Hundreds pour into Denver’s streets to celebrate Biden’s victory
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Eli Imadali, Special to the Denver Post
Zara Otaitah and Natalie Sabbagh sing ‘Hey, Hey, Hey, Goodbye’ to pro-Tump counter-protesters after the election of Joe Biden to be the 46th President of the United States at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
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Eli Imadali, Special to the Denver Post
Jordan Williams and his mother Laine celebrate the election of Joe Biden to be the 46th President of the United States on Lincoln Street near the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
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Eli Imadali, Special to the Denver Post
People celebrating the election of Joe Biden to be the 46th President of the United States were met with pro-Tump counter-protesters at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. Many counter-protesters held signs alluding to false, baseless claims of voter fraud.
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Eli Imadali, Special to the Denver Post
Lisa Schnitt sings a religious hymn as she counter-protests after the election of Joe Biden to be the 46th President of the United States at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. “The Lord told me that he loves justice,” said Schnitt.
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Eli Imadali, Special to the Denver Post
A pro-trump counter-protester screams at a crowd of people celebrating the election of Joe Biden to be the 46th President of the United States at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
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Eli Imadali, Special to the Denver Post
People celebrating the election of Joe Biden to be the 46th President of the United States were met with pro-Tump counter-protesters at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. Many counter-protesters held signs alluding to false, baseless claims of voter fraud.
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Eli Imadali, Special to the Denver Post
Motorcyclists watch hundreds celebrate the election of Joe Biden to be the 46th President of the United States on Lincoln Street near the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
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Eli Imadali, Special to the Denver Post
Polar, a dog, watches celebrations on Lincoln Street after the election of Joe Biden to be the 46th President of the United States near the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
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Eli Imadali, Special to the Denver Post
Carlos Martinez celebrates the election of Joe Biden to be the 46th President of the United States with hundreds of people on Lincoln Street near the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
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Eli Imadali, Special to the Denver Post
Eric Heyboer, left, and Brandon Blatnick relax together while celebrating the election of Joe Biden to be the 46th President of the United States at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
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Eli Imadali, Special to the Denver Post
Hundreds of people celebrate the election of Joe Biden to be the 46th President of the United States on Lincoln Street near the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
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Eli Imadali, Special to the Denver Post
Kristen Grattan, center, screams with joy as she celebrates the election of Joe Biden to be the 46th President of the United States with hundreds of people on Lincoln Street near the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
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Eli Imadali, Special to the Denver Post
A woman holds a sign celebrating the election of Joe Biden to be the 46th President of the United States on Lincoln Street near the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
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Eli Imadali, Special to the Denver Post
Andre Harris dances to ‘FDT’, an anti-Trump song, in his car to celebrate the election of Joe Biden to be the 46th President of the United States on Lincoln Street near the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
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Eli Imadali, Special to the Denver Post
Jordan and Ava celebrate the election of Joe Biden to be the 46th President of the United States from a car on Lincoln Street near the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
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Eli Imadali, Special to the Denver Post
Hundreds of people celebrate the election of Joe Biden to be the 46th President of the United States on Lincoln Street near the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
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Eli Imadali, Special to the Denver Post
Annelise Nelson, center, dances in celebration of the election of Joe Biden to be the 46th President of the United States on Lincoln Street near the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
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Eli Imadali, Special to the Denver Post
Esther Gonzalez, left, and Heather Richardson share a quiet moment as hundreds of people celebrate the election of Joe Biden to be the 46th President of the United States on Lincoln Street near the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
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Eli Imadali, Special to the Denver Post
People hold signs depicting Joe Biden’s face and the Democratic Party logo as they celebrate the election of Joe Biden to be the 46th President of the United States on Lincoln Street near the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.
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Andy Cross, The Denver Post
The Colorado State Patrol stood between President Donald Trump protesters and those opposing them at the Colorado State Capitol during a celebration of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory Nov. 07, 2020.
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Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Joe Biden supporters gather along 13th Ave and Lincoln St. in celebration of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory Nov. 07, 2020.
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Andy Cross, The Denver Post
A pro-Trump supporter talks back and forth with a counter protester at the Colorado State Capitol in celebration of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory Nov. 07, 2020.
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Andy Cross, The Denver Post
A Joe Biden supporter cheers from their car along 13th Ave at Lincoln St. in celebration of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory Nov. 07, 2020.
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Andy Cross, The Denver Post
The Colorado State Patrol stood between President Donald Trump protesters and those opposing them at the Colorado State Capitol during a celebration of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory Nov. 07, 2020.
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Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Hundreds gather at the Colorado State Capitol in celebration of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory Nov. 07, 2020.
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Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Pro-Trump supporters at the Colorado State Capitol in during a celebration of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory Nov. 07, 2020.
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Andy Cross, The Denver Post
A Joe Biden supporter cheers from their car along 13th Ave at Lincoln St. in celebration of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory Nov. 07, 2020.
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Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Kate Napier shows her support for Vice President Elect Kamala Harris as hundreds gather at the Colorado State Capitol in celebration of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory Nov. 07, 2020.
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Andy Cross, The Denver Post
A raised fist on Lincoln Street in celebration as hundreds gather at the Colorado State Capitol in celebration of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory Nov. 07, 2020.
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Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Hundreds gather at the Colorado State Capitol in celebration of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory Nov. 07, 2020.
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Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Carol Napier, left, and her daughter, Kate, second from left, show their support as hundreds gather at the Colorado State Capitol in celebration of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory Nov. 07, 2020.
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Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Michael Nunez, left, and Tyler Kunkel celebrate at the Colorado State Capitol in celebration of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory Nov. 07, 2020.
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Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Biden supporters celebrate as hundreds gather at the Colorado State Capitol in celebration of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory Nov. 07, 2020.
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Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Victoria Meehan, center, waves a Biden flag as hundreds gather at the Colorado State Capitol in celebration of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory Nov. 07, 2020.
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DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 07: Hundreds gather at the Colorado State Capitol in celebration of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory November 07, 2020. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
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DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 07: Irene Sullivan, left, and Sam Moreno celebrate driving past the Capitol as hundreds gather at the Colorado State Capitol in celebration of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory November 07, 2020. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
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DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 07: A woman reaches for the sky in celebration as hundreds gather at the Colorado State Capitol in celebration of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory November 07, 2020. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
After days of agonizing limbo over the state of the presidential race, all of a sudden it came to a close Saturday.
And with it came jubilation in the streets of deep-blue Denver, as hundreds of people descended on Colorado’s Capitol building to cheer and wave signs, cry and pop champagne. The outpouring of joy mirrored celebrations in Democratic cities across the nation Saturday morning after it was announced that former Vice President Joe Biden had won enough electoral votes to unseat President Donald Trump.
Zara Otaifah could not stop jumping up and down as she waved a Biden-Harris sign, cheering as drivers honked their horns in celebration in front of the Capitol.
Otaifah fled Iraq four years ago after ISIS killed members of her family because she worked with the Americans, she said. She said she’s feared for four years that her green card would be revoked and she’d be sent back to the Middle East.
“I can’t describe my emotions right now,” she said. “I can finally feel safe in this country.”
Nearby, Bill Jackson waved signs in support of Black Lives Matter and “veterans and military families for Biden-Harris.”
Jackson’s been protesting since 1969, he said. He’s been to Standing Rock and to pay respects to George Floyd’s family this summer. Now he can barely keep the tears from running down his cheek.
“I didn’t think I’d get so emotional,” he said, his voice quavering. “We need this so bad.”
The parade of cars downtown lased hours, with people raising fists out of their windows and popping their heads through sunroofs to yell “We did it!” The downtown festivities came amid a backdrop of boarded up businesses and government buildings as fears of election unrest prompted proactive protection.
But Saturday saw little conflict, save for some yelling between Trump and Biden supporters in front of the Capitol. Colorado State Patrol and Denver police officers clad in riot gear formed a wall between the two groups and roped off the area to prevent the two sides from getting face-to-face.
The pro-Trump contingent sported large American flags and signs reading, “Stop the Steal” as they mimicked Trump’s unsubstantiated claims that voter fraud prevented his victory.
Jim Saunders came to the Capitol to “stand with people who want transparency,” he said. “I’m OK with the results if they’re honest.”
Lauren Boebert, the newly elected U.S. representative from Rifle, parroted the president in her reaction Saturday, tweeting that “the American people will have the final word, not the media.”
Colorado’s Democratic leaders joined the chorus of cheering Biden’s victory.
“Happy days are here again,” Gov. Jared Polis tweeted.
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