Thousands of people are expected to rally at dozens of demonstrations in Southern California today as part of a massive, nationwide “No Kings Day of Defiance” protest against President Trump and his policies.

More than 1,500 events will be held nationwide, and demonstrations will take place throughout Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. A complete list can be found here.

The “No Kings Day” protests across the country coincide with a military parade the Trump administration is organizing on Flag Day in Washington, D.C., to mark the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday. It’s also Trump’s birthday, and his critics hope to send a clear message: “In America, we don’t do kings,” according to Indivisible, the progressive organization behind “No Kings Day.”

By around 9:40 a.m. thousands had already amassed at Long Beach’s Bixby Park – with the crowd lining both sides of Ocean Boulevard on either side of the street for several blocks in either direction.

The crowds were jubilant and defiant, donning signs saying “Stop racism,” “No kings” and “No one is illegal on stolen lands.”

Sarah Bettendorf, who came to Saturday’s Long Beach rally in Lady Liberty attire, said she chose to invoke that symbolism with her outfit before the Statue of Liberty stands for compassion.

“I’m Lady Liberty, and Lady Liberty stands for kindness, compassion and hope – we’re here to say no to the haters,” Bettendorf said. “We’re here to stand up for Constitutional Rights and protect all immigrants, because it is important to remember that there are no kings and that we all have rights.”

Bettendorf, who works in aerospace, added that she wasn’t surprised about the massive turnout on Ocean Boulevard.“I think having this many people in our country who are upset with the current regime and how the administration is attacking LA … I think this is absolutely apropos.”

Law enforcement agencies across the region are on heightened alert for the planned protests, including a large rally expected outside Los Angeles City Hall. Organizers say that one march will go to the gates of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis warned demonstrators that the “line is very clear” and not to cross it.

The 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew for a one-square-mile section of downtown Los Angeles after a week of protests against federal immigration raids will remain in place today. The curfew affects a portion downtown between the 5 and 110 freeways, and from the 10 Freeway to where the 5 and 110 merge. The area includes Skid Row, Chinatown, and the Arts and Fashion districts.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said there is no “termination date” for the curfew she imposed Tuesday in response to looting and vandalism during the protests against immigration enforcement operations.

By 9 a.m., around 100 people had begun gathering at Grand Park, across the street from Los Angeles City Hall on North Spring Street, where a line of uniformed officers in full tactical gear stood guard.

Protesters holding handmade signs formed a loose circle at the park. At the center, a man with a microphone led the group in what he described as a traditional Mayan prayer — facing and kneeling toward each of the four cardinal directions. He called for protection for immigrants facing deportation and urged peace.“We are going to do this protest in peace,” he told the crowd, “because that’s what our ancestors wanted.”

The Trump administration has abruptly shifted the focus of its mass deportation campaign, telling Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to largely pause raids and arrests in the agricultural industry and at hotels and restaurants.

“Our great Farmers and people in the Hotel and Leisure business have been stating that our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace,” President Donald Trump said in a Thursday social media post.

“In many cases the Criminals allowed into our Country by the VERY Stupid Biden Open Borders Policy are applying for those jobs. This is not good. We must protect our Farmers, but get the CRIMINALS OUT OF THE USA. Changes are coming!”

Those changes include stepping back from raids in the agricultural and hospitality industries, according to The New York Times, which cited an internal email and three U.S. officials with knowledge of the guidance from the White House.

Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto announced Friday that her office has filed misdemeanor cases against 14 people in connection with the immigration protests in downtown Los Angeles.

The charges include assault, exhibiting a deadly weapon, brandishing a replica gun, resisting arrest, obstructing or delaying a peace officer or emergency medical technician, unlawful assembly, remaining after being warned to disperse and trespassing, according to court records.

Roughly 200 U.S. Marines moved into Los Angeles on Friday to protect federal buildings amid the continuing protests over ongoing immigration raids.

Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, commander of Task Force 51 — the contingent of troops ordered into the city by Trump — said Friday morning the deployment of Marines in the Los Angeles area will free up the National Guard, who have been primarily protecting federal property over the past week of unrest, to serve a more protective role for federal agents conducting enforcement operations in the field.

“I would like to emphasize that the soldiers will not participate in law enforcement activities,” Sherman told reporters during a morning briefing. “Rather, they’ll be focused on protecting federal law enforcement personnel.”

Hundreds of Marines began arriving around midday Friday at the federal building in West Los Angeles.

The arrival of the Marines came one day after a federal judge in Northern California ordered Trump to return control of the California National Guard to Gov. Gavin Newsom, a ruling that was later paused by a federal appeals court. Trump federalized 2,000 National Guard troops last weekend as nightly protests ramped up in downtown Los Angeles in response to the immigration raids. Trump later added another 2,000 National Guard troops to the order.

Hours later, the ruling was stayed by a three-judge appellate panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, temporarily keeping the National Guard troops under federal control pending another hearing on Tuesday.

The “No Kings” theme was orchestrated by the 50501 Movement, to support democracy and against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. The name 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement.

The Army is set to celebrate 250 years with a parade that coincides with Trump’s birthday

Man suspected of throwing rocks, flaming object at CHP officers on 101 freeway arrested

Staff writers Jordan Darling, Michael Hixon, Kristy Hutchings, Victoria Ivie, Hanna Kang, Teresa Liu, Michael Slaten, Beau Yarbrough, Correspondent Julianna Lozada and City News Service are contributing to this report.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.