Tens of hundreds of protesters gathered between Gloria Molina Grand Park and the steps of Los Angeles City Hall. As the demonstration continued, members of 50501 SoCal and local city officials, including Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, took the stage.
Pérez urged protesters to channel their energy into voting in this year’s California special election.
The protest also featured a performance by Los Jornaleros del Norte, a band founded by day laborers who use music to amplify immigrant and workers’ rights.
Known for blending traditional cumbia with political lyrics, their set energized the crowd, with actor Pedro Pascal spotted dancing to their song “Cumbia Contra La Migra.”
Later in the day, a group of protesters split off and marched toward the Los Angeles Police Department Detention Center. As tensions escalated, dozens of LAPD officers arrived on the scene. Around 7 p.m., police declared an “unlawful assembly” in the area and began dispersing protesters. Fourteen people were arrested.
A banner reading “Trump Must Go Now. RefuseFacism.org” is displayed outside a fenced area at the Gloria Molina Grand Park in Downtown Los Angeles during the anti-Trump, ‘No Kings’ protest. Photo courtesy of Valeria Macias. 
Protesters dressed in taco costumes gather in Downtown Los Angeles to criticize President Donald Trump’s trade policies, referencing the nickname “TACO,” coined by Financial Times Columnist Robert Armstrong, short for “Trump Always Chickens Out.” Photo courtesy of Valeria Macias. 
Protesters bring an inflatable “Baby Trump” balloon at the ‘No Kings’ protest, calling for Trump’s removal from office. Photo courtesy of Valeria Macias. 
Proposition 50 protest signs are displayed as the California special election is approaching and local city officials urge voters to say ‘Yes on 50’. Photo courtesy of Valeria Macias. 
Demonstrators display handmade signs opposing federal immigration enforcement during the “No Kings” protest in downtown Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Valeria Macias. 
Los Jornaleros del Norte are a Los Angeles–based band formed by immigrant day laborers who use music to uplift undocumented workers and advocate for immigrant rights. The group performed during the “No Kings” protest in downtown Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Valeria Macias. 
Aztec dancers carry a Mexican flag, perform a traditional danza in downtown Los Angeles, bringing Indigenous culture to the demonstration. Photo courtesy of Valeria Macias. 
A couch tagged with the words ‘J.D. Vance waz here’ references the viral internet meme surrounding Vice President J.D. Vance and a debunked rumor about an encounter with a couch. Photo courtesy of Valeria Macias. 
Isabella Garcia and Sandra Salamanca, two first-generation Americans, hold up their signs during a march advocating for the rights of undocumented families. Photo courtesy of Valeria Macias.
Isabella Garcia and Sandra Salamanca, two first-generation protestors, said they joined the march to stand up for their undocumented families and others affected by current policies.
“What’s going on right now is unfair. It’s illegal, and we need to speak out, for our rights and for future generations,” Garcia said. “Trump is trying to impose an authoritarian regime, and we’re not about that. We’re a democracy, and we need to voice our rights.”
For Salamanca, the protest was both powerful and emotional. “This is my first protest,” she said. “It’s heartwarming to see so many people who feel the same way, to know we’re not alone, that we have others out here with us.”
Community members hand out water and snacks to protestors to help them stay hydrated during the march. Photo courtesy of Valeria Macias.
The two sisters spent the afternoon distributing water, snacks, masks, and other supplies to demonstrators, saying they wanted to ensure protestors stayed safe and energized. The pair said they regularly volunteer outside local immigration detention centers, where they hand out food and essentials to families waiting for their loved ones’ release.
Community members hand out flowers to protestors during the rally outside the detention center with LAPD, emphasizing the demonstration’s peaceful intent. Photo Courtesy of Valeria Macias. 
Community members hand out flowers to protestors during the rally outside the detention center with LAPD, emphasizing the demonstration’s peaceful intent. Photo Courtesy of Valeria Macias. 
Tensions rise between protesters and LAPD as they block off all four entries of the Los Angeles Police Department Metropolitan Detention Center. Photo Courtesy of Valeria Macias. 
A protest sign reading “Young. Scrappy. Anti-Fascist. Tomorrow, there’ll be more of us” is displayed during a demonstration in Downtown Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Valeria Macias. 
A mother brings her child to speak with police officers during the rally outside the LAPD Detention Center. After the child began crying in fear, one officer removed his helmet and offered a fist bump to ease tensions. Photo courtesy of Valeria Macias. 
A mother brings her child to speak with police officers during the rally outside the LAPD Detention Center. After the child began crying in fear, one officer removed his helmet and offered a fist bump to ease tensions. Photo courtesy of Valeria Macias. 
As demonstrators blocked the intersection of East Aliso and Alameda Street , a protester stepped in to direct traffic and help ensure the safety of both participants and drivers. Photo courtesy of Valeria Macias. 
Protesters gather near the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles, waving signs and the Mexican flag as passing drivers honk in support. Photo courtesy of Valeria Macias.