Biden Win Sparks Protest and Celebration in Austin
By Madi Donham
Reporting Texas
Trump supporters cross Congress Ave. to confront Biden supporters after former Vice President Joe Biden was named the projected winner of the presidential election on Nov. 7. Police formed lines to separate the two groups. Madi Donham/Reporting Texas
About 300 supporters of President Donald Trump gathered on the south side of the Texas Capitol early Saturday afternoon to protest the presidential election of Joe Biden. Protesters, many dressed in red and waving Trump flags, chanted “Biden is a fraud” and “count the votes.” Others held signs that read “Stop The Steal.”
Some gathered in circles and prayed for the election results to change.
“I came to support President Trump because I know he has a lot of courage to fight the corruption and I want him to know that somebody is supporting him,” said Diana Roberts, who traveled from Bell County to attend the event.
Across the street from the protesters about 200 supporters of president-elect Joe Biden celebrated his victory.
“We are the champions,” the Biden supporters chanted.
About 15 police officers were in the area to maintain order.
Austinite Michael Garza was one of the first Biden supporters to arrive. He blasted Miley Cyrus’s Party in the USA and We Are the Champions from stereo speakers atop his car.
Garza had been sitting in his living room for five days and was making a bowl of cereal when CNN announced that Biden won, Garza said. He got in his car and came straight to the Capitol, he said.
“Now we’re partying,” Garza said before he started dancing in a parking lot next to his car.
Biden supporter Michael Garza celebrates in downtown Austin after former Vice President Joe Biden was declared the projected winner of the presidential election on Nov. 7. Garza provided the musical soundtrack to Biden supporters’ “we are the champions” chants. Madi Donham/Reporting Texas
Members of both groups yelled at each other, but no fights took place.
Most Biden supporters wore face masks. Most Trump supporters did not.
“We don’t have to wear those face diapers, we don’t believe in that anyway,” said Steve, who refrained from giving his last name.
Trump supporters left the Capitol around noon and marched several blocks down Congress Ave. Police had closed the road off to traffic.
The Biden celebrators remained near the Capitol. Many danced in the street.
Biden urged for unity in a statement Saturday afternoon and tweeted his gratitude to the American people.
“With the campaign over, it’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation. It’s time for America to unite. And to heal,” Biden said.
Trump has repeatedly warned of legal battles over the results, attributing Biden’s victory to fraud.
“We all know why Joe Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner, and why his media allies are trying so hard to help him: they don’t want the truth to be exposed,” Trump wrote in a texted statement from his golf club in Virginia.
Trump won Texas, and the state’s 38 electoral votes, by about 6 percentage points.