The largely peaceful protests during the "No Kings Day" demonstration in downtown Los Angeles took an intense turn in the afternoon. Police ordered the crowd to disperse at about 4:15 p.m. PDT near Alameda Street and Temple Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department's Central Division.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire had only praise for the way the No Kings rally unfolded. "I just think we witnessed Houston at its best – I'll use the word ‘spectacular,'" Whitmire said in a mid-afternoon phone call.

Texas police say there are more than 8,000 in attendance at the Capitol for Saturday's 'No Kings' protest. Follow for live updates.

In a rare display of unity, Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo have jointly declared that the city does not require federal assistance to manage the planned "No Kings" protests scheduled for this Saturday.

Many peaceful protests took place across the Valley this weekend for No Kings Day, and police say only a handful of arrests were made. One shooting was also reported near a protest, police said; however,

No Kings!” chants at the No Kings Alexandria Rally were met with the sharp sound of a whistle from a President Donald Trump supporter.

The demonstrations come on the heels of protests flaring up around the country over federal immigration enforcement raids that began last week and Trump ordering National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles where protesters blocked a freeway and set cars on fire.

A sweeping wave of protest swept across the country this weekend as millions joined the No Kings movement, opposing what organizers call an erosion of democrati