Crowds flood at downtown LA following Lakers 2020 championship victory

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— MayorOfLA (@MayorOfLA) October 12, 2020

Naturally, Garcetti’s wish went unanswered as a large crowd began to form. This eventually called for action on the part of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), which could be seen on video trying to direct the crowd and keep people on sidewalks and out of the street.

What was originally a joyous celebration turned into a tense confrontation between fans and police, leading to the deployment of non-lethal projectiles. At one point, LAPD SWAT team officials were called in to assist with crowd control.

For Angelinos, the victory was a welcome blast of positivity following months of lockdowns, social distancing rules, and economic turmoil which has gripped the United States following the outbreak of the coronavirus.

“Los Angeles really needed this. It’s been a rollercoaster for everybody around the world,” Lakers fan Gregory Paul said. “I don’t know if everybody believes in guardian angels but I think Kobe definitely has a soft spot for the Lakers forever and ever.”