Taxpayers fund radical SoCal group helping run city’s No Kings protest

Posted For: Nova_Star

A number of organizations connected to public funding are involved in organizing or supporting demonstrations planned across Los Angeles this Saturday as part of the nationwide “No Kings” protests.

Among the groups participating is the Liberty Hill Foundation, a social justice nonprofit that receives about $14 million in funding from the City of Los Angeles for tenant outreach and housing-related programs. Financial records also show the organization has contributed tens of thousands of dollars to the ACLU of Southern California.

The ACLU of Southern California is a civil rights legal group that regularly challenges government policies through lawsuits and advocacy efforts. In recent years it has brought several legal cases against both the City and County of Los Angeles over matters such as homelessness enforcement, policing policies, and civil liberties concerns.

Labor organizations are also backing the demonstrations, including Unite Here Local 11 and SEIU Local 21. Both groups have longstanding relationships with City Hall and generally align with members of the Los Angeles City Council’s progressive bloc, including councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez and Hugo Soto-Martinez.

The “No Kings” demonstrations are being organized nationwide as a day of protest against what organizers describe as authoritarian leadership associated with President Donald Trump. Promotional materials shared online call for Trump’s impeachment and removal from office, referring to his administration as a “regime.”

Illustration of a flyer for the "No Kings" protest and concert in Los Angeles, advocating to "IMPEACH. CONVICT. REMOVE THE REGIME." — Flyers circulating call for the impeachment and removal of President Donald Trump. X/@goRubenRuben

Los Angeles is expected to be one of the main focal points for the demonstrations. At least 41 rallies are scheduled throughout the county, with the largest gathering planned for downtown near City Hall. Organizers say they are hoping to exceed the attendance of previous events, some of which drew crowds of roughly 30,000 people. State and local officials are preparing for the possibility of disruptions.

The demonstrations come as the Los Angeles City Council recently approved $177 million in contracts for tenant-rights legal services and housing advocacy groups. The measure passed in a 12–1 vote despite concerns raised about oversight and accountability.

The funding will support organizations within the Stay Housed L.A. coalition, including the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, which is expected to receive more than $106 million. The initiative represents one of the largest recent funding commitments for eviction defense programs in the city.

Council members were briefed on issues related to earlier contracts with some of the same organizations. According to officials, there had been cases where groups did not provide detailed receipts or adequate reporting on how public funds were spent.

Demonstrators protest against the Trump administration on a bridge and street in Los Angeles, California. — Metal swing gates installed along the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles are part of new efforts by state officials to prevent protesters from shutting down major traffic routes. Getty Images

Critics argued the situation raised transparency concerns. Supporters of the contracts, including Housing Committee chair Nithya Raman, said the expanded funding was necessary to strengthen eviction protections during ongoing housing instability.

Some of the organizations receiving city funding have also taken legal or political positions against the city government. The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles is currently involved in multiple lawsuits against the city, while Strategic Actions for a Just Economy has advocated for reducing LAPD funding, opposed the LA28 Olympic Games, and filed legal challenges related to development projects.

The overall size of the funding package — larger than the annual budgets of some city departments — has also drawn criticism.

Advocacy groups tied to the protest, including the ACLU of Southern California and labor unions, are drawing scrutiny over connections to Los Angeles taxpayer-funded networks. Getty Images

Much of the money will come from Measure ULA, commonly referred to as the “mansion tax.” City officials have cautioned that the funding source could disappear if voters repeal the measure in November, which could leave the city responsible for significant financial obligations.

To address oversight concerns, the City Council added an amendment requiring clearer financial reporting and yearly reviews of the programs receiving funding. Questions remain among some critics about accountability and the political relationships tied to the organizations involved.

A protester holds a sign with a crown and a red X over it, facing Los Angeles Police Department officers. — Flyers promoting the “No Kings” protest call for impeachment and removal, as organizers frame the demonstrations as a national push against authoritarian leadership. Getty Images

Meanwhile, state transportation officials are preparing for the weekend protests. On Friday, crews from the California Department of Transportation installed metal swing gates at several freeway on-ramps along the 101 Freeway near Los Angeles Street. The California Highway Patrol coordinated the installation so officers can quickly close the ramps if demonstrators move onto the freeway.

Officials said the precaution comes after past protests in the area spilled onto major highways, blocking traffic and leading to confrontations with law enforcement.

The Liberty Hill Foundation and the ACLU of Southern California were contacted for comment.

original source