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.
Los Angeles police said Sunday that 74 people were arrested for failing to heed a dispersal order that was given after Saturday's rally ended. One other person was taken into custody on suspicion of possessing a weapon that police described as a dagger. The arrests stood out from what otherwise were mostly peaceful protests.
Organizers said there were more than 3,100 events registered in all 50 U.S. states. As hundreds of protesters surrounded a federal complex in downtown Los Angeles, some threw rocks, bottles and broken concrete blocks at officers, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a statement late Saturday night.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive organizers framed the "No Kings" rallies as a historic display of resistance to Trump's policies, particularly his administration's aggressive immigration enforcement and approach to the war in Iran. Ezra Levin, co-executive director of Indivisible, which spearheaded the events, called Saturday's demonstrations powerful, historic, joyful and boisterous.
"I'd say it went pretty well," Levin said Sunday. Organizers estimated the first two rounds of No Kings rallies drew more than 5 million people in June and 7 million in October, with Levin estimating at least 8 million participants showed up Saturday.
In Minnesota, a flagship event on the Capitol lawn in St. Paul featured Bruce Springsteen as headliner to celebrate resistance to Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement. Progressive outlets and organizers emphasized the breadth of participation, noting rallies occurred in states Trump carried with 66% of the vote in 2024, including eastern Idaho.
Independent journalist Andre Andrews Jr., who walked the entire route of the Los Angeles rally and captured video of the event, defended the peaceful protesters. "The peaceful protest was good for the cause," he said. "You have the right to do that."
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative critics pointed to the violence and property destruction in Los Angeles as evidence of escalating radicalism among anti-Trump protesters. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a statement late Saturday night documenting the incidents, noting that some protesters threw rocks, bottles and broken concrete blocks at officers.
Two officers who were struck by concrete blocks sustained undetermined injuries and received medical attention, DHS said. Police said those arrested included eight juveniles. A woman dressed as the Statue of Liberty was also detained, though she was described as smiling during her interaction with officers.
In Denver, the police department said on social media that it declared an unlawful assembly and deployed smoke canisters after a small group of protesters blocked a road and did not leave as asked. At least eight people were arrested, with a ninth person later taken into custody for throwing objects.
Critics on the right have increasingly characterized large-scale protests against Trump as disruptive and, in some cases, dangerous. The arrests in Los Angeles, where authorities deployed tear gas after the dispersal order was given, represent one of the more significant confrontations during this round of demonstrations.
What the Numbers Show
In Los Angeles, 74 people were arrested for failing to disperse after a dispersal order was given following Saturday's rally. One additional person was arrested on suspicion of possessing a dagger.
Two officers sustained injuries after being struck by concrete blocks thrown by protesters, according to DHS. Those arrested included eight juveniles.
Nationwide, organizers said there were more than 3,100 events registered in all 50 U.S. states, with an estimated 8 million participants, according to Ezra Levin of Indivisible. This represents an increase from earlier "No Kings" rallies that drew 5 million in June and 7 million in October.
In Denver, at least eight people were arrested during protests there, with a ninth person later taken into custody for allegedly throwing objects. The demonstrations extended to more than a dozen other countries, according to Indivisible.
The Bottom Line
The "No Kings" rallies drew their largest turnout yet, with organizers estimating 8 million participants across more than 3,100 events nationwide. The vast majority of protests remained peaceful, but the Los Angeles demonstration resulted in significant confrontations between protesters and law enforcement.
The 74 arrests in Los Angeles, along with the injuries to two officers, highlight the tension that can emerge when large-scale protests meet strict enforcement. DHS officials documented rock and bottle throwing, as well as concrete block attacks on police.
The protests reflected continued opposition to Trump's policies, particularly regarding immigration and the war in Iran. Organizers called the events successful, while critics pointed to violence and property destruction as evidence of escalating radicalism. What remains clear is that the "No Kings" movement has grown substantially since its inception, drawing millions across the political spectrum in what organizers describe as a sustained effort to resist administration policies.