In the days leading up to Election Day, business owners boarded up storefronts across D.C. in fear of civic unrest at the same time that many in the heavily Democratic city were hoping for a decisive Biden victory. In the end, neither large-scale protests nor jubilant celebrations in the streets came to pass.

“I thought it was going to be a lot wilder. I think it’s good that it’s nice and calm, it shows that we can be rational,” said John Francis, who lives in New York City and came to D.C. for the election, as he stood in Black Lives Matter Plaza with a black and white American flag draped over his shoulders. “A lot of people here are here to support Biden and it kind of goes against the narrative that we’re gonna tear the entire city apart. As you can see, that did not happen, at all.”

The afternoon began with dancing, music, and art near the White House, as hundreds gathered in Black Lives Matter Plaza and nearby McPherson Square to watch the results.

A packed crowd danced in front of the Long Live Go Go truck, which has brought music to D.C. protests throughout the last several months. As the night went on, the truck drove through downtown, and protesters followed dancing alongside it. A group called Shine on the Vote erected a large, colorful display near BLM Plaza with images of children who died in immigration detention.

George Washington University student Alexa Betances joined in demonstrations with a group of friends. She said they wanted to witness election night — their first as voters — in real life, rather than behind a screen.

“This one hits different for us,” Betances said. “Especially because this is the president that we’re going to have when we have our jobs, our careers. We’re Black women, it hits home for us. It’s just something we couldn’t watch at home.”

With the results of the presidential election undetermined by midnight, Betances said she’s fearful for the outcome, but added that being on the streets with her friends made the night a meaningful experience.

Ahead of a highly unpredictable election, the city had braced for potential violence. Dozens of Metropolitan Police Officers circulated in BLM Plaza throughout the night, and on Monday, the National Park Service put up new “anti-scale” fencing around the White House, citing “unique security requirements with the upcoming presidential election.”

But while there were several clashes with police and four arrests, the demonstrations remained largely peaceful. One arrest happened near the Fourth District Police Precinct where a 26-year-old man was arrested for destruction of property, crossing a police line and resisting arrest. Three others were arrested near Black Lives Matter Plaza: one for resisting arrest, one for assault with a dangerous weapon and one for resisting arrest, crossing a police line, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

MPD also reported a stabbing at 2:26 a.m. Wednesday near 14th and New York Ave. NW  Police say two men and a woman were stabbed by another group of three people and have non-life-threatening injuries.

“The incident remains under investigation, and MPD cannot verify any specific affiliation of the suspects,” MPD said in a statement.

Throughout the night, the energy of the national election converged with personal emotion and local protests of police brutality.

Shortly after 11 p.m., a large crowd broke off from BLM Plaza and headed north, shooting off fireworks and chants of “No justice, no peace!” As they marched through the Dupont and Columbia Heights neighborhoods, protesters called for justice for Karon Hylton, the 20-year-old man who was killed in a traffic collision last month during a D.C. police pursuit, and whose death sparked ongoing protests in recent weeks. His mother, Karen Hylton, was a part of the crowd that gathered earlier in the night in BLM Plaza.

“Understand when you vote, know who you’re voting for and what they stand for because, like I said, we all have to live in this world,” Hylton said.

By early Wednesday morning, the group ended the march at the 4D police station — the locus of the protests for Hylton. Kevin Cramer, co-founder of the Palm Collective, a group of D.C.-based protesters, stood outside the station to remind D.C. residents of the injustices happening in their own community, and called people to direct their voices beyond the fences that now surround the White House.

“It’s cute that you guys all came out today to watch on a jumbo screen, and be in community with each other while we watch the election, but where is the community at when Black people are being brutalized in your community?” Cramer said. “So, yes, we walked through Black Lives Matter [Plaza] and the reason why you’re at Black Lives Matter Plaza is because the people that are out here marching like me, organized it for you to be out here today.”

Cramer, who said he has protested in D.C. consistently over the past several months, called upon Washingtonians to remember residents like Hylton and Deon Kay, the 18-year-old killed by D.C. police in September, and demand justice not only in presidential election years.

As Tuesday night turned into the early hours of Wednesday morning, activity in BLM Plaza quieted, and the results of the presidential election remained unknown. Outside 4D, the night ended with protesters gathering in a circle, and Black community leaders chanting an Assata Shakur quote: “It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win.”

Cramer said he and other protesters plan to return to the streets tomorrow, and Thursday, and Friday, and well beyond.

“It’s going to be snowing,” Cramer said. “We’ve already ordered snowsuits.”

Editor’s note: This post has been updated with more information about the scene downtown and information about arrests overnight. Jordan Pascale contributed reporting.