 07, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. Votes are still being counted in his race against incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump.
Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
Joe Blewitt, a cousin of Joe Biden’s, sprays a bottle of champagne along with family members underneath a mural of Presidential candidate Joe Biden as locals celebrate in anticipation of Biden being elected as the next US President on Nov. 7, 2020 in Ballina, Ireland. Joe Biden, whose distant relatives hail from the County Mayo town of Ballina, has visited the town twice before as the former Vice President.
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People celebrate on Black Lives Matter plaza in Washington, D.C., Nov. 7, 2020, after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election.
Ross D. Franklin/AP
Supporters of President Donald Trump rally outside the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Phoenix. Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States on Saturday.
LAPD Officer Drake Madison told City News Service that officers will take the same action they always do during protests, which is to "hope for the best, but plan for the worst."
"Most importantly, we're there to (let people) express their First Amendment rights, and hopefully L.A. residents will protest peacefully,'' Madison said.
