A recent incident involving Abraham Márquez, a reporter for Southlander, highlights the rising dangers journalists face while covering civil unrest in Los Angeles County. During a tense standoff between sheriff’s deputies and immigrant rights protesters in Paramount, Márquez was targeted by less-lethal projectiles as he identified himself as a member of the press.
While filming the tumultuous scene, he raised his press credential and yelled, “press, press, press” to signify his role. However, despite his efforts to distance himself from the conflict, he was struck by multiple foam rounds. Márquez recounted, “They just unloaded.”
His determination to document the event persisted even after being injured, stating, “I got hit and whatnot but I’m glad I was there to document it.”
This incident is part of a larger pattern of journalists reporting from the ground who have faced violence and intimidation while attempting to cover the ongoing protests and police interventions in Los Angeles. Interactions with law enforcement have become increasingly hostile, with reports of journalists being shot with less-lethal rounds, tear-gassed, shoved, and detained during coverage.
Public officials and advocates for First Amendment rights have reacted strongly to police actions against the media, expressing outrage over the treatment of journalists. Numerous instances have been documented where reporters have been struck by projectiles, threatened with arrest, and denied access to areas where they were legally allowed to be.
The Los Angeles Times reported that several of their own journalists were also caught in these hostile encounters while covering the recent protests. Historically, the LAPD and L.A. County Sheriff’s Department have faced scrutiny over their treatment of the press, and with the increase in confrontational rhetoric toward media emanating from the Trump administration, the situation has only worsened, according to some observers.
Arturo Carmona, president and publisher of Caló News, voiced concern, indicating that many women of color in journalism have been particularly affected by harassment from law enforcement during these events.
Public reactions intensified after a high-profile incident involving a CNN reporter who was briefly detained while live on air, and another instance in which Australian TV journalist Lauren Tomasi was struck in the leg by a less-lethal round during a broadcast. The incident prompted international condemnation, including remarks from Australian Prime Minister Tony Albanese who deemed it “horrific.”
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass expressed concern about the implications of such treatment, emphasizing the negative message it sends regarding press freedom. In response to growing criticism, LAPD officials have stated their commitment to supporting the press and ensuring journalist safety during coverage of public events.
LAPD spokesperson Jennifer Forksh reiterated that police officers are trained on the rights of journalists and are expected to allow members of the media freedom of movement, particularly during dispersal orders. However, she acknowledged that rapidly changing situations during protests can create challenges in enforcing these policies.
The Sheriff’s Department, too, is reviewing video footage surrounding interactions with the media to assess their deputies’ behavior during these incidents.
Despite these reassurances, however, numerous reports have surfaced detailing aggressive tactics used by police against journalists at protests, such as physically forcing them out of locations where they are entitled to be. Many journalists cited violations of state law designed to protect reporters during civil unrest, along with departmental guidelines set post the protests following George Floyd’s murder.
In one striking event, journalist Ben Camacho was on-site in Paramount, documenting scenes of destruction and unrest when he witnessed British photographer Nick Stern being struck down by police projectiles. After aiding Stern, Camacho was also hit in the kneecap, prompting him to scream in pain.
“I start to screaming pretty much at the top of my lungs,” he recounted, comparing the sensation to being hit by a sledgehammer. He voiced concern regarding the treatment of freelance journalists whose contracts do not offer medical coverage, remarking that law enforcement often disregards journalists from smaller independent outlets despite their significant role in reporting events.
Insiders from police departments, however, defend their actions by stating that officers often feel threatened and must make instantaneous decisions in chaotic environments. They suggest that some newer, less established journalists may operate in a manner that could be interpreted as confrontational, complicating the interactions between the press and law enforcement.
Adam Rose, the Press Rights Chair of the Los Angeles Press Club, has been cataloging incidents of police misconduct toward journalists and has noted a troubling pattern in the lack of consequences faced by offending officers. The incidents at the recent protests are reflective of a long-standing history of police aggression towards the media, he asserted, recalling the case of Ruben Salazar, a notable Latino journalist killed by a police projectile in 1970.
Even in well-documented instances of police misconduct, the disciplinary actions taken against officers are rare, further undermining the safety of journalists in the field. With many traditional newsrooms shrinking due to financial pressures, a new breed of citizen journalists has emerged, contributing invaluable coverage alongside mainstream media. Rose emphasized that the principle of press protection applies universally across different types of media outlets, reinforcing that police cannot determine who qualifies as press.
In a bid to ensure the safety of their reporters, some large news organizations have begun hiring protective teams for reporters covering protests, a testament to the escalating dangers faced by journalists on the ground.
On the same evening that Márquez was injured, reporter Ryanne Mena from the L.A. Daily News was also hit in the head by a projectile, later diagnosed with a concussion. Mena faced previous projectiles while covering downtown protests but reiterated her commitment to staying vigilant and aware in such high-risk situations.
“It’s still kind of unbelievable that that happened,” she reflected on her concussion, calling it unacceptable for journalists to be deliberately targeted while performing their duties.
This alarming trend poses significant questions about press freedom and safety in one of America’s largest cities, suggesting a necessary reevaluation of police accountability and media rights during protests.
image source from：https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-11/lapd-treatment-journalists
