Two sides' protests center on counting of votes

Pro-Trump and anti-Trump demonstrations have been held in several American cities as President Donald Trump called for a halt to vote-counting in battleground states, while Democratic challenger Joe Biden moved closer to winning the Electoral College for the White House.

The demonstrators appeared to be emboldened by Trump after he tweeted Thursday: "Stop the Count!" And "STOP THE FRAUD!" He also tweeted: "All of the recent Biden claimed states will be legally challenged by us for Voter Fraud and State Election Fraud. Plenty of proof - just check out the Media. WE WILL WIN! America First!"

The pro-Trump demonstrations began Wednesday night and spilled over into Thursday in Arizona, where Biden has held a slim lead over Trump in vote-counting.

Demonstrations also were held in Minneapolis, Detroit, Chicago, Portland, Oregon, and New York City, where they first started late Tuesday.

On Wednesday night in Phoenix, about 150 pro-Trump supporters, some armed with rifles, surrounded the Maricopa County records office as staff counted ballots inside. Many chanted: "Stop the count!" Others chanted: "Count the vote!" Some said: "Down with Fox (News)," which had called the state for Biden on Tuesday night.

In Nevada, about 75 election protesters wearing shirts with Trump's name on them gathered outside the Clark County Election Center on Wednesday night, where poll workers were certifying ballots. "Stop the steal" they chanted.

On Thursday afternoon, Joe Gloria, registrar of voters for Clark County, expressed concern about his staff's safety. He also said at a news conference in Las Vegas that his mother and wife were worried about his safety.

"I am concerned for the safety of my staff," Gloria said. "We are not going to allow anyone to stop doing what our duty is, counting ballots."

On Thursday afternoon, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where a vote count was still underway, demonstrators outside the election office held signs and shouted repeatedly: "Count every vote!"

A pro-Trump crowd demonstrated outside a Detroit ballot-counting center Wednesday night yelling "Stop the count" after the Trump campaign filed suit to halt the vote count in Michigan, which has been declared for Biden.

Some asked to be allowed inside the center to watch the count. They were eventually told by police to leave. A white screen was put up inside the center to block the demonstrators' view as votes were being counted.

In Minneapolis, demonstrators angered over the president's declaration to stop the vote count marched through city streets and on to Interstate 94 Wednesday night, prompting police to clear the roadway of vehicles and arrest more than 600 people, who were later released.

In Portland, Oregon, hundreds of people gathered near a waterfront on Wednesday to protest Trump's call for officials to stop counting votes. A separate group demonstrated downtown against police brutality and for racial justice. Some of the protesters broke store windows, while others shouted at police officers and National Guard troops. At least 10 arrests were made, authorities said.

Demonstrations against police brutality also were held in Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

In New York, protesters gathered in Manhattan in a mostly peaceful demonstration on Wednesday night. However, another group nearby scuffled with police on bicycles when they stopped traffic. At least 20 people were arrested, including a Pennsylvania woman seen on video spitting in an officer's face.