Sergio Espejo initially visited Los Angeles without the intention to engage in activism. He intended to see a friend, having made the trip numerous times before. However, the city was overrun by protests that summer, ignited by a sequence of ICE raids in early June.
Feeling compelled to join the movement, Espejo stated, “I came to support my fellow immigrants. I don’t think it’s right that we’re being targeted in places where we should be safe.”
On June 14, he attended the “No Kings” protest in downtown Los Angeles, which drew around 200,000 participants. He described the atmosphere as predominantly peaceful, with music playing, people dancing, and a mix of Mexican and American flags on display while participants exercised their First Amendment rights.
However, the peaceful gathering turned chaotic by 5 p.m. when the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department began deploying tear gas, foam projectiles, and pepper spray to disperse the crowd.
In a sudden turn of events, Espejo was struck by a projectile that caused severe injury. “I saw parts of my finger fly off into the side of the street,” he recounted.
The projectile that injured him was classified as a “less lethal” weapon, a term that encompasses items such as tear gas and pepper balls, which law enforcement has utilized since after World War I for managing protests and strikes.
Despite their intended use as non-lethal crowd control options, these weapons have stirred significant controversy. Critics, including lawyers, activists, and academics, argue that they are used excessively and can inflict serious harm.
Following his injury, Espejo rushed toward Temple Street, his hand bleeding and pleading for help. Bystanders alerted medical personnel, and he was transported to Los Angeles General Medical Center, where emergency surgery resulted in the amputation of his left index finger.
Being a data engineer, Espejo noted the devastating impact of his injury on his ability to type with his left hand, amplifying the loss as he can no longer pursue his passion for drawing. “My passion is drawing, that’s how I express myself, and I can’t do that anymore,” he lamented.
Espejo subsequently filed a civil rights claim against the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and the city of Los Angeles. His legal action underscores that sheriff’s deputies “used flash bangs, thrown at Plaintiff’s face, along with other less lethal munitions, causing multiple injuries.”
His claim argues that Espejo’s injury is not an isolated instance but part of a “broader and deeply troubling pattern” where the Sheriff’s Department has responded to peaceful protests with militarized violence.
The civil rights claim also critiques the overall deployment of less-lethal weapons. It asserts, “These weapons—intended only for highly limited use by trained personnel in situations involving immediate threats—have instead been used indiscriminately, often without urgency, warning, or legal justification.”
Although the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department declined to discuss specific cases, it noted that all use-of-force incidents are subject to review and evaluation by department executives.
In a prepared statement, the sheriff’s department emphasized that all deputies receive extensive training in the use of less-lethal force, starting from their time in the basic academy and continuing throughout their careers.
The statement detailed multiple training components concerning less-lethal weapons, which include a full day of instruction in patrol school, as well as mandatory refresher courses annually.
The deputy said, “We do not use less lethal tools indiscriminately; we only use them when de-escalation measures have been exhausted and when Deputies, other members of law enforcement, or innocent citizens are being attacked and assaulted with items such as bricks, stones, mortars, and Molotov Cocktails.”
According to the department’s use-of-force policy, these methods should be employed only when they are “objectively reasonable given the circumstances.” Furthermore, it emphasized that officers utilizing excessive force could face discipline or prosecution.
However, activists and attorneys argue that officers in both the LAPD and LASD fail to adhere to their own protocols.
In response to the protests, the ACLU of Southern California has opened a form allowing individuals injured by law enforcement or federal agents during the anti-ICE protests to come forward. Following the initial protests, the ACLU was contacted by 250 individuals who reported having been harmed or witnessing someone else harmed by police or federal officers.
The organization did not disclose further specifics about the claims received.
By June, the LAPD disclosed that there had been 59 complaints regarding use of force since June 1.
Civil rights attorney James DeSimone publicly called for accountability, stating, “We call on the city of Los Angeles, we call on the mayor, we call on our police chief: get your officers under control, have them comply with the law.”
DeSimone represents three clients—Mendoza, Tezcacoatl, and Bravo—who also suffered injuries due to police projectiles at the anti-ICE protest in downtown L.A. on June 8.
During a news conference on June 25, Mendoza and Bravo spoke about their experiences, while Tezcacoatl remained silent due to his injuries.
Mendoza, who was in Koreatown when he learned about the protests, felt it was essential to lend his support. He stated, “I was born here in California, in the Bay Area. I have to stand up for my beliefs.”
On the day of the protest, Mendoza found himself reviewing photos he took while attending when he suddenly felt a painful impact.
“And then, I looked down, and blood is just gushing out of my face, and my hands are just covered, like they’re all red,” he recounted the traumatic moment when he was struck by a less-lethal projectile.
A claim filed on his behalf stipulates that the LAPD “intentionally and/or recklessly subjected Mr. Mendoza to physical injuries and pain by shooting these projectiles at him or indiscriminately in his direction.”
Mendoza sustained serious injuries, including fractures to both sides of his nose and cheek, prompting several stitches following medical treatment. He first sought care at PIH Urgent Care Center Westlake, then was transferred to Glendale Memorial Hospital for additional treatment.
DeSimone remarked, “LAPD is absolutely violating their own policies, as well as the United States Constitution as well as state law.”
While the LAPD declined to comment on Mendoza’s allegations specifically, the ramifications of improper use of force are being scrutinized in light of legislative changes. Assembly Bill 48, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2021, limits the application of less-lethal weapons.
The enactment of this legislation followed the George Floyd protests, which galvanized mass rallies throughout Los Angeles demanding accountability for police conduct.
An analysis by the L.A. Times estimated that police actions during those protests incurred costs of $11.9 million in settlements and jury awards. This event triggered a review of law enforcement’s use of less-lethal weapons and motivated the LAPD to retrain officers.
The LAPD noted that over 500 individuals were arrested for protest-related activities from June 7 to June 15, with charges ranging from assault and obstruction to unlawful assembly.
Despite these efforts for reform, Pastor Stephen “Cue” Jn-Marie, who helped organize during the Floyd protests, noted a troubling regression in police practices during the recent anti-ICE protests.
Jn-Marie observed, “I saw a brother who showed me his scar that he’d received from a projectile, a rubber bullet. The first thing they did was start gassing folks.”
He lingers on the significant erosion of public trust due to law enforcement’s aggressive tactics and the controversial deployment of the National Guard during protests under the Trump administration.
“How can you be protecting us when you’ve got guns, and they’re pointed at us?” he questioned, reflecting the sentiments of many involved in the protests.
As for Mendoza, he has begun to regain his ability to eat solid foods, but the pain lingers. He anticipates that the emotional scars from this traumatic experience may take longer to heal.
“I’m already looking into therapy, as well,” Mendoza admitted. “When I’m in crowds, now it’s a little bit different. When I see officers, it’s a little bit different. Even encountering a security guard feels different.”
The impact of these protests and the ensuing violence has sparked significant debate regarding the role of law enforcement in managing civil unrest, with many calling for accountability, training reforms, and a reevaluation of tactics used during protests.
image source from：latimes
