More than 70 protesters were arrested Saturday evening in downtown Los Angeles after authorities deployed tear gas and pepper balls during a 'No Kings' demonstration. The confrontation occurred near the federal Metropolitan Detention Center, where demonstrators had gathered after hours of peaceful protests across the county. Police said the crowd ignored dispersal orders before officers moved in for mass arrests, including one protester dressed as the Statue of Liberty.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli posted on X that federal agents have video footage of individuals assaulting officers. 'To those who were smashing concrete blocks and throwing them at our officers, we have you on video. We will find you and arrest you too,' he wrote. The LAPD issued a citywide tactical alert due to the incidents, which included the use of tear gas canisters, bean bag rounds, and pepper spray.
The protest was part of a nationwide demonstration against President Donald Trump's administration, with at least 8 million participants across 3,300 events in all 50 states. Los Angeles saw significant turnout, with events planned in multiple cities. The arrests near the federal detention facility marked a tense escalation in an otherwise historic day of demonstrations.