Portland holds its breath in tense aftermath of vote

Seething anger at social and racial injustice that many believe Donald Trump epitomises

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden addresses the nation at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware. AFP

Vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris looks on as US Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden speaks about election results in Wilmington, Delaware. Reuters

Dogs with bibs supporting Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden are seen across the street from where ballots are being counted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Reuters

Police stand guard during a demonstration held by supporters of democrat presidential candidate Joe Biden in New York. EPA

People cheer after Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden overtook President Donald Trump in the Pennsylvania general election vote count. Reuters

Activists celebrate after Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden overtook President Donald Trump in the Pennsylvania general election vote count, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Reuters

Journalists from all over the world wait for the result of the US Presidential elections on Black Lives Matter Plaza in front of the White House in Washington. AFP

Republican canvas observer Ed White, takes photos with his smart phone as Lehigh County workers count ballots as vote counting continues in Allentown Pennsylvania. AP Photo

Supporters of President Donald Trump demonstrate outside of the TCF Centre in Detroit, Michigan. AFP

Election officials proceed with the counting of ballots at the Allegheny County elections warehouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. AFP

House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi holds a news conference during the presidential election in Washington. Reuters

Protesters urge vote counting outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center. AFP

Supporters of President Trump, who are questioning the legitimacy of the state's vote counting, gather outside of the Pennsylvania Convention Centre in Philadelphia. EPA

A police officer stands watch near a stage set up by the campaign of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware. Reuters

Protesters, police, members of the media and others converge outside of the Convention Centre as the counting of ballots continues in the state in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. AFP

Protesters gather outside of the Philadelphia Convention Centre. AFP

Protesters outside of the Philadelphia Convention Centre. Joe Biden took the lead in the vote count on Friday morning from President Trump, bringing him one step closer to winning the election. AFP

A stage set up by the campaign of Joe Biden sits ready in Wilmington. Reuters

The United States is still awaiting the winner of the presidential race to be called but many residents in Portland, a city that has been the epicentre of social justice protests since George Floyd's death in May, are already looking to the future with hope.

For more than 100 days, between the hours of 12 and 2pm, residents of the Arbor Lodge neighbourhood have stood on the corner of N Rosa Parks Way and Denver.

Community-led and organised, individuals bring their own signs and take turns to stand on the pavement to ensure someone is always present to wave placards at passing traffic.

"Racism is a pandemic." "Yes on police accountability." "Vote!" Just some of the messages that have been attached to the chain-link fencing that surrounds the patch of grass on the corner.
"I made a commitment to stay out here until we see a real change," says 68-year-old Charlie Westley, a Native American woman from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
"I want to see public safety imaged in a different way, I want to see the public protected and served, and I will be out here until there is justice for George, and for all the other Black people who have been killed in similar circumstances," she said.

The George Floyd effect

George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis on May 28, after a police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes. His death sparked protests across the country – and the world – and saw the Black Lives Matter movement explode in popularity.

Although votes are still being counted, Joe Biden is before Donald Trump in the presidential race. While Westley says she is disappointed that "another white man" will be in office, she is pushing herself to be optimistic.

"The most important thing is to get Trump out of office. Everybody is demanding change, and I have told myself to be hopeful that Biden could bring that change.

"We are going to demand it of him and we are going to hold [the government] accountable because they work for us, not the other way round.
"What we've seen over the past four years is literally terrorism," she continues, as she stands in the rain clutching a placard that reads: "Keeping hope alive".
"It's a hate crime that's being perpetrated. And [Trump] is putting fuel on that fire. It baffles my mind. It's unfathomable. And I just couldn't see us going through another four years of that.

"So I did everything in my power to be out here and make sure [politicians] would hear our voice and our demands for change."

As Westley speaks, another two locals arrive to join the trio already standing on the corner, including a man who "usually brings a drum" but didn't today because of the rain.
"We've gotten the number one problem out of the White House,' says Robin Hahnel, "and thank God that happened."
However, the 74-year-old fears even more problems to come.

Battle for America's soul

"If the Senate stays in the hands of the Republicans, all the evidence seems to indicate that Mitch McConnell will continue to engage in scorched earth policy. So we have serious problems in this country. And it would be nice if the federal government in this country would actually start to solve them.
"Whether it's the pandemic, racial issues, the economy, police reform, we have a lot of issues and they're only going to guess worse unless we do something about it."
Ashley Simmons, a barista in Portland, was out marching with the Black Lives Matter on Tuesday and Wednesday night. He didn't want to vote for Biden but felt he had no choice.
"I don't feel represented," the 31-year-old says. "It's like, oh great, we get Trump out – who obviously needed to get out – but we replace him with another old white dude. Obviously, Biden's better than Trump but … it's like a lesser of two evils kind of thing."

The surprise lead carved out by the Biden campaign in the southern state of Georgia has lifted his spirits.

"I do feel really inspired by what's been happening on the streets," Mr Simmons said.

"And in Georgia, what's going on over there is amazing, and it does make me feel optimistic for the future, but sometimes it feels like we still have such a long way to go."