WATCH: L.A. Protests Descend Into Chaos as Protesters Battle Cops in Streets, Arrests Ensue

What began as a peaceful demonstration in downtown Los Angeles early Sunday grew violent by 3 p.m. PT as demonstrators attacked LAPD officers, who fought back.

The department stopped short of calling the gathering a riot, but the department declared an unlawful assembly as protestors began throwing objects at police officers.

Officers responded with tear gas and non-lethal anti-riot guns. Some officers could be seen swinging batons at people in the crowd.

Police announced at 2:44 local time, “The Incident Commander has declared an UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY in the area of Alameda between Temple and Aliso St. All persons must leave the area or be subject to arrest.”

CNN carried some of the battle live, with anchor Jessica Dean interrupting a live interview from Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-CA) to narrate the chaos.

At one point, at 6:21 ET, police officers were targeted with projectiles when a woman appeared to be struck in the abdomen by a rubber bullet. She fell to the ground. Multiple people were filmed in handcuffs as police vehicles were targeted with objects.

Meanwhile, Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom in a post on X demanded President Donald Trump rescind his order deploying 2,000 National Guard troops to the city.

In his own social media post, Trump called for LA to be “liberated” from “migrant riots” and called on his cabinet to take whatever measures they deemed appropriate.

“I am directing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, in coordination with all other relevant Departments and Agencies, to take all such action necessary to liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion, and put an end to these Migrant riots,” trump stated. “Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Watch above via CNN.