Mostly Peaceful No Kings Protest In Downtown L A Turns Tense After

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 26, 2025, 6:14 AM

mostly peaceful no kings protest in downtown l a turns tense after

Within minutes, more law enforcement personnel came out to the area where unlawful assembly was declared. This video was broadcast during the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2025. After more than 200,000 people peacefully marched and gathered in downtown Los Angeles for the planned “No Kings” protest on Saturday, the mostly cordial or even harmonious rally drastically changed the tone late Saturday... The Los Angeles Police Department issued a dispersal order in parts of downtown Los Angeles, especially around the Hall of Justice building on Spring and Temple Streets, as some protesters began throwing objects at... Stream Los Angeles News for free, 24/7, wherever you are.

Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department also notified that “something shifted” with the rally. Updated on: June 14, 2025 / 9:53 PM PDT / CBS LA Los Angeles police issued a dispersal order on Saturday afternoon for "No Kings" protesters after the crowd allegedly started throwing objects near the downtown federal building. While the demonstration was largely peaceful throughout the day, Los Angeles Police Department officers said on a post to X, "people in the crowd are throwing rocks, bricks, bottles and other objects" when the... Roybal Federal Building. Protesters interviewed by CBS News Los Angeles blamed the escalation on the police.

"They came in super, super hard and aggressive, and that's what created all of this," one protester said. "No warning. They just masked up ... It's upsetting because how are people supposed to feel like their voices are being heard when they're being violently put down by the state itself." Demonstrators wave mixed heritage flags in front of LA City Hall (Image credit: Michelle Zacarias) On Saturday, June 15, thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of downtown Los Angeles as part of a nationwide protest against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement raids and erosion of democratic norms.

The “No Kings” rallies, which took place across the country, drew protesters from across Southern California. What began as a day of lively protest and community gathering in downtown Los Angeles, however, ended in tear gas, rubber bullets and chaos after law enforcement moved to disperse demonstrators. Throughout the late morning and early afternoon, the mood near City Hall was festive and non-confrontational. Although tensions have been high in previous demonstrations, the “No Kings” protests remained relatively pleasant throughout the day. One protestor plays the drum and sings at the "No Kings" rally in DTLA (Image credit: Michelle Zacarias/CALÓ News). This is read by an automated voice.

Please report any issues or inconsistencies here. Police on Saturday evening declared an unlawful assembly and issued a dispersal order for a small portion of downtown Los Angeles next to the Metropolitan Detention Center where demonstrators from “No Kings Day” protests... Tense standoffs took place between police and the crowd in the area of Alameda Street and Aliso Street, with demonstrators accusing law enforcement of escalating tensions amid the carryover from peaceful daytime rallies. “A dispersal order for the area of Alameda between Aliso and Temple has been ordered ... All persons in the area of Alameda and Aliso/Commercial must leave the area,” the LAPD posted on social media at 6:55 p.m. “All persons in the area have 15 minutes to comply.

If you remain in the area you may be subject to arrest or other police action.” Protesters gathered in L.A. and elsewhere in Southern California for ‘No Kings’ demonstrations, a nationwide effort to push back against President Trump’s policies. LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- On a day of nationwide protest, small crowds stuck around well into the night in downtown Los Angeles. After multiple orders to disperse, police moved in and made arrests. It came hours after thousands of protesters took to the streets for a "No Kings" demonstration.

After the peaceful event, things grew more tense after dark as most of the "No Kings" protesters left. Los Angeles police formed a skirmish line, and two dispersal orders were issued. After the dispersal orders, police warned those who didn't leave that they may be arrested, and at least one person was taken into custody. Officers moved in on horseback near the Federal Building in downtown L.A., pushing the crowd back. It was the same site of some of the more violent clashes with police that happened at demonstrations back in June. Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Los Angeles and throughout the Southland Saturday to protest the policies of the Trump administration in the nationwide “No Kings Day of Defiance” demonstrations — with sporadic...

Multiple demonstrations were taking place across Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Monica, and other sites in Los Angeles and Orange counties. The largest crowd massed in downtown Los Angeles, where a march began about 10:30 a.m. and worked its way down Broadway, entering Pershing Square at about 11:30 a.m. Streets were closed in the area and many bus routes were being interrupted. The Hollywood (101) Freeway remained open through downtown, though on-ramps and off-ramps were closed to prevent demonstrators from accessing the freeway. The march featured many different flags and protest signs and a large balloon figure depicting President Donald Trump as a baby wearing a diaper.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Police Chief Jim McDonnell held a morning news conference to urge the crowds to remain lawful and to ensure the public that adequate resources were in place to... After a mostly peaceful ‘No Kings Day’ protest in downtown Los Angeles, 14 people were arrested. After a generally peaceful ‘No Kings Day’ demonstration in downtown Los Angeles, 14 people were arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). According to the LAPD, twelve adults and two minors were taken into custody after the protest on Saturday. Reports say that small crowds lingered into the night after the daytime demonstration. The LAPD formed skirmish lines and issues dispersal orders, preparing for arrests.

Demonstrators were reportedly warned by officers that if they did not disperse, they would be taken into custody. No serious injuries were reported or released. The protest was primarily peaceful throughout the day, with the crowd chanting and marching together. Aside from the handful of arrests, the event progressed smoothly. LAPD officers moved on horseback and in police vehicles downtown, pushing the live crowd back. Thousands of people rallied at dozens of demonstrations around Southern California Saturday as part of a massive, nationwide “No Kings Day of Defiance” protest against President Trump and his policies, with tense clashes between...

Around 4 p.m., the downtown LA rally – with an estimated 200,000 protesters – switched from peaceful to chaotic, as some people reportedly threw rocks, bottles and fireworks at police. Officers issued a dispersal order and unleashed a multitude of flash-bang grenades, rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at the crowd. Confusion broke out as police on horseback pushed people away from various areas and traffic had to be diverted. Protesters ran past businesses that had been boarded up ahead of the demonstration. Reporting from a KTLA helicopter showed people were trying to rush away from the rubber bullets and horses but did not know exactly where to go. Up until that point, for several hours on Saturday, the downtown LA rally had been peaceful.

Law enforcement officials reiterated that when protests turn violent, it’s typically launched by “professional agitators,” rather than the vast majority of protesters who come out to exercise their free speech rights. “Unfortunately when our officers were attacked, we had to change course and begin crowd-control tactics to prevent harm to our officers and the community,” LAPD Deputy Chief Emada Tingirides said in an interview with... “Our officers were caught off guard. The individuals that were throwing rocks and bottles and objects at our officers were on a bridge and they had a high ground.” Truth matters. Community matters.

Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now. "No Kings" protesters gathered across Southern California Saturday to continue to push back against President Donald Trump's directives, including immigration sweeps that ramped up this summer. As crowds gathered in downtown L.A., Quincy Nelson told LAist: "I’m little concerned, actually, a lot of concerned about the unchecked behavior of Donald Trump."

As night fell, protests in downtown L.A. stayed peaceful, with crowds taking advantage of food stands and music. LAPD officers meanwhile kept protesters at a distance from the federal detention center. And apart from a few tense exchanges between protesters and LAPD officers at the barricade line, the scene remained at a simmer as downtown streets began to reopen. Shortly before 7 p.m., however, police issued a dispersal order for the crowd gathered on Alameda between Aliso and Temple.

Mostly Peaceful No Kings Protest In Downtown L A Turns Tense After

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