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Biden and Trump supporters rallied in Salt Lake City after the race was called

By https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/sltrib/cf96815d-b8c9-4330-b9d3-fb7c188f5f9f.png Erin Alberty  and https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/sltrib/143e8fb5-038a-43a5-a87e-7b4c56d5b866.png Sara Tabin
 | Nov. 7, 2020, 5:57 p.m.
| Updated: 7:40 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Vicki and Mike Wason join other supporters of President-elect Joe Biden as they celebrate at Liberty Park on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Salt Lake City.

Like many cities, Salt Lake City saw spontaneous rallies in support of President-elect Joe Biden and President Donald Trump after additional vote tallies in Pennsylvania made it clear that Biden had won the election.

Dozens of Trump supporters and a smattering of Biden fans braved windy conditions to rally at the Capitol in the hours after the race was called. People who favor Biden waved signs and flags on the south lawn. Cars honked as they drove by. The Biden supporters chanted “this is what democracy looks like" and “all votes matter." They were outnumbered by Trump supporters who rallied on the steps chanting “stop the steal” and “we want Trump.”

The two groups mixed together near the road at times but did not interact.

Biden supporters also rallied at the edge of Liberty Park in the afternoon. Waving signs that said “Biden,” “Make America Kind Again” and “Black Lives Matter,” they encouraged those driving by to honk in support. While Trump easily won Utah’s six electoral votes, Biden was the clear favorite in Salt Lake County.

The gathering at Liberty Park got momentarily heated when a man started yelling at the revelers that the election had been stolen. He had a gun on his hip and as Biden supporters challenged him, he put his hand on his weapon and unsnapped his holster. Bystanders were able to de-escalate the situation and the rally continued until the wind kicked up and the rain started.

Tribune photographer Francisco Kjolseth contributed to this article.

(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) As news broke of former Vice President Joe Biden earning enough Electoral College votes to secure the presidency Saturday, Trump protesters took to the Capitol to denounce the win.

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Erin Albertyreporter

Erin is a reporter who has previously been an outdoor columnist and worked the crime beat. She was the lead reporter on The Tribune's Pulitzer-winning coverage of campus sexual assault. She has worked at newspapers in Michigan and Iowa and taught English for two years at teacher-training colleges in China.

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Sara TabinBreaking news reporter