Judge Orders Lapd To Stop Shooting Journalists With Rubber Bullets

A federal judge has granted a temporary restraining order that blocks Los Angeles police officers from using rubber projectiles and other so-called less-lethal munitions against reporters covering protests against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. In a ruling made public Friday, U.S. District Judge Hernán D. Vera said a coalition of press rights organizations successfully argued that a court injunction was necessary to protect journalists and others exercising their 1st Amendment rights. The Los Angeles Press Club and investigative reporting network Status Coup filed suit last month to “force the LAPD to respect the constitutional and statutory rights of journalists engaged in reporting on these protests... Vera’s order bars the department from using less-lethal munitions and other crowd-control tools such as chemical irritants and flash-bang grenades “against journalists who are not posing a threat of imminent harm to an officer...

An LAPD official said 86 complaints are under investigation as of Friday, including 59 cases of possible excessive force and three in which people were hospitalized. A federal judge just had to remind police that they shouldn’t shoot at journalists after several violent encounters during the protests opposing the Trump administration’s disastrous ICE raids in Los Angeles. U.S. District Judge Hernán D. Vera blocked the Los Angeles Police Department from wrongfully preventing journalists from accessing closed off areas, detaining or arresting journalists while they’re reporting, and using less lethal munitions (LLMs) and other crowd control weapons... In a 14 page-filing, Vera said that the First Amendment claims made by the Los Angeles Press Club were likely to succeed, and granted them a temporary restraining order.

“Indeed, given the fundamental nature of the speech interests involved and the almost daily protests throughout Southern California drawing media coverage, the identified harm is undoubtedly imminent and concrete,” he wrote in a filing. Vera recounted multiple instances of journalists being cordoned away from the protests or detained and arrested by officers. Documentarian and activist Anthony Orendoff was detained for four days despite telling officers he was a member of the press. Vera also recounted many instances of violence against members of the press. In one instance, an officer appeared to aim his gun at 9News Australia’s Lauren Tomasi while she was reporting live, and fired a rubber bullet which hit her in the leg on air. Photojournalist Michael Nigro, who stood high above the protests in a press vest and helmet, heard the sound of LLMs hitting a pole by his head, and later that day was struck in the...

Another unidentified photojournalist with a press pass was pushed over by a police officer, and trampled by a police horse. A protester shows the results of a rubber bullet fired July 10 by federal immigration agents at protesters during a raid in the agriculture area of Camarillo, Calif. LOS ANGELES — A federal judge has granted a temporary restraining order that blocks Los Angeles police officers from using rubber projectiles and other so-called less-lethal munitions against reporters covering protests against the Trump... In a ruling made public Friday, U.S. District Judge Hernán D. Vera said a coalition of press rights organizations successfully argued that a court injunction was necessary to protect journalists and others exercising their First Amendment rights.

The Los Angeles Press Club and investigative reporting network Status Coup filed suit last month to “force the LAPD to respect the constitutional and statutory rights of journalists engaged in reporting on these protests... Vera’s order bars the department from using less-lethal munitions and other crowd-control tools such as chemical irritants and flash-bang grenades “against journalists who are not posing a threat of imminent harm to an officer... What does the ruling say? The LAPD is prohibited from removing or prohibiting journalists from entering closed areas and intentionally “assaulting” or interfering with a reporter, according to the temporary restraining order issued Friday. Police also cannot cite, detain, or arrest a reporter for failing to disperse or violating a curfew. The LAPD is also prohibited from using less-lethal munitions — such as rubber bullets and tear gas — against journalists who are “not posing a threat of imminent harm to an officer or another...

The backstory: Press groups last month filed a federal lawsuit against the LAPD, alleging the use of force violated the rights of journalists covering the L.A. immigration protests. The suit also claims reporters were barred from areas they legally have access to and that journalists “suffered excessive force and harassment by LAPD officers.” What does the judge say? “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,” U.S. District Judge Hernán D.

Vera wrote in the court order. “On some occasions, LAPD officers purportedly targeted individuals who were clearly identifiable as members of the press.” What's next: The department has 72 hours to inform all LAPD officers of the order. The judge’s temporary court order is in effect for the next two weeks. A hearing is scheduled for July 24. An LAPD spokesperson said the department does not comment on pending litigation.

Why it matters: This is your opportunity to see marching bands from around the country — and Mexico and Japan — before their 2026 Rose Parade performance. Plus, the forecast for Tuesday is much sunnier than New Year’s Day. LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Following allegations of journalists being shot by non-lethal munitions while covering recent anti-deportation protests, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order barring Los Angeles Police Department officers from firing... In a 14-page ruling issued Thursday, U.S. District Judge Hernán D. Vera noted that "the press" access to law enforcement actions during mass protests plays a critical role in preventing constitutional violations."

Vera issued a restraining order barring police from: The order also bars the department "from using less-lethal munitions and other crowd control weapons against journalists who are not posing a threat of imminent harm to an officer or another person." Citing the pending litigation, the LAPD declined to comment on the ruling. • Judge Hernán D. Vera issued a 14-day TRO blocking LAPD from using force on journalists during protests. • At least 35 incidents of LAPD targeting journalists were documented amid immigration protests from June 6–19, 2025.

• A July 24, 2025 hearing will decide if the order becomes permanent, influencing nationwide police-press relations. A federal judge has issued a sweeping order against the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), blocking officers from using force or restricting journalists covering immigration protests. The decision, handed down on July 10, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Hernán D. Vera, comes after weeks of unrest and growing concerns about press freedom in Los Angeles. The order is temporary, but it marks a major shift in how police must treat the press during public demonstrations.

Between June 6 and June 19, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles triggered large-scale immigration protests. These protests quickly grew in size and intensity, drawing national attention. Many journalists went to the scene to report on the events, but several faced violence and obstruction from LAPD officers. Some were shot with rubber bullets or hit with tear gas, even though they wore clear press markings and stayed away from protest lines. One of the most widely reported incidents involved Australian reporter Lauren Tomasi. While broadcasting live and standing far from the main protest, she was struck by a rubber bullet.

This and other similar cases led to outrage among press organizations and civil rights groups. On June 16 and 17, 2025, the Los Angeles Press Club and Status Coup, representing nearly 1,000 journalists, filed a federal lawsuit against the LAPD. They accused officers of targeting, detaining, and assaulting journalists during the protests. The lawsuit demanded immediate action from the courts to stop these practices. Federal Judge Issues Emergency Order Protecting Journalists from LAPD During Immigration Protests in Los Angeles A federal judge in Los Angeles has temporarily restricted the Los Angeles Police Department from deploying less-lethal munitions against journalists covering immigration protests.

The order, enacted by Judge Hernan Vera, aims to safeguard press freedoms amid concerns over police tactics during recent demonstrations. Signed on Thursday, the ruling prohibits the LAPD from detaining or obstructing journalists. The decision follows reports of numerous incidents from June 6 to 19, where journalists were allegedly subjected to tear gas, rubber bullets, and physical force while attempting to document ongoing unrest. Vera referenced at least 35 occasions during this period where police actions were deemed troubling, particularly aimed at individuals clearly identified as media personnel. He noted that it appeared journalists faced sustained aggression, with officers apparently targeting them even when they distanced themselves from potential conflicts. One notable incident highlighted by Vera involved Lauren Tomasi of 9News Australia, who was recording a segment several feet away from LAPD officers when one aimed at her and struck her leg with a...

Such actions raise significant concerns about the treatment of members of the press in situations of civil unrest.

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