The Los Angeles Press Club, along with other journalists, has filed a lawsuit against Christy Noem, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Their goal is to stop what they describe as “unnecessary and excessive violence” that hampers First Amendment rights.
The suit also claims that DHS has violated the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable arrests, and the Fifth Amendment, which mandates due process under the law.
“Since June 6, at least seven members of our group have been impacted, either through excessive force by DHS officers or through serious violations of their coverage rights,” noted the press chair of the Los Angeles Press Club in a statement.
“Democracy relies on an informed public that depends on a free press, one that can perform its duties without fear of federal aggression.”
The protests began on June 6 in Los Angeles, coinciding with a raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Clothing District, which targeted undocumented immigrants.
On June 8, President Trump deployed 1,700 National Guards and 700 Marines to manage the protests without consulting California Governor Gavin Newsom.
As the protests escalated, so did the violence, with some demonstrators hurling rocks at police and setting cars ablaze. In response, law enforcement deployed tear gas and rubber bullets against the crowd.
The legal complaints allege that “DHS agents did not selectively target individuals who posed any real threat. Instead, they fired indiscriminately into the gathered crowds, injuring people and deploying tear gas.”
On June 18, Trump sent an additional 2,000 troops to the area.
DHS did not provide immediate comments on the situation.
The plaintiffs argue that the excessive use of force has instilled fear among journalists, limiting fair press coverage of the events.
“What occurred in LA wasn’t just an assault on press freedom; it represents an attack on the rights of all Americans, particularly those in the workforce,” Jon Schleuss, president of NewsGuild-CWA, stated. “This state-sanctioned violence against journalists seeks to prevent the public from accessing the truth.”
The lawsuit includes accounts of injuries sustained by journalists during interactions with DHS personnel.
For instance, journalist Sean Beckner Kalmitchell was reportedly struck in the head by a rubber bullet and a tear gas canister fired by a DHS agent on June 7. On the same day, Ryanne Mena, who clearly identified herself as press, was shot with a rubber bullet and pepper ball.
The lawsuit also sought a temporary restraining order to stop DHS’s actions in Los Angeles over the weekend, but this request was denied on Friday.
