Fireworks, Rainbows and Pot-Banging: Here's How L.A. Is Reacting to a Biden-Harris Win
The following article was originally published Nov. 7, 2020, and republished through a collaboration with LAist and KPCC.
For up to the minute Election coverage, visit KPCC's LAist and KCET's Vote 2020 websites.
With contributions from Ryan Fonseca, Aaron Schrank, Josie Huang, Gina Pollack, Andy Cheatwood and Kyle Stokes
Well, after four long, painstaking days, the election callers have called the 2020 election.
This morning, the Associated Press, NPRand other news outlets reported that Joe Biden has defeated Donald Trump and will become the 46th president of the United States.
Biden has won Pennsylvania, bringing his Electoral College votes past the 270 threshold needed to win the presidency.
In Los Angeles, the news was met with jubilation and relief, both in the streets and on social media.
In Echo Park, revelers filled the streets and sidewalks, celebrating the news with drinking and dancing.
In Silver Lake, Biden-Harris supporters waved American flags, danced to drummers and DJs, and doused themselves in champagne.
Theo Henderson is an unhoused Angeleno, and host of the podcast "We The Unhoused." He said he wants to see President-elect Joe Biden create programs for the homeless to help them get off the street.
"Now that he... is the president of the United States for all, housed and unhoused, he should be our advocate as well."
Pamela Hernandez said she's excited about the result of the presidential election.
"I feel like it's a big relief for a lot of people right now, especially minorities. And me, being Hispanic, it's just feels a little bit better, you know? I know there's still a lot of work to be done, but it's a small step forward, and that's all we needed right now."
In Los Feliz, a crowd filled a gas station parking lot with dancing, car-honking and an impromptu sing-along.
Barbara Wilson, a 72-year-old retired JPL scientist, was walking her dogs around her Altadena neighborhood while waving an American flag. Wilson said her vote was as much as for Biden as it was against Trump, saying the litany of offenses committed by the Trump administration was long. She was particularly excited that Kamala Harris would be the country's next vice-president.
"The country may be finally coming to grips with this racist past and actually do something about better equality in the country, and also she is just a such a strong woman, with super ideals and ethics."
In downtown L.A., thousands of people gathered at Pershing Square and started to march to City Hall.
Claudia Hawkins, who described herself as a "suburban housewife" from Santa Clarita, came out to the celebrations downtown with her two children. She said raising two Black children has been "extremely hard" over the past four years. Hawkins said the Biden-Harris victory is exciting and gives her a sense of hope.
“I’m hopeful that they’re there to listen… We need real leadership —leadership in the young people to take us forward and to see the change that we’ve been trying to make in our generation and it’s just so nice to see them rise up.”
L.A. police officers in riot gear were also on scene. Asked why, one LAPD detective told KPCC/LAist reporter Josie Huang "we’re trying to keep everybody safe."
A large crowd gathered outside L.A. City Hall, where speakers called on the electorate tokeep pressure on a future Biden administration when it comes to issues like immigration, labor and racial justice.
There's also an outpouring of congratulations for California Senator Kamala Harris, who is set to make history as the nation’s first woman vice president, along with the first Black and Asian American person to hold that office.
Meanwhile, here's what we know so far about our local and state races:
— LAIST STAFF