Protester meets counterprotester. They chat. Photo: Andrew Goff.

UPDATE, 8:49 p.m.: Goff says: “The counterprotesters started hot, but by the end people were having constructive dialogue.” One of the two men who came with flags to shout their support of the president-elect was last seen talking with someone about how his taxes are too high.

There were some tense moments, and police came in for some verbal abuse earlier on, when attempting to keep things smooth between protest and counterprotest.

But the cops weren’t too bothered by it all.

“They kept it peaceful,” Captain Steve Watson of the Eureka Police Department told the Outpost at the scene. “People are in shock still. This is what democracy looks like.” 

There were no arrests and no “incidents,” Watson said. The Fifth Street closure was a bit concerning, but they got through it.

There are about 50 people from the original rally still on scene. Things are quiet now.

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UPDATE, 8:38 p.m.: People are starting to thin from the rally, reports the Outpost’s Andrew Goff, who is still at the scene. Meanwhile, two counterprotesters have finally shown up and are holding American flags at the top of the gazebo, shouting down to the crowd below:

“Fucking commie pigs!”

“Hillary is a fucking c__t!”

“You think you’re fucking problem is gay rights, right now? Your biggest problem is terrorism!”

Some of the ralliers are arguing with them.

There will be another march tomorrow in Arcata. The Facebook title for the event is “Arcata United: A Peaceful March Against Donald Trump.” It’s scheduled to start at 2 p.m. at Library Circle, on the edge of HSU, and continue down to the Plaza.

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UPDATE, 7:50 p.m.: The protest has moved back to the gazebo.

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UPDATE, 7:41 p.m.: The Outpost’s Andrew Goff says that police continue to exercise restraint with the protesters who are sitting down in Fifth Street. They’ve positioned a police vehicle in the center of the road to slow traffic, for the safety of protesters and drivers.

One driver trapped in traffic handed out chocolate to nearby protesters.

People are lighting sparklers.

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UPDATE, 7:36 p.m. Some people have sat down in the roadway. The Outpost’s John Ferrara, who is also at the scene, reports that officers are beginning to get frustrated with protesters. “Go to the sidewalk, please,” an officer just said.

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UPDATE, 7:31 p.m.: Protesters have moved out into Fifth Street and have largely blocked traffic, though some cars are sneaking through. There are about 10 police officers on scene. They’re asking people to move out of the roadway.

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Photo: Andrew Goff.

UPDATE, 7:22 p.m.: The rally is returning to the courthouse, the Outpost’s Andrew Goff says, and they’re currently marching up the middle of Fourth Street.

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The on-again, off-again political rally at the Eureka Gazebo planned for this evening ended up taking place after all, despite the original organizers having called the thing off. 

Word went around on Facebook this morning that people would be gathering at the Gazebo at 6 p.m. to “affirm that we are resolved to continue working for our shared goals in solidarity, despite the hateful rhetoric of our president-elect.” 

This event was canceled this afternoon, for fear that the arrival of counterprotesters would “lead to violence.” But word had gotten around, and people clearly decided to show up anyway.

The Outpost’s Andrew Goff, covering the event, said that people started trickling in at six, gathering in a large circle on the Gazebo to the implications of a Trump presidency. No counterprotesters showed up. By about 6:45 p.m., about 200 people had come to join the rally, and they decided to march down to the courthouse, chanting “not my president!” on the way.

Protesters stood on the courthouse lawns holding up signs at passing vehicles for a short time, then marched back to the gazebo, where they still are as of this writing. Eureka Police are on scene, and everything seems to be peaceful. The chant eventually evolved from “not my president” to “love trumps hate.”

We’ll update if there’s anything more to say.