Dispersal Order issued as downtown Los Angeles ‘No Kings’ protest ends in arrests and tear gas
Los Angeles saw a dispersal order on Saturday as police moved in hours after thousands gathered for a massive “No Kings” protest in downtown Los Angeles. The day began with a peaceful rally and march, but later turned chaotic outside the Metropolitan Detention Center near the Federal Building as officers and a remaining crowd confronted each other. By Saturday night, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) was on Tactical Alert, blocking roads and arresting people who refused to leave, as tear gas and other crowd-control measures were deployed.
What unfolded near the Metropolitan Detention Center
Eyewitness video and on-scene observations described a heavy police presence on Alameda Street near Aliso Street, where officers in tactical gear formed a skirmish line. Over a dozen people were seen handcuffed and lined up against a wall as arrests began in the area.
LAPD stated that protesters were attempting to tear down a chain-link fence blocking the Metropolitan Detention Center. Video showed several agitators throwing objects over the fence, and authorities said an unlawful assembly was declared after people began throwing rocks, bottles, and concrete at federal officers.
Around 5: 30 p. m. ET, officers began confiscating items from the crowd and using tear gas to get the crowd under control. Additional video showed tear gas canisters being thrown into the crowd, and crews at the scene spotted some people who appeared to come prepared for escalation, including individuals wearing respirators.
Dispersal order, Tactical Alert, and arrests
The dispersal order came as the situation deteriorated after the main rally and march had ended. LAPD went on Tactical Alert by Saturday night, a posture that coincided with road blockages and a stepped-up enforcement response near the Federal Detention Center area.
LAPD ultimately shut down Alameda Street between Arcadia Street and Temple Street and took several people into custody. Among those detained was a woman dressed as Lady Liberty. By about 9 p. m. ET, it appeared conditions had mostly calmed down in the area, and the LAPD Tactical Alert ended.
Separate accounts from the same night described police surrounding a group of about 150 people and arresting those who declined to disperse. Officers fired pepper balls and tear gas into the group, and additional crowd-control rounds were used in the push to clear the area.
Immediate reactions from officials and people at the rally
Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles, urged demonstrators to keep the focus on safety and democratic participation. “Peaceful protest is our constitutional right, ” Bass wrote on Facebook. “When people come together to make their voices heard, that is democracy in action. Please stay safe and look out for one another. ”
Among those who attended earlier in the day, participants framed their presence as a response to concerns about the direction of the country.
- Don Napoli said, “I’m out here today because I spent four years in the army… you’ve got somebody that is in total power that is overwriting our constitution. ”
- Patrick Feliciano said, “I feel like our administration is currently taking us down a path of fascism, and I feel like it’s destroying our democracy. ”
Quick context on the protest footprint
The downtown Los Angeles demonstration was described as the largest in Southern California, with the main gathering at Gloria Molina Grand Park across from City Hall. Organizers described the day as a major nationwide mobilization, saying millions participated across thousands of events.
What’s next
With the Tactical Alert ending by about 9 p. m. ET and streets reopening after the shutdown on Alameda Street, attention now shifts to how authorities process the arrests made after the dispersal order and the unlawful assembly declaration. Officials are expected to continue managing protest activity around the Metropolitan Detention Center area, which has seen repeated face-offs since the start of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown last year.
