Authoritarianism
WATCH: Angry Trump Supporters Try To Disrupt Vote Tabulation In Detroit, Chant ‘Stop The Count!’
Chaos has erupted at the TCF Center in Detroit as hundreds of angry self-proclaimed GOP poll challengers have begun chanting “stop the count” and are banging on the windows as election officials attempt to tabulate the vote, WOOD TV-8 reports.
Officials attempted to cover up the windows looking into the counting room as the crowd grew larger and more unruly.
Windows into the counting room now being covered. Following banging on the windows from people. Election officials saying the room is at capacity. @WOODTV #Election2020 pic.twitter.com/Nyd72NlGBJ
— Heather Walker (@_HeatherWalker) November 4, 2020
NBC News Correspondent Steve Patterson tweeted: “Large, animated crush of ‘stop the count’ protestors trying to push their way into TCF hall in #Detroit where ballots are being counted. They’re being blocked by guards at the door. Pizza boxes are pushed against the window to obstruct view. It’s tense.”
#BREAKING: Large, animated crush of “stop the count” protestors trying to push their way into TCF hall in #Detroit where ballots are being counted.
They’re being blocked by guards at the door.
Pizza boxes are pushed against the window to obstruct view. It’s tense. @NBCNews pic.twitter.com/zFhzd88skX
— Steve Patterson (@PattersonNBC) November 4, 2020
Earlier today, Trump filed a lawsuit in Michigan to stop counting the ballots and another in Pennsylvania. He has also asked for Wisconsin to recount votes, as in 2016 when the re-count gave him a mere 131 additional votes.
“As votes in Michigan continue to be counted, the presidential race in the state remains extremely tight as we always knew it would be,” the Trump campaign said. “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.”
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s press secretary, Ryan Jarvi said the Court of Claims has not informed the attorney general’s department of the receipt of the lawsuit, but assured people “Michigan will always continue to protect the rights of all voters to have their ballots counted,”
After a statement issued by President Trump's 2020 campaign manager hinting at the possibility of a lawsuit being filed in Michigan challenging the state's ballot-counting process, Attorney General Dana Nessel's Press Secretary Ryan Jarvi issued the following response: pic.twitter.com/qPANSEGynn
— Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (@MIAttyGen) November 4, 2020
NBC News Correspondent Heidi Przybyla reported that an official Michigan Democratic Party poll challenger was blocked from entering the room by self-proclaimed GOP poll challengers.
That poll challenger, lawyer Jordan Acker, tweeted: “In fact, the @MIGOP has so overwhelmed the Detroit vote counting room with ‘challengers’ (most who are not lawyers), preventing actual Dem lawyers from actually getting in. Sure feels like a deliberate attempt to try to steal the election.”
Chaos in Detroit's TCF Center where ballots are being counted:
This is an *official* MI Dem. Party poll challenger blocked from the room by self-proclaimed GOP poll challengers.
👉NOTE: Trump says he's filing a lawsuit over 'meaningful access to numerous counting locations' https://t.co/FeDDX3IZ6o
— Heidi Przybyla (@HeidiNBC) November 4, 2020
Acker added: “A large number of trump ‘challengers’ have decided to March down changing ‘stop the count’ and banging on the door as they complete counting. Still can’t get back in.”
A large number of trump “challengers” have decided to March down changing “stop the count” and banging on the door as they complete counting. Still can’t get back in. pic.twitter.com/eDaVouBDFu
— Jordan 🇺🇸🇺🇸Go Vote 🇺🇸🇺🇸Acker (@JordanAckerMI) November 4, 2020
The @detroitpolice are being extremely professional in dealing with this but this is absurd. pic.twitter.com/VYz9tr7ZYT
— Jordan 🇺🇸🇺🇸Go Vote 🇺🇸🇺🇸Acker (@JordanAckerMI) November 4, 2020
This is utterly and completely false, as they know. I’ve been in that room in the TCF Center all morning with hundreds of Republican challengers. Meritless. https://t.co/xPepgW1P0a
— Jordan 🇺🇸🇺🇸Go Vote 🇺🇸🇺🇸Acker (@JordanAckerMI) November 4, 2020
Police and security gather at Central Counting Board doors to limit entry as crowd gathers. #detroit #Election2020 @BridgeDet313 pic.twitter.com/nIQvW5AtBY
— Bisma Parvez (@BismaPar) November 4, 2020
Poll challengers have started chanting something and circling a particular table. With @BridgeDet313 pic.twitter.com/US2Bhyt37H
— Bisma Parvez (@BismaPar) November 4, 2020
