PHOTOS: Weekend Protests Start Peacefully; Intensify With Police Presence

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Our reporters captured the anger and confusion on Saturday, as a peaceful protest that began at Pan Pacific Park intensified over the course of several hours.

Multiple police cars were set on fire, tensions rose in clashes between LAPD officers and the public, and smoke filled the streets near The Grove in Fairfax.

The escalation of events is present in the photos, which start with peaceful marching organized by Black Lives Matter and ends with police in helmets holding batons against curtains of smoke, shooting rubber bullets and tear gas into the crowd.

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At 8 p.m. Mayor Garcetti called in the National Guard.

Here is a collection of images from the day, in chronological order, starting with the damage in downtown Saturday morning (from Friday's protest) and ending Saturday evening in mid-city after our photographer was tear-gassed:

Zara windows were still smashed at the Fig@&7th shopping center downtown on Saturday morning, May 30. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

Protesters march near Pan Pacific Park today in Los Angeles. May 30, 2020. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

Protesters march near Pan Pacific Park against the death of George Floyd. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

A sign at today's protest reads "Care Not Cops." (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

Protesters march down 3rd St. with various signs against racism and police brutality. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

A protester holds a Justice for George sign at today's march. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

(Chava Sanchez/LAist)

Two women join today's Black Lives Matter Protest from inside their car. Pan Pacific Park, Los Angeles. May 30 2002. (Josie Huang/LAist)

A woman sings at Pan Pacific Park during a protest against the death of George Floyd. (Josie Huang/LAist)

A woman holds a sign reading "killing black people is a pandemic." (Josie Huang/LAist)

Protesters at Pan Pacific Park. (Josie Huang/LAist)

Two protesters hold a sign that reads "End White Silence." (Josie Huang/LAist)

(Josie Huang/LAist)

Smoke near 3rd and Fairfax. (Catilin Hernandez/LAist)

Protests intensify as a police car is set on fire in the Fairfax area. May 30, 2020. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

Smoke rises from a burning police vehicle and protesters are at a stand-still after the police hold a line on 3rd and Fairfax.(Chava Sanchez/LAist)

Armed police disperse the crowd. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

Protesters raise their arms towards police armed with rubber bullet guns. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

Police with rubber bullet guns create a line around the protesters. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

A police officer holds his baton at the ready as protesters raise their arms. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

A police vehicle burns during the protest. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

A protester stands on a car holding a sign. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

Police with batons at the ready block the protesters forward movement. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

Protesters and LAPD officers clash near Fairfax and 3rd. (Chava Sanchez / LAist)

An LAPD patrol car burns near the corner of Beverly and Fairfax. (Chava Sanchez / LAist)

Sheriff's deputies arrive and start moving the crowd down Beverly towards La Brea. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

An LAPD squad car burns during the protests Saturday evening. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

Protesters raise signs as an LAPD squad car burns in the distance. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

Police fire rubber bullets at the protesters. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

Police launch tear gas into crowds of protesters. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

Police with weapons watch from a rooftop in mid-city Los Angeles. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

Tear gas against a Los Angeles Sunset. Tear gas canisters where deployed on protesters. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

A protester gets water poured into his eyes after tear gas is deployed. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

Away from the tense confrontations with police, most of the protestors were just hanging out and talking. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)