On June 16, a First Amendment group representing journalists covering protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles filed a lawsuit against the city and the Los Angeles Police Department, alleging that officers violated press rights under state and federal laws.
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 Status Coup, an independent media outlet.
The complaint filed against the city and LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell accused police officers of using “excessive force” against members of the media, 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,” according to the complaint.
It came a week after the groups wrote to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, alleging that federal officers in Los Angeles “may have violated the First Amendment rights” of journalists.
The letter stated that federal officers are required by the First Amendment to protect press freedom and cited court cases that upheld individuals’ right to record law enforcement officers performing their duties in public places, as well as journalists’ exemption from general dispersal orders as long as they do not interfere with law enforcement operations.
The Los Angeles Press Club had documented at least 30 cases of journalists being injured while covering the protests. Several of these incidents were captured on camera. Toby Canham, a New York Post photographer, was shot in the head with a rubber bullet, Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi was hit in the leg, and CNN correspondent Jason Carroll was detained by Los Angeles Police Department officers.
The letter stated that officers could be held accountable for such incidents, but that officials could “take measures to not make the problem worse.”
“It appears that the 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 began on June 6 and grew over the next few days, prompting President Donald Trump to dispatch both National Guard troops and Marines to the area. California Governor Gavin Newsom called such actions a “blatant abuse of power,” and the state sued the administration over Trump’s orders.
