Thousands gather in downtown LA for 'No Kings Day' rally

Millions rally for 'No Kings' protest

Across the country, including Los Angeles County, "No Kings" demonstrations were held to protest against the Trump administration's policies.

LOS ANGELES - Thousands of people gathered in downtown Los Angeles and hundreds others gathered in Covina Saturday for "No Kings Day" demonstrations against the Trump administration. 

More than a dozen protests occurred across Southern California as part of a nationwide day of action.

The demonstration in downtown Los Angeles began around 2 p.m., and featured a march down a nearly two-mile stretch of Spring Street and a rally outside City Hall and Gloria Molina Grand Park. 

Earlier in the day, a few blocks away, another "No Kings" protest took place outside Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters. The group of union employees marched to join the larger demonstration near City Hall.

In Covina, many took to the streets with signs in hand to send a clear message to President Donald Trump.

While demonstrators had their reasons for rallying on Saturday from the government shutdown to the economy, in Covina one of the biggest issues for people was the Trump administration's federal immigration enforcement in Los Angeles.

'No Kings' protest against Trump in Covina

A "No Kings" protest against the Trump administration's policies was held in Covina.

"Even though I'm born and raised here in California, I'm afraid of going out because of the way I look," said one woman at the rally in Covina. "I know how terrified our Hispanic community is to go outside and that's very important, that's one of my driving forces to be out here."

Many in Covina are hoping their chants will be heard and bring much needed change at the federal level.

"It's so awesome to see people come together like this, we're all here together," said one demonstrator.

Teachers join 'No Kings' demonstrations

Educators across Southern California also joined the "No Kings" demonstrations demanding full funding for education.

What they're saying:

Signs, flags, and people in costume filled the park, hoping to make their opposition to President Trump's policies known.

"I wanted to represent what I think America really stands for. Which is not just about white people running everything, it's about all of us being immigrants and coming from other countries and coming together to form a better country that represents all of us," said a protester named Matt, who was dressed as Uncle Sam.

A clear message at both rallies was speaking out for immigrant rights.

"I am an immigrant and I was raised in this country and it breaks my heart to see this happen, it really does. I've been in this country, I work for this country, and I love this country and to see them use us as a scapegoat, it hurts," said Yeni, a protester.

The LA 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 50501, 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 at nokings.org, but among them were the following:

• 10 a.m. at Alhambra Park, 500 N. Palm Ave.;
• 11 a.m. at Sherman Oaks Galleria, 15301 Ventura Blvd;
• 11 a.m. at Palisades Park, Ocean Avenue and Palisades Avenue, Santa Monica;
• Noon at Lakewood City Hall, 5050 Clark Ave.;
• Noon at Atlantic Avenue and Imperial Highway, Lynwood;
• Noon at Malibu Library, 23519 W. Civic Center Way;
• 1 p.m. at Pasadena City Hall, 100 Garfield Ave.;
• 2 p.m. at Roxbury Park, 471 S. Roxbury Dr., Beverly Hills;
• 2:30 p.m. at Abraham Lincoln Park, 300 N. Buena Vista St.;
• 4 p.m. at Whittier City Hall, 13230 Penn St.;
• 11:30 a.m. at Huntington Beach Pier, 103 Pacific Coast Hwy;
• Noon at Jamboree Road & Pacific Coast Hwy, Newport Beach; and
• 2 p.m. at 3000 W. Edinger Ave., Santa Ana.

Dig deeper:

Saturday's events are a follow-up to the first "No Kings Day," held on June 14, which had more than five million people who participated nationwide, according to organizers.

"America has no kings and working Americans will not stand by as a wannabe dictator wages war on our rights and our democracy," said David Green, president and executive director of SEIU Local 721, which represents more than 100,000 workers.

"Enough is enough. We will stop this authoritarianism in its tracks and work to revitalize and enhance our democracy, our rights, and our nation. We will not accept a regime that aims to put the interests of billionaires ahead of our families, workers, and communities," he added.

The other side:

Republicans have criticized the planned protests, describing them as "hate America" rallies and claim they're exacerbating the federal government shutdown.

Traffic in the area 

Traffic was being severely impacted in the area, with a section of Spring Street closed and motorists advised to avoid the Civic Center area. Alameda Street between Aliso and Temple was also closed, along with a handful of off-ramps from the Hollywood (101) Freeway, and bus routes were also being detoured.