Judge Bars LAPD Weapons Use Against Journalists

A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order barring the Los Angeles Police Department from using less-lethal munitions—including rubber bullets and tear gas—and other crowd-control weapons against journalists covering protests related to the Trump administration’s immigration policies. The order, prompted by lawsuits from the Los Angeles Press Club and Status Coup, also prohibits the LAPD from detaining, arresting, or blocking journalists from entering protest areas, even those closed to the public, unless they pose an imminent threat. Judge Hernán D. Vera cited over 35 incidents of alleged police misconduct towards journalists, including the widely publicized shooting of Australian reporter Lauren Tomasi with a rubber bullet. The court found that the plaintiffs are likely to succeed on First Amendment grounds and emphasized the ongoing risk to press freedoms amid frequent protests. The restraining order will remain in effect for at least two weeks, with another hearing scheduled for later in July. The LAPD has been ordered to notify all officers of the decision within 72 hours and has declined to comment on the litigation.