The Guardian’s analysis of legal proceedings following law enforcement actions in Los Angeles reveals a disturbing pattern of misconduct. Prosecutors were forced to dismiss numerous felony charges against protesters, many of which relied on inaccurate reports and misrepresented video evidence. These reports from Department of Homeland Security agents contained false statements about the sequence of events and even misidentified defendants. This incompetence extends to the top, as the U.S. Attorney for LA has not publicly acknowledged the dismissal of these felonies.
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The Los Angeles Press Club and Status Coup filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles and its police chief, alleging that officers repeatedly violated journalists’ rights during recent protests. The suit claims that police used excessive force and intimidation tactics against reporters, hindering their ability to document public events. Numerous incidents, including journalists being struck by rubber bullets and physically assaulted, have been documented, with some reporters sustaining serious injuries requiring medical attention. The plaintiffs argue that these actions infringe upon the fundamental right to a free press and the public’s right to information.
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Following recent protests in Los Angeles, Governor Newsom accused the Trump administration of disseminating misleading footage. The Department of Defense’s Rapid Response account on X shared a video of burning police cars, which Snopes fact-checked as footage from 2020 protests. Newsom’s office condemned this as a propaganda campaign to justify the deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines. The Pentagon spokesperson countered, citing past instances of unrest in Los Angeles. Snopes also debunked other videos shared online, revealing them to be from unrelated prior incidents.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson asserted a key difference between the Los Angeles protests and the January 6th Capitol riot, rejecting claims of hypocrisy regarding President Trump’s pardon of Capitol rioters. He cited the 1992 LA riots as justification for the current deployment of federal forces, emphasizing the need to maintain order and prevent widespread destruction. Johnson defended the president’s actions while declining to further discuss the January 6th events, stating that those involved in illegal activities faced consequences. The contrast highlights the administration’s differing responses to protests, drawing criticism for its strong-arm tactics in Los Angeles.
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Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) asserted that President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to quell Los Angeles protests constitutes impeachable offenses, a position shared at a Tri-Caucus press conference. Clarke deemed the action an “authoritarian escalation,” a wasteful expenditure of taxpayer funds, and an overreaction to peaceful protests against immigration raids. This follows two previous impeachment efforts against Trump, although neither gained sufficient support within the Democratic caucus. The current Republican-controlled Congress makes further impeachment proceedings unlikely.
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Glenn Valley Foods’ facility was searched by federal agents investigating potential employment fraud, with the company cooperating fully and facing no charges. Simultaneously, a significant deployment of military personnel to Los Angeles, criticized by local officials as excessive, is underway. Los Angeles has seen over 300 arrests related to protests, resulting in injuries to several officers. The Marines’ deployment, authorized by the Trump administration, may involve supporting ICE operations.
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Los Angeles protests, sparked by ICE raids, were characterized not by widespread rioting, but by police aggression. While some protesters engaged in property damage, the overwhelming majority remained peaceful despite facing disproportionate police violence, including the use of flashbangs, rubber bullets, and truncheons. Reports focusing solely on property damage and arrests based on LAPD accounts fail to reflect the reality of police instigation and excessive force against protesters and journalists alike. The protests were a response to ICE’s actions, highlighting the targeting of undocumented immigrants and the militarization of the police response.
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President Trump’s deployment of approximately 4,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to protests has been met with sharp criticism, with Governor Newsom alleging the move is a political stunt. Of the initially deployed 2,000 troops, only around 300 have been actively deployed, leaving the remainder idle and without sufficient supplies in federal buildings. Newsom further condemns the deployment of 700 Marines as a violation of democratic principles, and the state’s attorney general has filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the president’s actions. The White House maintains the deployment is necessary to stabilize the region, but the lack of active engagement by the majority of troops fuels accusations of misuse of military resources.
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9News reporter Lauren Tomasi was struck by a rubber bullet fired by a Los Angeles police officer while covering immigration protests. Australian Prime Minister Albanese condemned the attack, deeming it unacceptable and noting that Tomasi was clearly identifiable as press. The incident, which is under formal investigation by the LAPD, has sparked international concern and calls for accountability. Several other journalists have also reported injuries while covering the escalating protests and deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles.
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During protests in Los Angeles, CNN correspondent Jason Carroll was briefly detained by police while reporting live on air, creating confusion at the CNN studio. Carroll stated he was not arrested but escorted away and questioned. This incident follows reports of other journalists being injured while covering the protests, including an Australian journalist hit by a rubber bullet and a British photographer requiring emergency surgery. The protests, sparked by immigration enforcement actions, prompted President Trump to deploy National Guard and active-duty Marines, a decision Governor Newsom is challenging legally.
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John Q. Hosedrinker