Judge blocks LAPD from targeting journalists covering protests
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A federal judge has temporarily barred the LAPD from using force against journalists, following allegations of targeted actions during protest coverage.
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A Los Angeles Metro police officer stands guard during a protest on June 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP)
A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on Friday, prohibiting the Los Angeles Police Department from detaining, removing, or using less-lethal weapons or chemical agents against journalists covering protests in the city.
The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by the Los Angeles Press Club, which stressed that the LAPD used excessive force against members of the media. One of the incidents cited in the legal filing involves Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi, who was reportedly struck by a rubber bullet while broadcasting live, in what appeared to be a deliberate act.
Welcome to Trump's America.
— Sumit (@SumitHansd) June 9, 2025
Australian TV reporter Lauren Tomasi was shot by LAPD with rubber bullets while covering the protests in L.A.
"ENOUGH IS ENOUGH"
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“On some occasions, LAPD officers purportedly targeted individuals who were clearly identifiable as members of the press,” US District Judge Hernan D. Vera wrote in the court order. The temporary ruling will remain in effect for two weeks, with a follow-up hearing scheduled for July 24.
Background: history of protest policing in Los Angeles
Los Angeles has often been at the center of protest movements, particularly in recent years. Demonstrations intensified following US President Donald Trump’s escalation of immigration enforcement, which included deploying the California National Guard, despite opposition from Governor Gavin Newsom, and federal agents to protect ICE facilities.
The Los Angeles Press Club, along with independent news outlet Status Coup, filed the lawsuit last month, accusing LAPD officers of intentionally using force against journalists during protests related to federal immigration raids. The filing claims that officers violated both state and constitutional protections afforded to the press.
“These protests were largely peaceful,” the complaint argued, yet the police response allegedly escalated tensions. The lawsuit states that officers used force “to intimidate them and interfere with their constitutional right to document public events as the press.”
Journalist Lauren Tomasi cited in lawsuit
One of the most prominent cases included in the complaint is that of Lauren Tomasi, who was shot with a rubber bullet while reporting live. According to the lawsuit, video footage shows an officer aiming directly at her, despite her being identifiable as a journalist, holding a microphone, and accompanied by a camera crew.
Tomasi later told CNN that she had been reporting from downtown Los Angeles for hours when police presence and tensions sharply increased. Though bruised, she emphasized the importance of media presence: “It’s so important that journalists are out there doing our job.”
Adam Rose, spokesperson for the Los Angeles Press Club, highlighted the broader stakes involved. "With today's lawsuit, the L.A. Press Club is fighting for the rights of all of its nearly 1,000 members to report the news without risking their health and safety," he said.
The legal case is being closely watched as a potential precedent for how media protection laws are applied during demonstrations, especially in cities with recurring protests.
