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
The 4th Circuit has become the first federal appeals court to enforce laws restricting gender-affirming surgeries. “It is not irrational for a legislature to encourage citizens to appreciate their sex and not become disdainful of their sex,” Judge Julius Richardson said.
ICE activity still continues at a slower pace, but it has not disappeared. This past weekend was a rare, quiet one. What we’re seeing is that ICE is laying low, sticking to courthouses, jails, and check-ins, especially from their special ISAP unit.
"I expect this kind of lawlessness from ICE, I don’t expect the hospitals to be complicit in that lawlessness and detain people," says Thomas Harvey, one of Leonardo Martinez's lawyers, after the hospital refused to remove his handcuffs.
Mate has been enjoyed in the region for centuries, originally by the Indigenous Guaraní people and eventually spread by Jesuit missionaries. In time, the drink became a symbol of unity and togetherness since it is a common pastime in Argentina.
Despite those who found street closures a nuisance, the overall consensus was that this city shows up for its people. In a time when community is most needed, supporters showed up with a level of commitment L.A. could use more of these days.
