US protesters march against Trump presidency for fifth day

[NEW YORK] Demonstrators in major US cities took to the streets for a fifth straight day on Sunday to protest President-elect Donald Trump, whose campaign manager said President Barack Obama and Democrat Hillary Clinton should do more to support a peaceful transition.

Following several nights of unrest, crowds of people marched in parks in New York City and San Francisco, and planned to do so in Oakland, California, according to social media.

A few thousand joined a march at the south end of New York's Central Park, beginning at a Trump property on Columbus Circle and walking toward the real estate mogul's skyscraper headquarters less than a mile (1.6 km) away.

They chanted, "Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcomed here," and held signs such as "White silence = violence" and "Don't mourn, organize".

Thousands in several cities have demonstrated since the results from Tuesday's election showed Mr Trump, a Republican, lost the popular tally but gained enough votes in the 538-person Electoral College to win the presidency, surprising the world.

Largely peaceful demonstrators in urban areas have said Mr Trump threatens their civil and human rights. They have decried Mr Trump's campaign promises to restrict immigration and register Muslims, as well as allegations the former reality-TV star sexually abused women.

Dozens have been arrested and a handful of police injured.

In San Francisco on Sunday, about 1,000 people marched through Golden Gate Park toward a beach where they chanted, "Let's make waves".

They held signs such as "I resist racism"and "Down with the Trumps".

Civil rights groups have monitored violence against US minorities since Mr Trump's win, citing reports of attacks on women in Islamic head scarves, of racist graffiti and of bullying of immigrant children. They have called on Mr Trump to denounce the attacks.

Mr Trump said he was 'so saddened' to hear of instances of violence by some of his supporters against minorities, according to a transcript released on Sunday of an interview with the CBS programme '60 Minutes'.

Kellyanne Conway, Mr Trump's campaign manager, said on Fox News on Sunday that she was sure many of the protesters were paid professionals, though she offered no proof.

Suggesting a double standard, Ms Conway said on NBC's Meet the Press that if Mrs Clinton had won and Mr Trump supporters had protested, "people would be freaking out that his supporters were not accepting election results".

"It's time really for President Obama and Secretary Clinton to say to these protesters, 'This man is our president,'" she said on NBC.

Republican House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan told CNN on Sunday that protests are protected by the First Amendment as long as they are peaceful.

Neither Mr Obama nor Mrs Clinton has called for an end to the protests. Mr Obama told Mr Trump at the White House on Thursday that he was going to help Mr Trump succeed, "because if you succeed, then the country succeeds".

Mrs Clinton told supporters at a New York hotel on Wednesday: "Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead."

Mr Trump on Sunday attacked the New York Times for coverage he said was "very poor and highly inaccurate".

"The @nytimes sent a letter to their subscribers apologising for their BAD coverage of me. I wonder if it will change - doubt it?" Mr Trump wrote on Twitter.

The newspaper published a letter in Sunday's editions from publisher Arthur Sulzberger and executive editor Dean Baquet, not apologising, but thanking readers for their loyalty and asking how news outlets underestimated Mr Trump's support.

The Times plans to "hold power to account, impartially and unflinchingly" during the Trump presidency, they wrote.

REUTERS