Tensions rise in downtown LA as police issue dispersal order following 'No Kings Day' protest

Thousands of demonstrators attended a "No Kings" march and rally Saturday morning in downtown Los Angeles, protesting against President Donald Trump before a Washington military parade marking the Army's 250th anniversary that coincides with the president's birthday.

A massive, boisterous crowd gathered in front of City Hall, waving signs and listening to a Native American drum circle and dance performances.

Signs included "Protesting is not a crime," "We carry dreams not danger" and "ICE out of LA." One demonstrator carried a 2-foot-tall Trump piñata on a stick, with a crown on his head and sombrero hanging off his back.

Thousands of demonstrators attended a "No Kings Day" rally in downtown Los Angeles, protesting against President Donald Trump before a Washington military parade marking the Army's 250th anniversary that coincides with the president's birthday.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Police Chief Jim McDonnell held a morning news conference to urge "No Kings" protesters to remain peaceful and to ensure the public that adequate resources were in place to keep the peace.

Bass said public safety agencies have "pre-deployed and pre- positioned" in preparation for the demonstrations, which are meant as a counterpoint to a planned military parade in Washington, D.C. on Saturday evening that coincides with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday.

Bass said the Los Angeles Fire Department is keeping Friday night's shift on call "to ensure we have the maximum number of personnel to effectively support our entire city," and is deploying resources to ensure medical assistance and firefighting support if needed.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Police Chief Jim McDonnell held a morning news conference to urge "No Kings" protesters to remain peaceful and to ensure the public that adequate resources were in place to keep the peace.

The California Highway Patrol is also continuing to provide enhanced support, and the city's Emergency Operations Center is coordinating logistics and is "poised to escalate" to a higher level of operations if necessary, Bass said.

The mayor repeated her call for protesters to remain peaceful.

"Please, please do not give the administration an excuse to intervene. Let's make sure we show the world the best of Los Angeles and our country. Let's stand in contrast to the provocation, escalation and violence," she said.

The mayor earlier said the nightly 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew covering a one-square-mile section of downtown Los Angeles will remain in place indefinitely, including Saturday.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass says there is no end date for the curfew in place for a portion of the downtown area.

Bass on Friday was joined by nearly 30 congressional and state legislators to call for an end to the immigration raids that have sparked protests since last week.

"What happened to the goal of violent felons, gang members? What happened to that?" she said. "Los Angeles is about diversity, about embracing the immigrant population, is about celebrating the fact that there are sectors of our economy that, frankly, would not function if it was not for immigrant labor."

The mayor added she hopes the curfew will be lifted once the raids end. The nightly curfew has been from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the Trump administration has now shifted its focus and has paused ICE raids on the agriculture, hotel and restaurant industries.

"No Kings Day" protests are set to be held in Southern California and throughout the country on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump's administration and to counterprogram the military parade in Washington, D.C., marking the U.S. Army's 250th birthday.

Here's a list of some of the protest locations across Southern California