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By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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Protests against President-elect Donald Trump took place in several cities across the country on Wednesday.
Trump secured victory over Vice President Kamala Harris when he surpassed the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the election. Trump is also on track to win the popular vote, the first Republican presidential candidate to do so since George W. Bush in 2004.
In a victory speech before the official declaration, he pledged to "put our country first" and bring about a "golden age" for America.
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On Wednesday night, demonstrators took to the streets in Chicago, New York and Philadelphia to protest Trump's win.
"Donald Trump, you fascist clown," protesters chanted outside the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago, according to a video posted on social media. Several carried banners as they marched, including ones that read "End the Trump Era" and "Trump Out!"
The rally was planned to protest the U.S.'s continued support for Israel's war in Gaza as well as what protesters called the "racist reactionary agenda" of Trump's incoming administration.
During his campaign, Trump repeatedly said he would launch the largest deportation program in U.S. history in a second, as well as reinstitution his first-term policies such as "Remain in Mexico," limiting migrants on public health grounds and severely limiting or banning entry of people from certain majority-Muslim nations.
Trump has repeatedly urged Israel to "finish the job" in Gaza and promised to bring peace to the region. But his history of strong support for Israel coupled with his demands during the campaign that the war in Gaza should end swiftly, brings uncertainty about what his approach might be.
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"This rally was called well before presidential election results as, regardless of the outcome, the genocide in Gaza won't end as both the Democrats and Republicans have shown themselves to be united in their support of Israel in its genocide on Palestine," organizers wrote on Instagram.
"Now after another Trump victory, we continue resisting the racist reactionary agenda of his forthcoming administration, the ongoing U.S. funded genocide in Gaza, and the rise of the far right here in the U.S. That's why at this protest, we'll be further building our movement around demands for a free Palestine, an immediate arms embargo on Israel, and an end to all U.S. aid to Israel—as well as people's demands: Stop police crimes! Community control of the police now! Immigrant Rights and Legalization for All! Defend LGBTQIA+ & Reproductive Rights! Defend the right to unionize and strike!"
Newsweek has contacted organizers and the Chicago Police Department for comment via email.
Several dozen people also gathered for a protest in Brooklyn's Cadman Plaza Park, according to videos on social media.
They chanted "for Palestine, women's and trans rights, and peace, and against police violence and president-elect Trump," @protest_nyc, an X account that covers demonstrations in the city, wrote on the platform.
A protest against Trump also took place in Philadelphia, with videos on social media showing several dozen people gathered outside the City Hall.
"FIGHT TRUMP AND THE FAR RIGHT!" the Philly Socialist Alternative, who organized the protest, said in a post on Instagram.
"Trump and the far right pose a danger to working people in the US and around the globe. We urgently need to build a fightback, including strikes and walkouts, to fight Trump's reactionary agenda of war, deportations, oppression, and bailouts for billionaires. It's possible to fight the right, but we urgently need to start organizing now."
In contrast to these protests, social-media platforms have also been flooded with videos of young people celebrating Donald Trump's presidential victory at college campuses across the country, showing the broad support the Republican candidate enjoyed among Gen Zers, despite Kamala Harris' efforts to get first-time voters on her side.
A student shared a clip on TikTok of students rushing into the streets on the Grand Canyon University campus in Phoenix, Arizona, "after hearing Trump won." Hundreds of young people can be seen running toward a green space on campus and chanting "USA! USA! USA!"
Exit poll data by CNN showed that 54 percent of voters aged between 18 and 29 (which include Gen Zers and younger millennials) voted for Harris, while 43 percent voted for Trump.
Compared to 2020, this is a huge swing of 13 points toward Trump. Four years ago, 60 percent of those aged 18 to 29 voted for Joe Biden, and only 36 percent cast their ballot for Trump.
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