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US election 2020: New York prepares for potential violence, civil unrest

With less than 48 hours to go before polls close in the US, nervous New York shopkeepers have been boarding up their ­windows in anticipation of ­violence and civil unrest — no matter the outcome of the vote.

The 'surge is on' for President Trump

NEW YORK CITY

Manhatten is an island on the edge as America’s Election Day draws nearer.

With less than 48 hours to go before polls close in the US, nervous shopkeepers along luxury shopping strips have been boarding up their ­windows in anticipation of ­violence and civil unrest — no matter the outcome of the vote.

On Sunday, a group of radical left protesters organised under the banner of the organisation “United Against Racism and Fascism NYC” confronted NYPD officers in the city’s Flatiron District.

“Go fight real crime, you f...ing p..sies”, one protester shouted, while another was heard taunting cops, wishing that their children would be murdered, as a number of demonstrators were charged or issued summonses.

Meanwhile, after all but giving the race to Democrat candidate Joe Biden earlier in the week, election forecasters have become increasingly deadlocked in their predictions, with many prognosticators pointing to the potential for a late surge of Republican voters to get incumbent president Donald Trump over the line.

A person fills out their voting form at Madison Square Garden polling station. Picture: David Dee Delgado
A person fills out their voting form at Madison Square Garden polling station. Picture: David Dee Delgado

Showing no signs of letting up on Sunday, Trump undertook a one-day, five-state rally.

This followed a rally in Pittsburgh the previous day which had an estimated attendance of 57,000 people.

And as Joe Biden kept to a relatively light schedule of two events in Philadelphia, poll watchers are looking at an increasing number of scenarios that could see Trump win a second term.

A poll in Iowa had Trump ahead 48 per cent to Biden’s 41 per cent.

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James Morrow
James MorrowNational Affairs Editor

James Morrow is the Daily Telegraph’s National Affairs Editor. James also hosts The US Report, Fridays at 8.00pm and co-anchor of top-rating Sunday morning discussion program Outsiders with Rita Panahi and Rowan Dean on Sundays at 9.00am on Sky News Australia.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/us-election-2020-new-york-prepares-for-potential-violence-civil-unrest/news-story/98d8188ec66c652b9814000fb8b58974