The International Press Institute (IPI) is sounding the alarm over increasing violence against journalists covering protests in Los Angeles.
These protests have emerged in response to recent immigration raids and heightened actions from the Trump administration.
Demonstrations began on June 6, initially as peaceful protests before tensions escalated following the deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines by President Donald Trump.
As the protests grew, so did the reports of violence against journalists, with the LA Press Club documenting over 40 incidents of aggression since the beginning of the protests.
Among the concerning incidents was that of Lauren Tomasi, a journalist with 9News Australia, who was struck by a rubber bullet during a live broadcast.
Footage suggests she was intentionally targeted, prompting Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to issue a statement emphasizing that all journalists should be able to conduct their work safely.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the footage of the incident as “horrific” and expressed his concerns directly to the Trump administration.
Additionally, a CNN crew, including reporter Jason Carroll, faced detention by police while broadcasted live.
Footage reveals officers instructing Carroll and his team to put their hands behind their backs as they were removed from the protest zone.
Another serious case involved independent British photojournalist Nick Stern, who required emergency surgery after being shot in the leg with a non-lethal round.
Stern was wearing a press card at the time of the shooting while covering demonstrations near a Home Depot, a common gathering location for immigrant workers in Paramount, a majority-Hispanic town near Los Angeles.
These incidents highlight a perilous trend regarding the treatment of the media, representing a growing pattern of intimidation and aggression against journalists.
California Penal Code 13652(b)(6) mandates that law enforcement minimize potential incidental harm to journalists with respect to non-lethal crowd control measures.
Furthermore, the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects journalists’ rights to report on public interest matters without facing violence or intimidation.
International law further obligates the U.S. to safeguard press freedom and the safety of journalists.
IPI Advocacy Director Amy Brouillette expressed shock at the need to remind U.S. authorities of their commitments under both domestic and international law to respect press rights.
She stated, “The media has a clear right to cover protests without threats to their safety.”
As demonstrations continue to spread across the nation, Brouillette is calling on federal, state, and local law enforcement to uphold their responsibilities to protect journalists’ rights to free and secure reporting.
This series of attacks on journalists is indicative of a broader trend, suggesting that press freedom is facing unprecedented challenges under the Trump administration, characterized by derogatory language and retaliatory measures aimed at undermining independent media.
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