Thousands of protesters are expected to hit the streets of Los Angeles and several other Southern California cities on Saturday as part of a nationwide “No Kings” rally against several controversial Trump administration policies.
More than a dozen demonstrations are scheduled to take place across the region. One of the largest is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. at Gloria Molina Grand Park in downtown L.A.
Pprogressive podcaster, author and MSNow, formerly MSNBC, contributor Brian Tyler Cohen; Assemblyman Issac Bryan, D-Los Angeles; and ex-Trump staffer Jessica Denson are expected to provide remarks. The event will feature a 20-foot-tall balloon of President Donald Trump wearing a diaper, a 20-foot-wide by 3-foot-tall banner that reads “No Kings for U.S.,” and thousands of handmade signs by participants as they march along a nearly two-mile stretch down Spring Street.
The L.A. protest is being organized by 50501 SoCal and Service Employees International Union Local 721, in partnership with Black Lives Matter Grassroots – Los Angeles, the Removal Coalition, Working Families Party, Black Women for Wellness, Clergy Laity United for Economic Justice, the TransLatin@ Coalition, Democracy Action Network, and the Human Liberation Coalition, among others.
SoCal 50501 is the Los Angeles chapter of the 50501 Group, which bills itself as “a peaceful, decentralized grassroots political movement with a mission to uphold democracy and constitutional governance.” Its name stems from “50 protests. 50 states. 1 Movement.”
A complete listing of events is available online.
It’s the second “No Kings” protest and third mass movement against the administration this year, and it comes amid an intensifying conflict between federal law enforcement and protesters nationwide.
Some conservative politicians have condemned the protests as “Hate America” rallies, while others say that it represents a “patriotic” fight for First Amendment rights.
Organizers are planning for a peaceful march and rally, but L.A. Mayor Karen Bass says the city will be ready for whatever happens.
“We absolutely support, and have to have, peaceful protests, period. That is a part of our American way, and no one should engage in any type of vandalism. And I’m referring to graffiti. I’m referring to violence of any type. That is completely unacceptable. And people will be held accountable. But the overwhelming majority of the protests have been peaceful. It’s important for people to express themselves. It’s unacceptable for there to be violence of any type,” Bass said.
People are advised to keep in mind that the downtown L.A. area could experience heavy traffic during the rally Saturday.
Crackdown on protests
Trump’s crackdown against protests, especially in Democratic cities, has intensified since the June marches. He has since sent National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and Memphis, Tenn. His efforts to deploy troops to Chicago and Portland, Oregon, have stalled in federal court.
Organizers in Chicago are expecting tens of thousands of demonstrators at a popular Lake Michigan park, followed by a downtown march.
Federal immigration agents have arrested more than 1,000 people in Chicago, the nation’s third largest city, with increasingly aggressive tactics since September. Protests have been frequent and well attended in recent weeks, and have boiled over in intense clashes outside a suburban federal immigration processing center.
“People are angrier. It feels so much more immediate,” said Denise Poloyac with Indivisible Chicago. “They’re very concerned about what’s happening in Chicago and around the country.”
The “No Kings” organizers have led numerous virtual safety trainings leading up to the protests with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, which is listed as an official partner on the “No Kings” website.
The trainings informed viewers about their rights during protests – such as whether you are required to carry ID or if wearing a mask is allowed (both vary according to each state) – and emphasized de-escalation techniques for encounters with law enforcement.
Each official protest has a safety plan, which includes designated medics and emergency meeting spots.
Mixed response from elected officials
The protests have already drawn swift condemnation from some of the country’s top politicians, with House Speaker Mike Johnson dubbing the event the “Hate America rally” at a news conference on Wednesday.
Some state leaders, like Texas’ Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, have decided to activate the National Guard ahead of the protests.
“Texas will deter criminal mischief and work with local law enforcement to arrest anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property,” Abbott said in a statement.
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom struck a more optimistic tone, saying he hopes Californians turn out in large numbers and remain peaceful. He said Trump “hopes there is disruption, there’s some violence” that he can exploit.
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The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report.