Crowds of President Donald Trump’s supporters rallied outside vote-counting centers in Phoenix, Ariz. and Detroit, Mich. on Wednesday as poll workers continued to process ballots in the two key states. Some news outlets have projected Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden to win, and have faced scrutiny for calling the states so early. Trump’s campaign demanded counting be stopped until access is granted to observe the vote counting process.
Trump supporters outside the Detroit location chanted “stop the count” while those in Phoeniz chanted “stop the steal.” The Associated Press also reported thousands more anti-Trump protesters also called for a complete tally of all the ballots in the election. These demonstrations come in addition to protests and violence that has erupted in major cities nationwide.
Conservative activist Mike Cernovich tweeted video a rally in Arizona, adding, “‘Shame on Fox,’ pro-Trump voters chant in Arizona.” Fox News was the first outlet to call Arizona for Biden with few votes even counted in the state.
“Shame on Fox,” pro-Trump voters chant in Arizona. pic.twitter.com/Lie38cT81E
— Cerno (@Cernovich) November 5, 2020
According to the AP, Rep. Paul Gosar, an Arizona Republican in the crowd said, “We’re not going to let this election be stolen. Period.”
Fox News reporter Alicia Acuna tweeted, “Protesters demanding to get inside the @MaricopaVote office building where counting is underway #AZ #AZelection.”
Protesters demanding to get inside the @MaricopaVote office building where counting is underway #AZ #AZelection pic.twitter.com/SheCrV7YqX
— Alicia Acuna (@aacuna1) November 5, 2020
Fox News was one of the first outlets to call Arizona for Biden, but Biden’s lead in the state has narrowed as additional votes have come in.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, tweeted criticism of the early projection for his state, saying, “Not so fast. The race has narrowed in #AZ considerably. 130,000 votes separate the candidates, with hundreds of thousands of votes yet to be counted, from all over the state. I’ll say it again: Let’s count the votes, and let the people decide rather than making declarations.”
Not so fast. The race has narrowed in #AZ considerably. 130,000 votes separate the candidates, with hundreds of thousands of votes yet to be counted, from all over the state. I’ll say it again: Let’s count the votes, and let the people decide rather than making declarations. https://t.co/1WYhjChrtm
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) November 4, 2020
Crowds gathered outside the vote-counting location in Detroit shouted “stop the count” and some reportedly banged on the windows of the counting hall.
Sky News producer Leo Lord-Jones tweeted, “Extraordinary scenes here in Detroit. Large crowd shouting “stop the count” while banging on the counting hall windows #Elections2020.”
Extraordinary scenes here in Detroit. Large crowd shouting “stop the count” while banging on the counting hall windows #Elections2020 pic.twitter.com/81SMENQ6D0
— Leo Lord-Jones (@leolordjones) November 4, 2020
Video also emerged of poll workers covering up the windows at the Detroit ballot-counting center.
Fox News correspondent Matt Finn tweeted, “The scene at Detroit’s absentee ballot counting center is growing more heated. The windows now being covered up. Allegations of violations. Sec. of State says she welcomes challenges.”
The scene at Detroit’s absentee ballot counting center is growing more heated. The windows now being covered up. Allegations of violations. Sec. of State says she welcomes challenges. pic.twitter.com/oUL4A0h3Ku
— Matt Finn (@MattFinnFNC) November 4, 2020
On Wednesday, the Trump campaign filed a lawsuit requesting ballots not be counted until Trump’s team is provided “meaningful access” to various counting locations to observe the counting process. The Trump team also requested a review of ballots that were counted while the team did not have access to observe the count.
In a statement regarding Michigan, Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien said, “As votes in Michigan continue to be counted, the presidential race in the state remains extremely tight as we always knew it would be. President Trump’s campaign has not been provided with meaningful access to numerous counting locations to observe the opening of ballots and the counting process, as guaranteed by Michigan law. We have filed suit today in the Michigan Court of Claims to halt counting until meaningful access has been granted. We also demand to review those ballots which were opened and counted while we did not have meaningful access. President Trump is committed to ensuring that all legal votes are counted in Michigan and everywhere else.”
The AP reported Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat, said both parties and the public had been given access to the tallying, “using a robust system of checks and balances to ensure that all ballots are counted fairly and accurately.”
