A federal judge has approved a temporary restraining order that prevents Los Angeles police from using rubber projectiles and other so-called deadly ammunition against journalists, involving protests against immigration crackdowns by the Trump administration.
U.S. District Court Judge Hernán D. Vera said in a public ruling Friday that the coalition organized by the press release successfully argued that the court injunction was intended to protect journalists and other exercises of First Amendment rights.
The Los Angeles Press Club and Investigation Report Network Status Coup filed a lawsuit last month to “force LAPD to respect the constitutional and statutory rights of journalists to engage in reports reporting on these protests as well as future protests.” The lawsuit questioned the “continuous abuse” of police members who introduced the demonstrations.
Vera's order prohibits the department from using fewer deadly ammunition and other crowd control tools, such as chemical irritants and flash grenades, “opposes journalists who do not pose a threat to people or others.”
“In some cases, LAPD officials are allegedly targeting individuals who are clearly identified as members of the press,” Vera wrote.
The judge cited an incident during a demonstration in the city centre on June 8, with Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi ending a report on live television dozens of feet away from a group of officials.
“There is no protesters near her,” Vera wrote. “Nevertheless, a LAPD officer appeared to aim at Tomasi and hit her in the leg with a rubber bullet.”
The judge ruled that LAPD cannot prohibit journalists from entering or staying in protest areas, which have been closed to the public when it was “collecting, receiving or processing information.”
The order also prohibits intentionally “attack, interfere with or obstruct any journalist who is collecting, receiving or processing information to communicate with the public.”
Free Press advocates who filed the lawsuit praised the judge's decision.
“The press has not been accidentally hurt in the immigration protests; they were intentionally injured,” said Carol Sobel. “To my surprise, we were at the same time as LAPD over and over again.”
City attorneys can file an order with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal.
LAPD chief Jim McDonnell said he was “very concerned” about the instances targeting journalists by police ammunition and vowed to investigate everything. He said he did not think the goal of officials was to journalists with fewer weapons.
“This is ammunition targeted,” he told reporters at a press conference. “It's not that it always achieves the intended target, especially in the case of dynamics.”
Vera's order says that if LAPD detains or arrests a person who identified himself as a journalist, the person may contact the supervisor and challenge his detention. The order also requires the LAPD to report to the court and details the new rules of officials. The judge set a preliminary injunction hearing on July 24, and both parties will argue the merits of the case.
The lawsuit accused the lawsuit of killing George Floyd in Minneapolis after protests in 2020 for killing George Floyd in Minneapolis, when journalists were detained and injured by LAPD while covering up the unrest.
In addition to journalists, dozens of protesters accused the LAPD projectiles of severe bruises, tear and serious injuries.
Police can target individuals with 40mm rounds, according to restrictions imposed by a judge on Friday. “The police can target 40mm only if the police reasonably believe the suspect is violently resisting arrest or posing a direct threat of violence or physical injury.” Officials are also prohibited from targeting people in the head, torso and groin areas.
Times worker Dr. Libor Jany contributed to the report.
