Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Southern California on Saturday for the “No Kings Day” protests, voicing their opposition to President Donald Trump’s governance and policies.
The demonstrators characterized Trump as an aspiring monarch undermining democratic norms, especially as tensions have escalated between his administration and California leaders regarding the deployment of military forces to control protests that erupted due to recent immigration raids.
Protesters showcased a variety of signs that harkened back to America’s independence, featuring crossed-out crowns and multiple national flags, including those of the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador, along with messages such as “protest is patriotic.”
This display of opposition stood in stark contrast to events unfolding in Washington, D.C. on the same day, where Trump’s birthday coincided with extravagant celebrations marking the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary. The D.C. celebrations included concerts and a parade estimated to cost up to $45 million, featuring tanks and soldiers in fatigues.
Among the protesters, Michelle Verne, 56, detailed her concerns, stating, “All of our rights are being violated.” She marched among approximately 30,000 participants in downtown Los Angeles, holding a laminated copy of the Constitution that was shredded at the bottom.
Verne expressed her frustration with the current administration’s approach, noting, “We’ve had other administrations deport people, but not like this,” referring to the recent immigration enforcement actions targeting families in their homes and workplaces.
The demonstrators emphasized their love for the country, asserting, “We’re fighting for our rights.”
Nationwide, over 2,000 protests were planned, with numerous gatherings occurring in Southern California. The largest took place in downtown Los Angeles, alongside other marches in neighborhoods such as Woodland Hills, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, and South Bay.
Despite the serious nature of the protests, social media captured moments of festivity among the crowds, with state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo dancing with protesters at Plaza Olvera in downtown Los Angeles.
In Torrance, the community felt the impact of immigration raids firsthand, particularly after a 9-year-old student and his father were deported back to Honduras. Laurie Pisano, a retired school librarian from Rancho Palos Verdes, remarked on the emotional toll, lamenting, “When I saw that fourth-grade boy taken from his family, it gave me chills thinking of how scared he was.”
In Pasadena, participants flooded the intersection of Colorado Boulevard and Lake Avenue, prompting police to shut down the area to manage the surge in attendees.
While the protests were predominantly anti-Trump, there were also a few counter-demonstrators in favor of the president, who expressed support for what they termed “the largest domestic deportation operation” in U.S. history. Following nine days of immigration raids in Los Angeles, several hundred immigrants were detained, representing a small fraction of the estimated 11 million undocumented individuals in the nation.
The Trump administration has argued that such operations are necessary for public safety, emphasizing the capture of individuals with violent criminal histories. In contrast, opponents maintain that many of those detained are simply in violation of immigration laws and are not criminals otherwise. They highlighted the sense of fear that these operations have induced across mixed-status households, affecting citizens as well as legal visa holders and permanent residents.
Tensions surfaced even in areas typically supportive of Trump, such as Huntington Beach, where both pro and anti-Trump protesters confronted each other at a key intersection. Demonstrators wielding signs with phrases like “Make America Great Again” stood opposite those opposing Trump’s policies.
In West Hollywood Park, activists rallied around LGBTQ+ rights, using rainbow flags to underline their stance against Trump’s policies impacting transgender youth in sports. One activist, Magdalena Jamieson, stated, “He portrays us as un-American, as people who hate this country just because we come out against him. In reality, we are standing up against the ways he breaks the rules and harms people.”
Many attending the protests voiced their motivations as standing in solidarity with undocumented individuals too fearful to join the demonstrations themselves. Multiple interviewees discussed protesting as part of their democratic duty.
Jonathan Santiago, a 31-year-old from Burbank, articulated this sentiment: “How else are we going to express ourselves publicly in our society that something is wrong? The minute we are afraid to be ourselves outside, that’s when tyranny takes over.”
As the day progressed into the afternoon, a few hundred protesters gathered around a federal building downtown, which was heavily guarded by U.S. Marines. Demonstrators shouted “shame” and “we don’t want you” at the troops stationed at the entrance.
At around 4:13 p.m., the LAPD issued dispersal orders for the streets surrounding the building, warning that the situation had escalated, with some in the crowd throwing rocks and bottles.
“Less lethal has been approved. Less lethal may cause discomfort and pain. It is advised that all persons leave the area,” the LAPD stated in a message on social media.
Following this warning, police on horseback advanced on the crowd, attempting to clear the area. Witnesses reported seeing officers firing what seemed to be rubber bullets and forcefully dispersing the crowd. Violet Martinez, 23, described the chaotic scene, stating, “They put on their gas masks then began firing tear gas. There was no reason to do that.”
The Los Angeles protests, which started on June 6 following reports of impending immigration raids, have since grown, encompassing areas such as the Civic Center and surrounding neighborhoods. Incidents during this period have included brief highway blockages and reports of vandalism, with around 500 arrests made overall.
Mayor Karen Bass addressed the situation in a press conference Saturday morning, asking for peaceful demonstrations while highlighting that “the eyes of the world” are on Los Angeles. She urged protestors not to give the administration a reason to intervene and reminded them of an 8 p.m. curfew in effect that evening.
“Please, please, do not give the administration an excuse to intervene,” she warned, reinforcing the need for public order.
The mayor also referred to the absence of cooperation between the LAPD and federal authorities, adding to local leaders’ uncertainty about where federal troops would appear amidst the protest.
Bass shared her concerns about the unpredictability of federal involvement, saying, “We are functioning based on rumors that we hear. … I’m still waiting to hear if the president will take my call.”
She affirmed that police presence would remain strategic, stating her department would work under a unified command alongside the California Highway Patrol, the Sheriff’s Department, and the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The relationship between California leaders and the Trump administration has been strained since the protests began. A federal judge recently ruled that control of the National Guard must be returned to Governor Gavin Newsom, although a federal appeals court has paused that order.
In a notable exchange, Senator Alex Padilla was briefly detained by the FBI while attempting to ask a question to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a press event in Los Angeles this past week.
On Saturday, the Senate Democratic caucus joined Padilla in urging President Donald Trump to withdraw military personnel from Los Angeles, labeling the deployment as an “alarming abuse of executive authority.”
Their letter emphasized the detrimental impact of troop presence on public safety, stating, “The deployment continues to inflame the situation on the ground, and undermines the constitutional balance of power between the federal government and the states.”
In response to the escalating tensions and protests, President Trump defended his administration’s actions, asserting, “If I didn’t send the military into Los Angeles, that city would be burning to the ground right now. We saved L.A.” Local officials have disputed this characterization, arguing that the situation is more complex than the president depicts.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump addressed the “No Kings Day” protests, saying, “I don’t feel like a king, I have to go through hell to get stuff approved.” He emphasized the negotiations he must make with lawmakers, insisting, “No, no, we’re not a king, we’re not a king at all, thank you very much.”
image source from：https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-14/la-me-no-kings-marches-los-angeles
