Los Angeles, LAPD Chief Sued Over Alleged Assaults of Journalists at Protests
Source: Hollywood Reporter
A press advocacy group has alleged in a lawsuit that its members were physically assaulted and blocked from entering areas they should’ve been allowed access when covering fierce pushback from protesters challenging aggressive U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sweeps in Los Angeles.
The complaint, filed against the city of Los Angeles and LAPD chief Jim McDonnell in California federal court on Monday, comes amid escalating tensions between local police and media in which officers have allegedly harassed reporters following street demonstrations. It alleges violations of the First and 14th amendments, as well as state laws intended to limit the use of so-called “less-lethal munitions,” and seeks a court order that would bar law enforcement from further misconduct.
“The widespread use of force against journalists by LAPD officers indicates an intent to prevent public scrutiny of police conduct toward demonstrators, a refusal to abide by constitutional and statutory safeguards for journalists in these circumstances, and an institutional failure by the LAPD,” states the complaint.
In the No Kings protests, many of the episodes of confrontation between journalists and law enforcement have played out in real time on cable television or social media. Among the first was a report from Lauren Tomasi, a correspondent for 9 News Queensland who was shot in the back of her leg by a less-lethal round by an LAPD officer. At the time, she was standing in a largely empty intersection and wasn’t in the vicinity of any protestors. In the video, it appears the officer looked in Tomasi’s direction and aimed at her, according to the complaint.
Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/los-angeles-lapd-chief-sued-213044363.html
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