Judge rules Los Angeles police can't use nonlethal weapons against journalists
“When journalists persisted in documenting the protests, it appears from the evidence presented that they faced an onslaught of projectiles and other shows of physical force,” Vera’s ruling said. “On some occasions, LAPD officers purportedly targeted individuals who were clearly identifiable as members of the press.”
The litigation stems from June, when Los Angeles protests over federal immigration raids captured national attention and prompted President Donald Trump to deploy the National Guard to Southern California over the objections of Gov. Gavin Newsom. The press club said some incidents also occurred during the anti-Trump “No Kings Day” protests that took place soon after the ICE demonstrations.
“The likelihood of repeated confrontations — together with the evidence evincing Defendants’ sustained pattern of conduct — suffices to show that Plaintiffs risk recurrent future injury,” the ruling said.
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