The Los Angeles Press Club, joined by a coalition of 27 press and civil liberties advocacy groups, condemns any actions taken by federal officers that may have violated the First Amendment Rights of journalists reporting on the protests and civil unrest following the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Los Angeles.
There are at least 24 documented instances of journalists being targeted by law enforcement while covering protests in L.A. between June 6-8, and multiple media workers report having been shot by police with “less-than-lethal munitions,” including Southern California News Group’s Ryanne Mena, freelance journalists Anthony Cabassa and Sean Beckner-Carmitchel, The Southlander’s Ben Camacho, British photojournalist Nick Stern, and LA Taco’s Lexis Olivier-Ray.
Australian TV reporter Lauren Tomasi was caught on tape being shot with LLM by police while reporting live on the air. A video posted by NBC LA shows police in military-style gear aggressively pushing reporter Mekahlo Medina. Another video shows police firing on a KCBS/KCAL TV crew.
Journalists are encouraged to check out our guide for safely covering protests, which includes advice on what to do before arriving on the scene, as well as frequently asked questions.
Please be aware that Penal Code 409.7 and similar protections are under California state law. Federal property and officers may not abide by them. However, LAPD and LASD are obligated to follow state law.
We are aware of significant violations and are tracking them closely. If you have evidence to provide, incidents to report, or need help (financial assistance, mental health resources, etc.), you can email pressrights@lapressclub.org. Adam Rose, our press rights chair, is also available on Signal as @adjoro11.
