Los Angeles, CA – June 14, 2025 – Downtown Los Angeles became a focal point of national dissent on Saturday, June 14, 2025, as tens of thousands of protesters gathered for the “No Kings Day” demonstrations, a coordinated nationwide effort to oppose President Donald Trump’s policies, particularly his aggressive immigration enforcement raids. The protests, centered around City Hall and the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building near 1st and Alameda Streets, turned volatile as the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) declared an unlawful assembly, deploying tear gas, flash-bang grenades, and less-than-lethal munitions to disperse crowds throwing rocks, bottles, and commercial-grade fireworks. The demonstrations, part of over 2,000 events across the United States, underscored deep divisions over Trump’s immigration crackdown and his administration’s actions.
The “No Kings Day” protests, organized by groups like 50501, Indivisible, and the American Civil Liberties Union, were timed to counter a lavish military parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary and coinciding with Trump’s 79th birthday. In Los Angeles, an estimated 200,000 demonstrators converged on the Civic Center by mid-afternoon, waving American, Mexican, Guatemalan, and Pride flags while chanting “ICE out of LA!” and “No thrones, no crowns, no kings!” Organizers emphasized nonviolent action, but tensions escalated around 4:00 PM when some protesters began hurling objects at police near the federal building, prompting a dispersal order. Aerial footage captured officers on horseback and in riot gear pushing back demonstrators, with one elderly woman in a wheelchair reportedly surrounded by police.
The protests were fueled by outrage over ICE raids that began on June 6, targeting immigrant communities in areas like the Garment District and Westlake, with at least 44 detentions reported. The deployment of 4,700 National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles, ordered by Trump over objections from Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass, further inflamed tensions. Bass, speaking at a morning press conference, urged peaceful protest, warning, “Please do not give the administration an excuse to intervene.” Despite her plea, clashes resulted in 523 arrests over the week, including 35 for curfew violations overnight on June 14, and nine LAPD officers injured. A citywide curfew from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM remained in effect to curb further unrest.
Social media posts on X amplified the protests’ intensity, with users like @AnthonyCabassa_ noting thousands chanting against ICE and @BuzzParade praising Angelenos’ fight against “fascist-authoritarian” policies. However, others, like @TheKevinDalton, criticized the aftermath, citing widespread graffiti left downtown. The LAPD reported significant property damage, including vandalism in Little Tokyo and a torched Waymo vehicle, with costs to the city nearing $20 million, including $16.9 million in police overtime. As protests wound down late Saturday, the LAPD and California Highway Patrol maintained a strong presence, with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals set to rule on California’s challenge to Trump’s National Guard deployment.
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