UPDATE: 1 p.m., Nov. 10, 2016:
A couple hundred San Diego State students marched through campus Thursday chanting "Love Trumps hate" and "(expletive) Donald Trump." They gathered around the iconic Hepner Hall building in the center of campus, where a student unfurled a Mexican flag from the second story.
Mexican flag goes up at @sdsu Trump protest pic.twitter.com/3miLYq5BCw
— Kristina Bravo (@BravoKristina) November 10, 2016
More than 100 students march against Trump through San Diego State University @kpbsnews pic.twitter.com/u4IMp5X79c
— Jean Guerrero (@jeanguerre) November 10, 2016
The protest follows others at UC San Diego early Wednesday morning and in downtown San Diego Wednesday night.
San Diego Police Lt. Scott Wahl said officers declared an unlawful assembly at the downtown protest after some of the demonstrators "became assaultive toward officers and others and began vandalizing public property." He said 18 arrests were made for charges including battery, vandalism and remaining in an area of an unlawful assembly.
“The San Diego Police Department supports every person’s First Amendment Right to Freedom of Speech and the right to assemble," Wahl said in an email, noting that the protest was largely peaceful. "As part of our community policing philosophy we work closely with any person or group that wishes to express their views in order to provide a safe environment for everyone."
Original post:
Demonstrators gathered at Horton Plaza Park in downtown San Diego Wednesday evening in protest of the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president.
The group grew to around 300, stalling traffic and drawing dozens of police officers to monitor the scene.
Police said they arrested 18 people for unlawful assembly. There were no reports of injuries.
"It was mostly peaceful but got a little agitated in the end," Tony Martinez of San Diego Police said.
Marchers chanted "No More Misogyny" and other anti-Trump sentiments and held signs reading "Not My President," "Impeach Trump" and "Stop Hate."
Married couple Bianca Waxlax and Melissa Simpson were marching with their six-month-old daughter, Octavia. They said they rushed through the adoption process just last week because they were scared Trump would get elected.
"We need to make sure our family is kept safe, and fight for what's right and for her future. We don't want her to have to go through this kind of prejudice," Simpson said.
"I woke up to find he was doing his speech accepting his presidency and I just panicked," Waxlax said. "It's devastating. I was up for four hours just scared, just devastating. I want her to have a future and I want us to feel safe wherever we go, not just in special areas like Hillcrest."
Police cleared the scene at 11:03 p.m., Martinez said.
Earlier on Wednesday, hundreds of students took to the streets near UC San Diego, and a group of more than 100 minorities held a rally at San Diego City College.
Similar protests were held across the country, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York.
