Thousands gather to protest in Las Vegas as part of nationwide 'No Kings' rallies

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Thousands have now gathered in Las Vegas as part of a nationwide string of protests that organizers are calling "No Kings Day."

According to Metro, around 8,000 people attended the rally, and 15 arrests were made, with four of those arrests being juveniles. One of those arrests was a felony for assault with a deadly weapon, and another arrest for a gross misdemeanor for possession of a dangerous weapon.

WATCH: Joe Moeller reports the latest on protests downtown

Those organizing the rallies say they're in response to the policies of President Donald Trump's administration. The rallies across the country come amid a massive military parade in Washington, D.C. in celebration of the U.S. Army's 250th birthday, which is also Trump's birthday.

WATCH | Traffic camera footage from Las Vegas Boulevard and Bridger Avenue shows protesters lining the street

Two separate "No Kings" rallies were organized in Las Vegas on Saturday. One started at 9 a.m. on the Las Vegas Strip. The other kicked off at 5 p.m. in front of the federal courthouse in downtown Las Vegas.

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Here's what you should know about the 'No Kings' protest in Las Vegas

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The sizeable crowd gathered for Saturday evening's protest prompted the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to close roads in the area. According to police, traffic is stopped on Las Vegas Boulevard at Bonneville and Clark avenues as of 5:14 p.m.

Hear from local demonstrators about why they decided to join Saturday evening's protest:

"Forget the parties. We're meant to be one," one demonstrator said. "And this idea of ignoring the Constitution, ignoring court orders, ignoring due process is unconstitutional. We need to step up and speak out."

WATCH: Jhovani Carrillo reports from downtown Las Vegas on Saturday

"I'm here because I care about democracy and the country, and I just can't stay home and pretend it's not happening," another marcher told us.

WATCH | This video shows the crowd gathered in downtown Las Vegas on Saturday:

Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley posted a statement on X in which she supported citizens' right to protest peacefully, but warned against any unlawful activity.

In a social media post on Friday, LVMPD urged those attending weekend protests to "know the rules before you go."

"We are committed to protecting everyone's constitutional right to protest peacefully," officials wrote. "Your voice matters, and your safety does, too."

Police noted that, while peaceful protest is protected, "violence, property damage, or illegal activity will not be tolerated."

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What legal experts say Nevadans should understand before joining protests

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As of 7:30 p.m. Saturday, much of the crowd that had gathered in downtown Las Vegas appeared to have dispersed, but groups of people still clustered on the sidewalk along Las Vegas Boulevard, near Bridger Avenue.

Channel 13 crews witnessed several people being detained in the course of the protest. LVMPD said it would confirm the number of arrests once all protesters have left the downtown area.

A protest along the Las Vegas Strip on Saturday morning remained peaceful. Marchers who talked to Channel 13 anchor Abel Garcia explained what brought them to the streets.

VIDEO: Abel Garcia reports from the New York-New York protest on the Las Vegas Strip

"America does not have kings. What ICE is doing, grabbing people off the street without due process, that is not OK," one demonstrator said.

"We can't let this stand. The courts tell him no, and he just does what he wants," another marcher said.

We also spoke to one person who told us he disapproved of what he saw on the Strip on Saturday morning.

"We've never been in this place before in the history of America," he said. "So I'm pro-immigrant, pro-ICE and anything that takes care of America and our vets."

Just a few days ago, the federal courthouse in Las Vegas was the site of another protest — this one in solidarity with Los Angeles residents who've spent days protesting raids by federal immigration authorities in their communities.

That protest ended when the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department declared it an "unlawful assembly" and ordered members of the public to leave the area or be arrested. Police said they made 94 arrests and cited seven juveniles. Four officers sustained injuries during the demonstration, officials said.

Channel 13 crews are in downtown Las Vegas for Saturday evening's rally. We'll update this report as this story develops.