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Protesters have clashed with police in Washington DC as US cities braced for possible unrest in the wake of the presidential election result.
Trouble erupted in Black Lives Matter Plaza when police detained two men after hundreds of protesters gathered near the White House.
Officers on bicycles formed a barrier between the men and the crowd as protesters tried to break through.
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The protesters gathered in front of the White House.
Chants of “fuck the police” and “without justice there is no peace” were heard as protesters called on the police to release the men.
Some protesters kicked police bicycles, while others asked the crowd not to allow them to take the two detainees.
Officers escorted the detained men through the bicycle barrier.
It was not clear why they were being detained.
Much of the area had been boarded up before possible riots on election night.
Protesters unfurled a banner reading ‘Eliminate Trump’
The Shut Down DC protest group said it had prepared for clashes with authorities in the event of violence.
“Trump represents the worst in whiteness, and that is racism,” a protester in Washington DC told Sky News.
“It is important that I show my son that we should vote against and that we show Trump that we are all against it.”
A “non-scalable” fence has been erected to secure the White House compound, with 250 members of the National Guard on standby, NBC News reported.
Police line up in Washington DC
Hope Neyer, representative of Shut Down DC, said that “direct action is what we know and direct action is what we do.”
“It’s something we have prepared ourselves for,” he said.
“We recognize that while it is a risk, it is a risk that we are willing to take because of how important this moment will be to us.”
A metal fence has been installed outside the White House
The White House is seen behind several layers of fences.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said it had declared a “city-wide tactical alert” to ensure that sufficient resources were available “to address any incidents that may arise as a result of Election Day activities.”
“The department is committed to ensuring that adequate resources are available to ensure that all Angelenos can vote safely and without interference,” added the LAPD.
Meanwhile, the New York Police Department (NYPD) has prepared for a possible spike in protests in the days and weeks following the presidential election, NBC News reported.
The NYPD has anticipated that the protests could last until early next year, according to a memo from a senior law enforcement official.
Businesses have been bricked up in Washington DC
The memo from New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said that “there is a high probability that the winner of the presidential election will not be decided for several weeks,” according to NBC News.
Trump had warned of “street violence” as voters headed to the polls after criticizing a Supreme Court decision to allow mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania to be counted for up to three days after the election.
Writing on Twitter, he said it was “VERY dangerous”, adding: “It will allow rampant and uncontrolled deception and undermine our entire system of laws. It will also induce violence in the streets. Something must be done!”
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