Los Angeles, United States - October 18, 2025 10/18/2025 12:00 am GMT-0700 LAKEWOOD, Calif. – Thousands of demonstrators gathered Saturday in Southern California as part of the nationwide “No Kings” protest movement, a coordinated event sweeping across more than 2,600 U.S. cities. A crowd of several thousand people assembled in front of the Lakewood City Hall around noon for the protest. Demonstrators filled the area near the Lakewood Civic Center, holding signs and calling for changes in local leadership and government accountability. The large turnout caused heavy foot and vehicle traffic in the area, with participants spilling onto nearby sidewalks and streets. The protest remained peaceful, and no major incidents were reported as of this afternoon. Organizers emphasize that the “No Kings” protests represent a broader campaign against what they describe as the consolidation of presidential power, erosion of democratic norms, and disregard for civil-service protections. The movement’s message: that the U.S. is not meant to be ruled by a king. In Washington, D.C., and across the country, speakers and activists rallied under the same banner, linking the Lakewood event to the national effort. While scheduled protests in many cities remained peaceful, some locations — particularly Los Angeles in previous waves — have seen tension with law enforcement, leading to curfews and crowd-control measures. Supporters say the movement is a patriotic expression of civic engagement; critics — particularly some Republican officials — have labeled it “anti-American” or tied it to extremist groups.