On June 18, 2025, the No‑Kings movement continued to reverberate nationwide, marking its first major post-military parade demonstration. This grassroots mobilization, organized under the banner of “50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement,” drew millions on June 14 in a coordinated day of defiance against what participants describe as an authoritarian drift in the Trump administration. Simultaneously, Los Angeles remained a focal point of civil unrest, deeply scarred by swelling protests against ICE raids and a dramatic federal troop presence.
National ‘No‑Kings’: A Surge of Democratic Protest
The No‑Kings protests erupted on June 14, coinciding with former President Trump’s military parade in Washington and his 79th birthday. Participants rallied under slogans such as “No thrones. No crowns. No kings.” as millions gathered across more than 2,000 locations—including major cities like Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Houston, and the Bay Area.
Organized by the 50501 Movement along with Indivisible, the AFL-CIO, ACLU, and other progressive groups, the movement represents one of the largest demonstrations seen during Trump’s second term. Organizers claim upwards of five million people participated, calling it perhaps the largest single-day protest in U.S. history.
While largely peaceful, some cities witnessed intermittent violence and arrests. In L.A., tear gas and rubber bullets were deployed after objects were thrown at law enforcement. In Salt Lake City, a shooting at a “No‑Kings” rally hospitalized participants. Riverside, CA, also saw charges following a hit-and-run targeting peaceful protestors.
Los Angeles Under Siege: ICE Raids Ignite Protests
Ahead of June 14, Los Angeles had already been rocked by escalating protests sparked by widespread ICE raids. Beginning June 6, immigration enforcement actions across the city—including Home Depot locations, fashion districts, car washes, and detention centers—resulted in mass arrests and confrontations.
Mayor Karen Bass denounced the raids as terror-inducing and a dangerous overreach. On June 7, she declared emphatically: “We will not stand for this,” while urging calm even as some property damage occurred.
By June 8, federal forces—including roughly 2,100 National Guard members and 700 Marines—had mobilized under Joint Task Force 51 to protect federal buildings in downtown L.A. This represented the first deployment of active-duty Marines on U.S. soil since 1992. Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Bass both condemned the actions as unlawful, with California initiating legal action against the federal administration.
Protesters responded creatively and viscerally. They plastered neighborhoods with “missing person” posters depicting deported immigrants—“Missing son,” “Missing grandmother”—produced by community artists to humanize ICE’s actions. Simultaneously, they adopted tools like Amazon’s Neighbors app (similar to Ring) to monitor and report on ICE raids, transforming it into a grassroots alert network.
Intersection of Movements and Rising Tensions
The concurrence of No‑Kings and ICE protests underscores a moment of intensified civic engagement. Across the nation, demonstrators linked concerns over democratic erosion with aggressive immigration enforcement, viewing both as facets of increasing authoritarianism under the Trump administration.
In L.A., the state of emergency declared by the city reflects the intensity: more than 4,100 National Guard troops and 700 Marines remain deployed, while curfews cover designated areas in the downtown core. Senate Democrats have openly challenged the deployment of military forces for domestic law enforcement, citing constitutional concerns and the Posse Comitatus Act.
What Comes Next?
- Sustaining Momentum: Editorial boards and protest organizers argue that the No‑Kings Day needs transformation into ongoing mobilization. While one-time solidarity was significant, the next phase will test the movement’s resilience and policy impact.
- Legal and Legislative Pushback: California’s lawsuit against federal overreach may escalate to federal courts. Congressional Democrats are calling for limits on domestic military deployment, signaling potential legislative brakes .
- Policy Discourse: The protests have thrust immigration enforcement strategies and civil liberties into national debate. Policymakers may confront pressure to reevaluate ICE protocols, sanctuary city protections, and the safeguarding of democratic institutions.
A Historic Crossroads
The unfolding events reveal a deeply divided nation. On one side, protestors see their actions as a defense of democracy, civil rights, and immigrant justice. On the other, the government frames its actions as necessary defenses of law and order. The deployment of active-duty Marines and mass National Guard presence—weeks after massive demonstrations—have transformed L.A. into a contested civic arena.
As the No‑Kings movement and L.A. protests converge, America’s democratic fabric is undergoing a vigorous stress test. Whether this results in sustained reform, legal reckonings, or deeper societal division remains uncertain—but this moment stands unequivocally as a pivotal one in U.S. civil-rights history.
