Armed pro-Trump protesters refuse to accept election results, rally outside Oregon state capital
Around 200 pro-President Trump demonstrators, some of them openly carrying guns, gathered outside the Oregon state capital building in Salem to protest the presidential election results Saturday.
The Trump supporters assaulted at least one cameraman and pepper-sprayed a woman, while police struggled to contain the rally, the Portland Tribune reported. They were met with counterprotesters and punched one in the face.
The Salem Police Department encouraged people to avoid the area and increased the number of officers on duty Saturday, the Salem Statesman Journal reported. They were joined by Oregon State Troopers.
Various Oregon Republicans joined the rally, including U.S. Senate candidate Jo Rae Perkins.
Perkins challenged Democratic senator Jeff Merkley but got less than 40% of the vote. She vowed to run again in 2022, according to the Portland Tribune.
Before and after losing the election, Trump has lied several times about the results. He’s encouraged his supporters to ignore the votes as well, with right-wingers across the nation heeding his call.
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