Celebrating Joe Biden’s election in Times Square on Nov. 7. PHOTO BY LLOYD MITCHELL Party for Biden victory and Trump defeat
lasted well into the New York City night
BY GABRIELE
HOLTERMANN
Thousands of New Yorkers
kept dancing in the streets
of New York City well into
Saturday night and Sunday morning,
celebrating President-elect
Joe Biden and Vice Presidentelect
Kamala Harris — with
the jubilation accompanied by a
good dose of schadenfreude over
the defeat of President Donald
Trump.
Large crowds gathered in popular
New York spots like Washington
Square Park, Stonewall
Inn, and Times Square. People
reveled into the late evening hours
dancing and singing in the streets,
sometimes breaking out in chants
“f–k Donald Trump.”
Times Square drew thousands
who wanted to listen to Biden’s
and Harris’ victory speeches,
and the cheerful atmosphere felt
like New Year’s Eve — a far cry
from the depressing and deserted
place it had become after the
COVID-19 pandemic took hold
of the city.
People lined both sides of
Broadway and cheered the
steady stream of cars passing by
and honking their horns while
passengers waved American and
Pride fl ags through sunroofs and
windows.
A girl plays during an election celebration at Washington
Square Park on Nov. 7, 2020.
The mutual consent was that
Biden’s victory speech set the
right tone for whatever diffi culties
lie ahead and that he, alongside
Harris, can unite a divided nation.
Fahmi Thabet, who was
wrapped in a large American fl ag,
felt “very happy.”
“We made the change that
this country deserves. We need
someone who can unite us,”
Thabet said. “Biden can repair
the damage that was created
by Trump. It is time for healing
now, and it’s time for us to come
together.”
Natalie Karney, 13, came from
New Jersey to Times Square to
witness history with her brother
Daniel, who also was wrapped
in an American fl ag. She was
PHOTO BY DEAN MOSES
PHOTO BY DEAN MOSES
excited to see that the United
States elected its fi rst female vice
president.
“I feel empowered, I feel inspired,
and I feel like I can make
changes in the world like her. I
feel amazing,” she said.
Earlier in the day, New York
City Council Member Brad
Lander, who had joined his fellow
New Yorkers in the celebration,
said that he felt exhilarated.
The council member called the
celebration “VT-Day” or “Victory
over Trump.”
“Living under a tyrant, you
don’t even see what it takes out
of you,” Lander said. “And to have
people feel like a relief from this
tyrant and liberated out in the
street is just extraordinary.”
Senator Charles Schumer joins the celebration in Washington Square. PHOTO BY DEAN MOSES
Schneps Media November 12, 2020 3