Thousands gather in downtown Los Angeles as No Kings rally focuses on voting rights

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in downtown Los Angeles Saturday, Oct. 17, for a “No Kings” rally and march protesting President Donald Trump’s administration, federal immigration enforcement policies and what organizers describe as threats to voting rights ahead of the November midterm elections.

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The demonstration began around 1 p.m. Saturday at Gloria Molina Grand Park, near Los Angeles City Hall at 200 N. Spring St., as part of a nationwide day of protests organized under the No Kings banner.

A march began about an hour later, with participants following a roughly 1.5-mile route beginning on Spring Street before returning to City Hall. The event is scheduled to conclude around 5 p.m.

The rally, organized by 50501 SoCal in partnership with more than 30 organizations, is among thousands of demonstrations planned across the country Saturday.

The events took place two days after the Trump administration sued California election officials, asking a judge to bar the state from counting mail-in ballots from some 20,000 people the federal government has identified as “likely” noncitizens until their immigration status can be confirmed.

Among the speakers, California State Sen. Sasha Renee Perez, D-Pasadena, told the crowd that Trump is “trying to scare Californians out of voting,” citing the surge of immigration activity so close to the election.

“If your vote was not so powerful, we would not see this administration spending millions of dollars on Operation Safe California to terrorize our community,” Perez said.

“We are here to make it clear that we are not going to stand for this fascist regime in the White House, and it’s going to be on each and every single one of us to fight back so we can protect our democracy,” she continued.

Protesters then began marching, dancing, shouting and chanting while traversing First Street and Grand Avenue before looping back to City Hall from Temple Street.

Some carried American, Mexican and pride flags while the crowd chanted “(expletive) ICE,” “Yes on 40,” and “This is what democracy looks like.”

Some carried signs that read “Impeach, convict, remove,” “No kings,” and “Abolish ICE,” among others.

Marlene McRae, of Los Angeles, has attended multiple protests over the last few years to speak out against the current administration, she said.

Holding a protest sign while waiting to meet up with her daughter and grandson, McRae said she felt called to attend Saturday’s event at City Hall because she kept hearing people say voting doesn’t matter.

“This is not the country I love,” she said. “This is not the country we could be. We’re having things taken away from us and we’re having people tell us that everything’s okay and it isn’t.

“Your freedom is being violated,” she continued. “People are being killed on the streets of our country just because they came here to make a life.”

The event got off to a slow start Saturday, with roughly 100 people in attendance at the 1 p.m. scheduled start time. An hour later, the crowd swelled to a few hundred.

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“I’m not lying to anybody, this crowd is significantly smaller than it has been in the past,” speaker Jessica Denson told the crowd.

Organizers said the Los Angeles event focused on opposition to federal immigration enforcement actions, concerns about potential election interference and efforts to encourage eligible voters to participate in the upcoming midterm elections.

Other speakers Saturday included Assemblyman Isaac Bryan, D-Los Angeles, Jillian Burgos of Housing for All, activist Melina Abdullah, Ernesto Ayala, Shannon Rivers and Cliff Pinkerton of California Ranked Choice Voting, and Paul Ramirez, founder of Valley Defensa.

Musical performances by Izzy T and Shelton, along with a DJ set by Swage, were also planned.

Demonstrators were expected to carry handmade signs and two large balloons depicting Trump, including a 20-foot-tall balloon showing him wearing a diaper and a 15-foot-tall balloon depicting him in a Russian military uniform.

Organizers also planned a land blessing and drum circle by representatives of local Indigenous communities.

“The same administration that invaded our city is now threatening to interfere with our right to vote,” Aztlan Tenochtitlan, a spokesperson for 50501 SoCal, said in a statement.

Organizers said the demonstration is intended to build on protests that followed federal immigration raids in Los Angeles and the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to the region in June 2025.

The rally also featured voter outreach aimed at helping eligible participants understand their voting options and make plans to cast ballots.

Among the organizations participating in the Los Angeles demonstration are the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, Oxfam America, Black Lives Matter Grassroots LA, Public Citizen, Democratic Socialists of America-Los Angeles, Working Families Party and several local immigrant-rights and community groups.

A separate No Kings demonstration was scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Colorado Boulevard and Fair Oaks Avenue in Pasadena.

Organized by San Gabriel Foothills Indivisible, the Pasadena gathering also emphasized early voting and opposition to what organizers characterize as authoritarian actions by the Trump administration.

Rep. Judy Chu, D-Pasadena, Sen. Sasha Renee Perez, D-Pasadena and Pasadena City Councilman Rick Cole were invited to speak at the gathering, according to organizers.

Organizers of both demonstrations said they were committed to nonviolent protests.

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Correspondent Victoria Ivie and City News Service contributed to this report.