U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Friday praised demonstrators for being passionate about their country, just hours after he accused them of being “professional protesters” incited by the media.

On Thursday night, the president-elect had posted: 

Mostly peaceful and orderly protests took place in at least eight cities following the Republican businessman’s defeat of Democrat Hillary Clinton in Tuesday’s election. Demonstrators have voiced concern Trump would harm Americans’ civil rights.

At least 35 protesters were arrested in downtown Los Angeles after blocking traffic and sitting in the street, local media said. A smaller band of demonstrators briefly halted traffic on a busy Los Angeles freeway before police cleared them.

b’Police detains a demonstrator during a protest against election of Donald Trump as US president in Portland/ Source: Reuters’

In San Francisco, more than 1,000 high school students walked out of classes on Thursday morning to march through the financial district carrying rainbow flags representing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, Mexican flags, and signs decrying Trump.

Dozens in Minneapolis marched onto Interstate 94, blocking traffic for at least an hour as police stood by.

In Baltimore, about 600 people marched through the downtown Inner Harbor area, with some blocking roadways by sitting in the street, police said. Two people were arrested.

b’Demonstrators protesting against the election of Donald Trump as the president of Unites States/ Source: Reuters’

In Denver, a crowd that media estimated to number about 3,000 gathered on the grounds of the Colorado state capitol and marched through downtown in one of the largest of Thursday’s events. Hundreds demonstrated through Dallas.

Trump’s critics worry that his often-inflammatory campaign rhetoric about immigrants, Muslims, women and others – combined with support from the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacists – could spark a wave of intolerance against minorities.

After Clinton conceded defeat early on Wednesday, Trump took a far more conciliatory tone than he had often displayed during his campaign, promising to be a president for all Americans. His campaign rejected a Klan newspaper endorsement days before the election, saying Trump “denounces hate in any form.”

b”Demonstrator scuffles with police during a protest following Donald Trump’s election as the president of US/ Source: Reuters”

But civil rights groups and police reported an uptick in attacks on minority groups, some by people claiming to support Trump.

More anti-Trump demonstrations were planned for the weekend. Trump takes office on Jan. 20, succeeding President Barack Obama.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus on Friday acknowledged the tight race with Clinton, but said anti-Trump protesters had to accept the election results. He pointed to Trump’s call for unity and meeting with Obama and Republican leaders as reasons for reassurance.

“Everyone needs to just take a deep breath, take the weekend … count our blessings, and let’s come back on Monday,” Priebus said.

(Feature image source: Reuters)