'No Kings' Protests Largely Peaceful Across Southland With Violence In LA As Police Clear Crowds

LOS ANGELES, CA — Police in downtown Los Angeles declared the massive "No Kings" protest an unlawful assembly and aggressively cleared the remaining protesters. They fired rubber bullets into the crowd as well as tear gas and beat protesters with sticks. Some smaller protests such as an afternoon demonstration in Anaheim were also declared unlawful.

In Los Angeles, the violence erupted suddenly, marking a dramatic shift from what had been a peaceful "No Kings" demonstration with more than 30,000 people converging on downtown Los Angeles along with thousands more from San Diego to San Francisco.

Patch witnessed officers knocking demonstrators to the ground, charging into the crowd on horseback, shooting them with rubber bullets and beating them with long sticks. One officer fired rubber bullets into a cluster of journalists at close range, hitting at least one. One elderly man was charged and shoved to the ground by a Los Angeles Police Department officer.

A line of mounted LAPD officers used large wooden sticks to strike protesters as they attempted to disperse the crowd on Los Angeles Street between Aliso Street and Temple Street. The bulk of the violence occured near the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building, which is being guarded by the miltary. The LAPD put itself and some distance between the demonstrators and the military.

By declaring the protest an unlawful assembly, police are free to clear the area and arrest anyone remaining. This is the largest crowd they have faced all week, leading to the aggressive approach to clearing the streets.

It clearly caught protesters off guard.

After hours of mass crowds and peaceful protest, police moved in fast after declaring the assembly unlawful. Many demonstrators were still chanting "peaceful protest" when mounted officers began striking protesters with sticks.

There are reports online of protesters throwing rocks or water bottles at police. A Patch reporter at the front lines witnessed a water bottle thrown at the officers.

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said his department declared the protest unlawful after demonstrators became violent.

"The day started out very peaceful. We had a lot of people out here — about 30,000 people. It went very well up until the point where officers started being attacked: LAPD, LASD, and the CHP," he told NBC Los Angeles. "When that happened, dispersal orders were given for people to break up and leave the area. Those orders are given multiple times very clearly. Those who refuse to leave then are subject to arrest. Officers started taking rocks, bottles and missiles at that point from a high ground position over by the LA mall. At that point they deployed gas in order to disperse the crowd, some successful tactical maneuvers as well."

WARNING: THIS VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC LANGUAGE AND VIOLENCE

Jasmin Salinas, 22, said she attended the morning protest, went to work, and arrived back in time to see the shift from peace to chaos.

"Well, everything was peaceful. We were marching. I felt like the people were really together," she said. "We don't want to be pushed back, so we have to keep it peaceful, and I feel like we're just here, we're showing love."

Salinas said she and the other protesters around her were careful not to initiate violence. Earlier in the week, she was shot with three rubber bullets in the abdomen while being interviewed by a reporter at a protest, she said. Knowing how quickly things can turn violent, she said she tries not to give authorities reason to try to shut down the protest. Despite the danger, Salinas said she won't be intimidated.

She began protesting after seeing how afraid her mother is - too afraid to leave her home all week even to attend her son's graduation.

"So I'm just like, no, if she if she can't be out, I'm gonna be here 24/7.," said Salinas. "My mom needs her freedom, and I can't believe we're taking it, we're taking it away from all these people's moms, dads, brothers, sisters...I'm here, my voice is gonna be heard whether they like it or not."

EARLIER IN THE DAY

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.

Police in Los Angeles — a city on edge for more than a week in response to ICE raids — expected “unprecedented” protest crowds Saturday, said McDonnell. Saturday marks the eighth straight day of demonstrations in Los Angeles, and it coincides with the nationwide protest movement dubbed "No Kings."

By noon, more than 30,000 protesters had gathered in downtown alone. Thousands gathered in San Diego and Long Beach, and smaller marches began in Beaumont, Temecula, Riverside and Anaheim Saturday.

The largest crowd converged on downtown Los Angeles, where a march began at about 10:30 a.m. and worked its way down Broadway, entering Pershing Square at about 11:30 a.m.

"I'm here because I believe that Donald Trump has sold democracy and sold our country to the highest bidder, that he has no interest in common people. He has continuously lied about what he is planning on doing and has not been held to account by any of his supporters, so we're out here today to hold him to account," said Barbara Bullard, 73, of Pasadena.

Bullard said she wasn't intimidated by the prospect of violence because she lives close enough to Los Angeles to know that the protest violence from earlier this week was isolated.

"I expect to see a lot of people that love democracy, who believe our country was founded on the right principles and that we are a nation of immigrants," she said. "We must support those immigrants. And I do agree that we need to do a better job on the border, but throwing people out that have worked hard here have made California the 4th largest economy in the world? We didn't get here by ourselves."

Heather L., 56, Joined Saturday's protest with mixed feelings. She said she supports the sentiment of the protest, but she lives within the downtown curfew zone and has seen friends' businesses vandalized all week.

"I can't sit by, so I have to join everyone," she said. However, "It's been pretty weird here in my community, right?"

"It's hard because as much as I might agree with some of the feelings behind it, to watch my friends who have businesses here have their windows blown out, have to close, have graffiti all over, that's not the answer," she added. "Another part of why I'm here is to try to turn things around so that people can really understand what's the right way for us to come together and target things better and come to a resolution. I also couldn't stand by while they throw our senator to the ground."

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Heather L., who asked not to use her full name, said she sensed a lot of love and hope in the demonstration Saturday morning.

"You know, we were interacting, some of us marching down with the National Guard's people, and there was also a lot of love there. They're Californians like us. They're from every walk of life. So I think it does make me feel hopeful that maybe we can get past how things have been."

Police, Paramedics At The Ready

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 keep the peace.

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The mayor repeated her call for protesters to remain peaceful.

"Please, please do not give the administration an excuse to intervene. Let's make sure we show the world the best of Los Angeles and our country. Let's stand in contrast to the provocation, escalation and violence," she said.

Mayor Karen Bass said Friday that the curfew for a one-square-mile section of downtown Los Angeles will continue, at least until the weekend. Much of the violence, looting and vandalism that took place in the earliest days of the week's protests occurred late at night before the curfew was instituted.

The "No Kings" events are billed as a peaceful way to oppose the administration's "authoritarianism and show the world what democracy really looks like," say organizers at 50501, a national group that stands for 50 protests, 50 states, one movement.

"They've defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services," according to a website for the event, referring to the Trump administration. "The corruption has gone too. far. No thrones. No crowns. No kings."

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How many people are expected to participate?

The No Kings Day of Defiance was expected to be the largest single-day mobilization since Trump returned to office, organizers said. Organizers said they are preparing for millions of people to take to the streets across all 50 states and commonwealths.

Dozens of "No Kings" protests were scheduled across the Southland. To find the nearest "No Kings" protest, click here.

No Kings marches and rallies took place Saturday -- Flag Day -- when Trump is hosting a military parade to celebrate the U.S. Army's 250th birthday and his own 79th.

Opponents of the parade -- the nation's first since 1991's National Victory Celebration, which was timed to welcome returning veterans of the 100- day Persian Gulf War -- say it is a vanity project of a nascent dictator.

"President Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday," No Kings organizers say. "A spectacle meant to look like strength. But real power isn't staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else."

One of the largest crowds is the rally and march Saturday at Los Angeles City Hall, near the scene of recent clashes between law enforcement and protesters around immigration issues. Trump has deployed thousands of troops, including 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines, to Los Angeles, citing a need to support local law enforcement.

Riverside County

Multiple demonstrations were happening Saturday throughout Riverside County as part of the nationwide unrest associated with the "No Kings" movement.Protests are scheduled in two parts Saturday — the first being at 10 a.m., and the other around 6 p.m.

The morning assemblies were being held at the Walmart Supercenter on Second Street in Beaumont, Rimpau Park on East Ontario Avenue in Corona and the Duck Pond at Rancho California and Ynez roads in Temecula.

The evening rallies will be in Downtown Palm Springs Park at Belardo Road and Museum Way and along the Main Street Pedestrian Mall, near Main Street and University Avenue, in Riverside.

San Diego

Tens of thousands of San Diego County residents took to the streets Saturday for "No Kings" Day, a nationwide protest against the policies of President Donald Trump coinciding with a military parade in the nation's capital.

San Diego hosted two major rallies for No Kings Day. One kicked off at 10 a.m. at Civic Center Plaza, 1200 Third Ave., while the other took place at Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway. Both were set to conclude at Waterfront Park.

The two protest groups merged in front of the county building at Waterfront Park to an estimated 20,000 demonstrators, but most demonstrators had left the downtown area by 1:30 p.m. Officers remained on the scene to assist the public, according to the San Diego Police Department.

No arrests were made, and all roads were open, police said.

A factor keeping demonstrators from dispersing was related to trolley stations and bus stops overrun with passengers, leading to additional traffic congestion for motorists and public transit, Officer Anthony Carrasco told City News Service.

Beyond the two large rallies and marches in Downtown San Diego, other events were also scheduled throughout the county, including at 3:30 p.m. in Ramona 1000 Main St.; and at 4:15 p.m. in San Marcos at the corner of Grand and West San Marcos Boulevard and at 10 a.m. in Carlsbad.

Orange County

One of the largest protests in Orange County took place in Anaheim Saturday. A major tourist and service industry hub, Anaheim is largely dependent on the labor of immigrants.

Thousands of protesters carried signs opposing ICE and the Trump Administration at La Palma Avenue and Harbor Boulevard until police declared the assembly unlawful as the sun went down.
Sebastian Moreno, 22, said the march held a festive atmosphere.

"It was nice. Felt like a community and everybody was having fun," he said.