Los Angeles police took decisive action to disperse the remaining crowds at a peaceful anti-Trump protest downtown, using mounted officers and non-lethal means to clear an area near a federal building. Following the official end of the protest, a small group gathered outside a federal office building, taunting US marines deployed by Trump. Tensions escalated as the marines blocked protesters from advancing, leading to a dispersal order from the police and the deployment of tear gas.

The atmosphere shifted from earlier jubilant protests to a more confrontational stance, with some protesters resorting to protective gear as the standoff continued for over an hour. Mayor Karen Bass had previously implemented a nightly curfew in response to incidents of violence and vandalism on the fringes of peaceful demonstrations.

Police Chief Jim McDonnell emphasized the importance of upholding peaceful protest while enforcing the law, with a commitment to making arrests if necessary. The incidents of late afternoon clashes were not immediately addressed by city officials, with reports of injuries including a protester requiring stitches and another sustaining a broken finger.

The demonstration’s turn towards hostility contrasted with earlier scenes of unity between protesters and national guard troops. Mayor Bass had urged demonstrators to remain peaceful to avoid external intervention and to showcase the best of Los Angeles. The events underscored the ongoing tension between protesters and law enforcement in the context of political dissent and civil unrest.