Several dozen protesters were arrested in Koreatown Saturday in another round of dueling demonstrations regarding transgender rights after refusing to leave an area which was declared an unlawful assembly.
The protests began about 11 a.m. near Wilshire and Rampart boulevards in Koreatown in front of Wi Spa, according to Los Angeles police Detective Megan Aguilar and the Los Angeles Times.
Demonstrators began throwing smoke bombs and projectiles at LAPD Officers, she said. A dispersal order was issued sometime around noon, and an unlawful assembly declared.
Demonstrators were given time to leave the area, but several dozen refused to go.
Get top local stories in Southern California delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC LA's News Headlines newsletter.
Some protesters -- the exact number was not immediately provided -- were arrested for refusal to leave the area, Aguilar said.
Two weeks ago, violent clashes between demonstrators and counter-demonstrators outside Wi Spa began after a viral video posted by a woman upset that a person who identified as a trans female was allowed to disrobe in the women's section of an upscale Koreatown spa.
It was not immediately clear if trans rights supporters identifying with the group SoCal Antifa -- which has been involved in at least one previous demonstration -- were among Saturday's attendees.
Two weeks ago, five people were injured in the violent skirmishes.
