Los Angeles, June 11, 2025 — In an extraordinary show of crowd control efforts by the Los Angeles Police Department late Tuesday evening, mounted officers on horseback were deployed to disperse protesters gathered in downtown LA late Tuesday. Authorities attempted to implement a citywide curfew after days of protests over police conduct and government responses to civil unrest.
Protesters had amassed near Pershing Square and the Civic Center, waving signs, chanting slogans and demanding systemic police reform. As the 7 p.m. curfew approached, police issued multiple warnings over loudspeakers asking protesters to disperse peacefully; when no response was forthcoming from this, mounted units were sent in to clear out the area.
Eyewitness videos posted to social media showed lines of officers on horseback moving slowly through crowds in an attempt to disperse groups and push them towards exit points. Riot police on foot advanced slowly but steadily alongside them – some protestors moved back while others defied orders by locking arms or sitting still on the pavement.
One protester, Mariah Thomas a 26-year-old teacher described what happened as mounted units moved in: “It was surreal — hooves on pavement, shouting and fear,” she stated. She continued that protestors weren’t violent; rather they were simply standing there but treated as criminals by law enforcement officials.
Police officials later stated that horseback deployment was meant to avoid more aggressive crowd control measures like tear gas or rubber bullets. Sgt. Daniel Ortega from LAPD stated, “Mounted units offer visible and effective crowd management; they create space while encouraging dispersal without increasing force.”
However, civil rights activists and protest organizers quickly denounced this tactic, calling it intimidating and potentially dangerous. The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California issued a statement denouncing mounted police’s use in protest situations as “intimidating and potentially dangerous”. They warned that “these methods risk trampling over public’s right to free assembly — both physically and symbolic.”
Tensions have been rising across Los Angeles since last weekend, as protesters flood streets to voice their displeasure with incidents of police violence and offensive statements made by political figures – such as former President Donald Trump. Most demonstrations have remained peaceful during daylight hours but clashes between police and small groups of protesters have become more frequent after dark.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass defended her city’s curfew and crowd control strategy on Tuesday, emphasizing its primary goal as public safety. To achieve that objective, “we must strike a balance between protesting rights and maintaining order,” Bass explained at a press briefing. Mounted police deployment is just one tool being employed to maintain peace.
As of Wednesday morning, LAPD reported over 140 arrests related to curfew violations and unlawful assemblies. No serious injuries were reported from LAPD’s horseback dispersal operation; however several protesters stated they were knocked over or nearly crushed during its use.
As nightly demonstrations show no sign of abating, civil rights groups are encouraging city officials to change their approach and engage more directly with community leaders. At the same time, police continue preparing for additional protests, with mounted units likely remaining part of their response strategy in coming days.