These Photos Capture How Police Escalated Saturday’s ‘No Kings’ Protest Into Violence in DTLA
"The police violence was totally unprovoked and has been the worst I've ever seen it in all my years of covering protesting," said photographer Kemal Cilenigr, who documented the day's shift from peaceful to besieged.
A woman chokes on tear gas fumes in Downtown L.A., June 14, 2025. Photo by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACO
By all accounts from we've seen from people on the ground, including on live broadcasts on corporate media, Saturday's "No Kings" protest started peacefully in Downtown Los Angeles and ended with violence spurred by authorities.
An estimated 200,000 participants were there, which included Angeleno families, children, seniors, and activists expressing their feelings with creative signs, performance art, dancing, and occasional costumes, all rallying against the Trump's administration's efforts to deport our families, neighbors, and friends.
Photographer Kemal Cilengir was at the protests to document a palpable, horrifying shift in the day's energy, telling L.A. TACO, "The police violence was totally unprovoked and has been the worst I've ever seen in all my years of covering protesting."
Here are a handful of Cilengir's photos from Saturday afternoon, showing both the peaceful energy of the protests, and the sudden flip to a crowd coming under what felt like an attack from law enforcement later in the afternoon.
Photo by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOA woman chokes on tear gas fumes in Downtown L.A., June 14, 2025. Photo by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPhoto by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOPolice deploying tear gas on No Kings Day protest in downtown Los Angeles last Saturday. Photo by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACO.Photo by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACOA hurt demonstrator at downtown L.A.'s peaceful protest on No Kings Day. Photo by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACO. Photo by Kemal Cilengir for L.A. TACO
“I’ve completely lost contact with my parents; in fact, they’re searching for them right now,” Full Arepas owner Kelly Montano says. “I have relatives searching for them in one of the buildings that collapsed. And I hope to hear from them today.”
In addition to two trompos, there are lorenzas, caramelos, campechanos, seafood tacos, taquitos, and “gringo” tacos, plus $4 street tacos, rib eye tacos, surf n’ turf tacos, and several varieties of vegetarian tacos. In summation: a whole lotta tacos.
“People don’t see the sober; they see the matcha,” owner Ruben Barcenas says. “They see some dope clothing. Undercover wellness. It’s how I approach everything.”
