With growing dissatisfaction toward President Trump, more and more people across California are joining rallies and participating in protests against both the current administration and the president himself. One of the most prominent demonstrations recently was the No Kings rally, which took place on Trump’s birthday. It is arguably one of the largest protests in the United States in recent years. In response, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), along with other law enforcement agencies throughout California, was deployed in significant numbers.
However, it became clear that some officers were overreacting, displaying aggressive behavior while wearing heavy gear and arriving in overwhelming force. A striking example of this can be seen in the amount of money spent by the City of Los Angeles. According to data released by LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, who serves as the city’s official accountant and auditor, the city has spent an estimated 11,463,435 dollars. This figure mostly reflects the city’s response costs such as labor, particularly those associated with the LAPD, with the remainder going toward cleanup and damage repairs.
People who participated in the protests across Los Angeles could feel the direct effects of this taxpayer-funded response. One Reddit user remarked on how excessive the law enforcement presence was, especially when compared to other cities. They pointed out the difference between how protesters were treated by the LAPD in Los Angeles versus how they were treated in Pittsburgh.
User huggablekoi shared that the police presence in Pittsburgh was minimal. Officers there mostly focused on redirecting traffic and even actively encouraged counter-protest agitators to leave. There were no riot police, no shields, no mounted units, no coordinated formations, no snipers, and no brandishing of batons or so-called less-than-lethal weapons. This stood in stark contrast to the LAPD’s approach in Los Angeles, where heavily equipped officers, tactical formations, and an intimidating show of force were a common sight throughout the demonstrations.
“This is how it SHOULD be. Everyone was safe. And yes, the crowd was smaller since it’s a smaller city, but the vibe and intensity were the same as the LA protests I’ve been to,” the user wrote.
They were not the only ones disturbed by the level of force used by Los Angeles police. Another user, AimlessExplorer, shared their own experience with officers. Before even reaching the protest area, they were suddenly approached by police, who handcuffed them with very little explanation. Officers later claimed the user had committed a traffic violation involving a stop sign at the intersection of Garces and 8th Street and that a unit had been following them.
The user was confused, especially since they had already parked, exited their vehicle, and spent several minutes gathering snacks, water, and protest signs before encountering the officers.“I don’t think that’s cause enough to snatch, handcuff, and frisk me like this for a civil traffic ticket. And I’m pretty sure I made that stop sign,” they said.
Other internet users who saw how much money the City of Los Angeles spent on the LAPD just to manage protesters were shocked. Many viewed the spending as a waste of public funds that could have been better used for essential services like healthcare, housing, or community programs. One user sarcastically remarked, “Our tax dollars hard at work.”
