Authorities in Los Angeles deployed tear gas near a federal detention center and made dozens of arrests following one of thousands of “No Kings” rallies held this weekend across the United States and in Europe to protest President Donald Trump’s actions and the war in Iran.
The Los Angeles Police Department reported that 74 individuals were arrested for defying a dispersal order given after the rally concluded, with one person taken in for possessing a dagger.
While the overwhelming majority of protests across the country were peaceful, tensions escalated in Los Angeles with some protesters throwing rocks and debris at law enforcement, prompting the deployment of tear gas.
Andre Andrews Jr., an independent journalist and Navy veteran, documented the event, stating that some protesters retaliated by throwing gas canisters back at police. As incidents of violence marred the protests, other regions like Denver also declared unlawful assemblies and made arrests.
The nationwide movement saw participation from diverse communities, including from densely populated cities like New York to small towns like Driggs, Idaho. Protesters united, including high-profile personalities like Bruce Springsteen in Minnesota, to amplify their message against Trump's immigration policies.
Ezra Levin, of Indivisible, who spearheaded the events, estimated that around 8 million people participated in the rallies, marking a powerful and historic expression of dissent against current policies.
