Tag Archives: No Kings

“No Kings” Protests across LA Area

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Protesters at Hollywood and Vermont on Saturday.

I heard that thousands of people showed up for the “No Kings” protest in Downtown LA yesterday, but since I’ve been to a number of the gatherings at LA City Hall, I decided to check out some of the smaller local events. The No Kings organizers reported record turnout across the nation, and while you always have to be skeptical about the numbers given by organizers, it does seem like an increasing number of people are angry and frustrated about the direction the country is going in. The war in Iran, ongoing ICE raids and rising prices seem to be at the top of the list of grievances.

I first went to the protest at Hollywood and Vermont, where it looked like several hundred people showed up. Signs urged passing drivers to honk in support, and lots of drivers responded. I saw one older woman sitting with her hands over her ears. It was pretty loud.

The signs at the Hollywood protest covered a lot of issues.
Protesters marched back and forth across the intersection.
One woman sat with her hands over her ears. It was pretty loud.

Then I went to small rally held in Unidad Park on Beverly in Filipinotown. I’d say between 50 and 100 people showed up to listen to speeches and music. A number of groups had tables set up where volunteers were engaging attendees on various issues. And some kids were having a great time on the swings.

Attendees gathering in front of the stage at Unidad Park in Historic Filipinotown.

Canopies were set up to shield attendees from the sun.
A couple of kids were having a great time on the swings.

While I didn’t go to the main event at LA City Hall, I did pass through Downtown as I got off the bus to get on the train, and I ran into this group of teachers marching up Grand Avenue. They are not happy about what the current administration is doing to education. I assume they were heading to City Hall to join the crowd at Grand Park.

Teachers marching up Grand Ave. in Downtown LA.
The march was well organized and the teachers shouted out slogans as they headed north on Grand.

Then I headed down to Hawthorne, where a small but spirited group of protesters gathered at Hawthorne Blvd. And 120th. Attendees stood with signs and flags, marching back and forth across the intersection. They also got some appreciative honks from passing drivers.

Protesters gathered at Hawthorne Blvd. and 120th.

The crowd urged passing drivers to honk in support.

As the lights changed, protesters walked back and forth across the intersection.

I don’t see these protests going away. It seems like there’s growing frustration with the way things are in the US right now. It will be interesting to see what happens in the mid-term elections.

“No Kings” Protests across Los Angeles

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Photo taken on Olympic Blvd. in Downtown LA

US ships are firing on boats off the coast of Venezuela. Masked ICE agents are grabbing people off the street. Troops have been sent into cities governed by Democratic leaders. The Federal government has cut billions in funding for universities that don’t teach what the President wants them to. This is the new reality under Trump, and millions of Americans are seriously concerned about what they believe are grave threats to democracy and the Constitution.

On Saturday people across the US turned out for No Kings rallies to voice their opposition to the current administration. According to the LA Times, 2,700 protests were scheduled to take place, about 600 more than for the previous day of protest in June. According to the No Kings organizers, more than seven million people turned out to protest yesterday. There were events scheduled throughout the LA area, including Beverly Hills, Burbank, Glendale, Hollywood, Lynwood, Long Beach, Torrance and Whittier.

I went to the protest in Downtown LA and took some photos. Actually, the photo at the top of this post was taken several blocks south of the event on Olympic Boulevard. I snapped it while I was on my way to the protest. Something about the size and the colors seemed to capture the urgency of the moment. When I arrived at the Civic Center, crowds were marching into Grand Park carrying all sorts of signs and wearing all sorts of costumes.

Protesters gathered at City Hall in Downtown LA.

Crowd gathered near the steps to LA City Hall.

The fact that many protesters carried US flags seems to undercut the argument that they’re anti-American.




A friend of mine sent me these photos from the protest in Burbank. Looking at these photos it struck me how much that city has changed over the years. When I was growing up in Burbank, it was a fairly conservative town, and I don’t recall ever seeing a protest on this scale in the 60s and 70s. This kind of activism shows how much the city’s politics have shifted. The gathering was held at the intersection of Buena Vista and Verdugo.

Many protesters expressed their anger over troop deployments in US cities. Photo by Michael Golob.
I don’t remember seeing anything like this when I was growing up in Burbank. Photo by Michael Golob.
Some protesters wore colorful costumes. Photo by Michael Golob.
When the introverts are angry, watch out. Photo by Michael Golob.

Thousands gathered at Pasadena City Hall to demonstrate against the Trump administration. Speakers included Congressional Rep Judy Chu, Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo and Councilmember Rick Cole.

No Kings protest in Pasadena. Photo by Denise Goddard.
Another image of Pasadena No Kings protest. Photo by Denise Goddard.


On my way to Downtown, I stopped at the Hollywood event. Protesters gathered at the intersection of Hollywood and Vermont. As people waved signs, drivers passing by honked their horns.

A lively crowd gathered at Hollywood and Vermont.
Passing drivers honked their horns in sympathy.

The crowd spilled off the sidewalk and onto the street.


I am really worried about the future of this country, but I’m also really encouraged by the scale of the response. Not only do millions of people think we’re going in the wrong direction, but many of them are willing to show up at events across the country to make their anger known. It ain’t over yet.