LOS ANGELES, CA — June 14, 2025 — What began as a vibrant and largely peaceful protest in downtown Los Angeles erupted into confrontation Saturday night as police forces clashed with demonstrators in front of a federal detention center.

Thousands of people packed the streets near City Hall, raising signs, chanting, and marching to the sound of a Native American drum circle. The crowd, energized and defiant, carried messages of solidarity and resistance—some bearing signs that read “They fear us don’t back down California” and “We carry dreams not danger.”

In a display of both satire and protest, one participant waved a two-foot Trump piñata adorned with a crown and sombrero, while another floated a massive helium balloon caricaturing the former president as an orange infant. At one point, a hybrid Mexican-American flag fluttered above the crowd, held by Peter Varadi, 54, a one-time Trump voter who now calls his support a mistake.

“I voted for Donald Trump, and now I regret that,” Varadi said. “He’s taken this fascism to a new level. It’s Latinos now. Who’s next?”

The protest marked a flashpoint in growing national unrest after federal troops—among them, U.S. Marines in full combat gear—were deployed to major cities to secure federal property. It was the first visible appearance of Marines in a demonstration since their arrival on Friday.

As demonstrators passed troops stationed at city buildings, interactions were mixed. Some protesters offered fist bumps or posed for selfies. Others shouted, “shame” and “go home.”

By evening, the mood shifted. Though the day’s planned events had officially ended, large crowds remained downtown, dancing to salsa music and buying hot dogs and ice cream from street vendors—many of whom were Latino immigrants themselves.

That celebratory air was shattered when law enforcement officers on horseback advanced through the crowd near the federal building. Police wielded batons and wooden rods, striking protesters as they pushed to clear the streets.

An AP photographer captured the moment a law enforcement officer fired a less-lethal projectile into the crowd.

With tensions continuing to mount nationwide, Saturday’s events in Los Angeles highlight a broader conflict over the federal government’s response to civil unrest and immigration policy under President Trump’s second term.