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The Los Angeles Press Club and other journalists are suing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem for using “unnecessary and excessive violence to prevent them from exercising their First Amendment rights.”
The lawsuit also accused the DHS Bureau of violating the Fourth Amendment that prohibits arbitrary arrests, and the Fifth Amendment, which requires proper legal proceedings.
“Since June 6, at least seven members of our organization have been using force or suffered serious rights violations by Department of Homeland Security officials,” Adam Rose, chairman of the news rights of the Los Angeles Press Club, said in a statement.
“Democracy depends on an informed public. An informed public relies on the freedom of the press to do its work without worrying about violence by federal agents.”
On June 6, protests broke out in Los Angeles, raids were carried out in the clothing area to round up undocumented immigrants.
On June 8, President Trump sent 1,700 National Guards and 700 Marines to help control the protests without requests or consultations from California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
As protests grow, so does violence. Some protesters are throwing rocks at law enforcement or burning vehicles. Law enforcement is firing rubber bullets and using tear gas to fight protesters.
The legal complaint read: “DHS agents did not attack anyone who poses a threat in any way. Instead, they fired weapons without lovingly in the direction of the gathering community and fired their weapons at every angle in front of them, hitting people in the head with projectiles, beating them with tears and suffocating them with tears. Some agents shot tear jugs and rubber bullets, shooting people who did so directly at people.
On June 18, Trump sent another 2,000 troops to the region.
Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement to the Hill: “The First Amendment protects speech and peaceful gatherings – without harassment. Anyone who actively obstructs law enforcement in the law enforcement department that performs its oath duties will face consequences, which may include arrest. This may include arrest. Ice officials were attacked 500% of the time in the attack on them because they were murdered in their lives, like they did, and the lives of members who were murdered in their lives, and the murderers were arrested.
She added: “We remind the media and journalists to act cautiously when covering these violent riots. President Trump and Secretary Norm are committed to restoring law and order in Los Angeles and across the country. There are no lawsuits, and this or any other lawsuits will change that.”
The plaintiff argued that excessive use of force has made many journalists unable or afraid to cover up the protests, essentially limiting the number of news reports.
“What happened in Los Angeles is not only a news crackdown, but an attack on the rights of all Americans, especially workers,” Newsguild-CWA president Jon Schleuss said in a statement. “This state-sanctioned violence against journalists is designed to prevent the public from learning the truth.”
The lawsuit explains how multiple journalists were hurt in their encounter with DHS.
The complaint said journalist Sean Becknor-Carmitchel was shot dead on June 7 by Department of Homeland Security agents (DHS agents) with rubber bullets and tear gas cans.
Ryanne Mena, wearing a visible news certificate and working with the Southern California News Group, was shot with a pepper ball and rubber bullet on the same day.
The lawsuit is accompanied by a temporary restraining order that aims to stop operations in Los Angeles over the weekend. The request was denied Friday.
Updated at 6:51 ET.