The US is steeling itself for civil unrest following election results after a chaotic lead up to voting day.
With a campaign trail that has seen assassination attempts, brawling and ballot boxes set on fire, authorities fear a fallout similar to the one that followed the 2020 poll. On Monday, businesses in Washington DC started boarding up their windows as security fences were installed around the White House, the residence of US Vice President Kamala Harris, and other important buildings in the city.
Violence has erupted at voting stations and election staff are preparing for potential gun violence. There have also been numerous threats to detonate bombs at political offices and other key sites in the lead up to election day.
Police and guardsmen are on high alert in states with a history of voter violence.
(Image: KATU)
And a Democratic congressman has ominously warned that “there may be blood” due to clashes between irate pollsters.
A poll of 1,003 likely voters by J.L. Partners reveals that many Americans fear the election might turn violent and escalate into a major conflict.
More than 25% of people think there will be riots regardless of the winner, and 10% are worried things could descend into a civil war.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The race for 2024 has already turned violent, marked by a shooting at a Donald Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. The former president was grazed by a bullet and the attack left one person dead and two others injured.
Despite the January 6, 2021, storming of the Capitol still looming large over US politics, Trump has repeatedly refused to state whether he will accept the election results, raising concerns about what many fear will be more unrest.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Steve Cohen, a Democratic congressman from Tennessee, warned on Thursday that “there may be blood” if Harris wins over Trump at the polls, as he believes Trump’s supporters may reject the outcome.
“He’ll be telling people, again, to go to the Capitol if you want to have a country and fight like hell,” he said. Adding: “There may be blood, and there’s some concern.”
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