Injuries sustained by journalists covering protests in Los Angeles have led to lawsuits against law enforcement for targeting reporters. More than 50 incidents are documented in these lawsuits, which claim that police violated Constitutional rights and California's press freedom laws. California's protective statutes, enacted post-2020 protests, aim to safeguard journalists from police interference. However, these incidents reveal a broader issue of police disregard for legal protections during civil unrest across the U.S., raising concerns about press freedoms amidst aggressive law enforcement tactics.
A tear gas canister to the knee sent one journalist to the hospital for minor surgery. A ricocheted rubber bullet struck another in the thigh. A third was hit by a pepper ball in the leg, and later struck in the head with a separate projectile, leaving her with a diagnosed concussion.
The legal fight crystallizes mounting alarm over the safety of journalists during civil unrest nationwide. Filed by the Los Angeles Press Club along with independent news outlets, the lawsuits claim violations of both the U.S. Constitution and California's press freedom laws.
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