LA Journalists Sound Alarm: Anticipating Potential Violence Against Media in Upcoming Nationwide Protests

Amidst escalating protests concerning U.S. immigration enforcement, journalists mobilized to cover the unfolding events. The spotlight shone on Los Angeles as President Donald Trump dispatched the National Guard and Marines without the consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom. Interestingly, reporters found themselves thrust into the narrative when they endured tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, and other so-called “less lethal” munitions. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, co-founded by CPJ, is currently looking into at least seven detentions or arrests of journalists, over 35 acts of violence, and numerous incidents of damage to news vehicles, most perpetrated by state and federal law enforcement. In anticipation of widespread protests planned for June 14, CPJ engaged four journalists covering the LA protests. Their reflections reveal deep concern regarding police actions, particularly the perceived increase in indiscriminate violence towards the press. These unsettling incidents raise serious questions about the safety and safeguarding of journalistic freedom, highlighting a fraught moment for reporters nationwide.