Millions protest at 'No Kings' rallies in U.S.

In L.A. and 3,300 other sites, crowds criticize Trump, ICE, war and affordability.

- BY MEG JAMES, JACK FLEMMING, CONNOR SHEETS AND NICOLE MACIAS GARIBAY

SANDRA Henderson of Hesperia joins other members of the dance group La Muerte de Maria at the start of L.A.'s "No Kings" march.

A rolling wave of “No Kings” protests swelled through America’s small towns and big cities Saturday, with crowds gathering to blast President Trump, Immigration and Customs Enforcement crackdowns, the war in Iran and high gas and food prices.

Saturday's demonstrations were expected to draw millions of people nationwide, including thousands for a downtown Los Angeles rally. More than 40 protests were planned for L.A., Orange and Ventura counties, part of the national “No Kings Day of Nonviolent Action.”

No Kings Coalition organizers were hoping that turnout for the rallies in all 50 states could combine to form the largest single-day protest in U.S. history. They pointed to growing anger over the country’s direction, including fatal ICE shootings and troops dispatched to the Middle East, since the first “No Kings” demonstration was held last June.

Late Saturday, organizers estimated that at least 8 million people participated in 3,300 events held around the U.S. and overseas — an increase of 1 million demonstrators compared with the last “No Kings” event in October.

“I'm very disturbed by the degradation of human beings and the destruction of our democracy under this Trump tyranny,” said Rossana Foote, a 62-year-old Los Angeles Unified School District teacher, who traveled to the downtown protest from her Ventura County home.

“We need to come together to show a strong voice, a strong movement that there are no kings, no one’s above the law,” Foote said.

Earlier in the day, hundreds gathered around the reflecting pool at Pasadena City College.