LAPD sued over journalists' treatment at Los Angeles immigration protests

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A First Amendment group representing journalists covering protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles sued the city and Los Angeles Police Department on June 16, alleging that officers violated press rights under both state and federal law.  

The First Amendment Coalition filed the federal lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of the Los Angeles Press Club and the independent media outlet Status Coup. 

The complaint against the city and LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell accused police officers of using “excessive force” against members of the media and making journalism a “dangerous profession” in the city.  

"The widespread use of force against journalists by LAPD officers indicates an intent to prevent public scrutiny of police conduct toward demonstrators, a refusal to abide by constitutional and statutory safeguards for journalists in these circumstances, and an institutional failure by the LAPD," the lawsuit said.

It came a week after the groups sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that said federal officers in Los Angeles “may have violated the First Amendment rights” of journalists.  

The letter said federal officers are required to uphold the freedom of the press under the First Amendment and referenced court cases that affirmed individuals’ right to record law enforcement officers executing their duties in public places and journalists’ exemption from general dispersal orders so long as they are not interfering with law enforcement actions. 

The Los Angeles Press Club had at that point documented at least 30 cases of journalists being injured while covering the protests. Several of those incidents were caught on camera. New York Post photographer Toby Canham was shot in the head with a rubber bullet, Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi was hit in the leg and Los Angeles Police Department officers detained CNN correspondent Jason Carroll. 

The letter said officers could be held liable for such incidents but said officials could “take measures to not make the problem worse.” 

“It appears LAPD did not heed this warning,” First Amendment Coalition Executive Director David Snyder said in a statement announcing the lawsuit.

Protests over immigration raids in the city started on June 6 and grew over the following days, prompting President Donald Trump to order both National Guard troops and Marines to the city. California Gov. Gavin Newsom referred to such moves as a “blatant abuse of power,” and the state sued the administration over Trump’s orders.  

Paste BN reached out to the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ office for comment.

BrieAnna Frank is a First Amendment Reporting Fellow at Paste BN. Reach her at bjfrank@usatoday.com.

Paste BN's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input.