By Paige Austin and Fernando Haro / Patch / June 14, 2025
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 [very conservative estimate — more like 100,000] 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.”
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.
For more reports from Southern California and videos of police on horseback charging demonstrators, go here.
