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Nevin Al Sukari - Sana'a - Demonstrators hold US flags and signs amid tear gas during a protest against US President Donald Trump’s policies and federal immigration sweeps during a No Kings Day demonstration in Los Angeles, California June 14, 2025. — Reuters pic
LOS ANGELES, June 15 — For hours, thousands of people in Los Angeles peacefully celebrated their defiance of US President Donald Trump Saturday with music, marching, bubbles and balloons — then police unexpectedly moved in, and chaos and confusion broke out.
The demonstration — part of the nationwide “No Kings” day of protests across the country — was by far the largest in more than a week of protests ignited by anger against immigration raids the Trump administration has been carrying out across the country’s second-largest city.
Like those before it, yesterday’s had been largely peaceful. A march that began in the morning had finished, with demonstrators milling about on a sunny afternoon as the scene took on the air of a street festival.
Then police unexpectedly began moving people away from the area, igniting confusion and anger among demonstrators caught off guard and unsure of where to go.
A demonstrator throws a tear gas canister back at law enforcement during clashes that erupted after authorities declared an unlawful assembly during the ‘No Kings’ protest against the Trump administration in Los Angeles on June 14, 2025 on the day of Trump’s military parade in Washington, DC. Tens of thousands of protesters rallied nationwide yesterday against Donald Trump ahead of a huge military parade on the US president’s 79th birthday — as the killing of a Democratic lawmaker underscored the deep divisions in American politics. — AFP pic
Police on horseback pushed crowds back as law enforcement fired tear gas and flash-bang grenades hours ahead of an 8pm (0300 GMT/11am Malaysian time) curfew.
A police spokeswoman later told local TV channel KTLA that a “small group of agitators” had begun throwing rocks, bottles and fireworks at officers, prompting the decision to order the crowd to disperse.
If people refused to leave, “we will make arrests,” she said, adding: “We have been patient all day.”
The clashes came after more than a week of demonstrations in Los Angeles against the immigration raids, which have rocked the city.
The protests have mostly been calm and contained to a small segment of downtown.
But at times they have spiralled into violence, which Trump pounced on to send in 4,000 National Guard and 700 Marines — an exceedingly rare deployment of soldiers on US soil against the will of local officials, who have repeatedly said the situation was under control.
The troops did not immediately appear to be involved in the clashes yesterday afternoon, with Los Angeles police and the sheriff’s department taking the lead.
People gather near a balloon depicting US President Donald Trump during the No Kings rally to protest against Trump’s policies in Chicago, Illinois June 14, 2025. — Reuters pic
‘No faux-king Trump’
The day had begun with Indigenous dancing at City Hall, as musicians played a light-hearted drumbeat on metal security barriers and street vendors filled the air with the smell of frying onions.
Then, beneath a giant balloon depicting Trump as a baby wearing a diaper, the demonstrators marched through downtown Los Angeles.
Parents brought their children, pet owners their dogs, and the lunchtime crowd at one popular market along the route enjoyed tacos and donuts as demonstrators passed by chanting while passing cars honked their support.
“No faux-king Trump,” read one sign as marchers chanted “Impeach Trump!”
Passing several armed National Guard in front of one federal building along the route, the protesters cried “Shame!”
Many of the signs had a light touch — “America, you in danger girl” read one, while another riffed on the acronym for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a favourite drink in Los Angeles: “ICE belongs in my matcha, not the streets.”
Others were more pointed.
Many involved the words “Trump” and various expletives. Some showed images of the president as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
“Santa Monica Fascist,” read one sign with a photo of Trump’s top immigration adviser Stephen Miller, who is from the coastal city west of downtown Los Angeles.
People waved flags — predominantly US flags, some upside down as a signal of distress; but also the flags of Mexico, El Salvador, South Korea, the Palestinians, California’s state flag, and the Pride flag celebrating LGBTQ rights.
“This isn’t a war zone,” protester Jennifer Franks, who was carrying her infant son, told AFP in front of City Hall earlier in the day.
“There is no reason to have the military called in here... I want my child to grow up in a nation where common sense pervades.” — AFP
A police officer looks on during a No Kings Day protest against US President Donald Trump’s policies, in New York City June 14, 2025. — Reuters pic
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