A federal judge took the Los Angeles Police Department to duties this week to approve a restraining order that would prevent officials from using non-lethal weapons against journalists.
The Los Angeles Press Club was granted a two-week restraint order to the department after the group said it had stolen reporters from public spaces where protests were being held, but recorded dozens of cases in which reporters were stolen with rubber bullets and non-lethal weapons, exposing them to tear gas,” Politico reported.
“It appears to be from evidence that when journalists stick to documenting the protest, they faced an onslaught of projectiles and an onslaught of physical force,” the decision of U.S. District Judge Hernan D. Bella said. “In some cases, LAPD officers are said to have targeted individuals who could clearly be identified as members of the media.”
One notable example of the attack just after the start of the attack involved an Australian journalist who was hit by a rubber bullet during the broadcast.
The video of the incident appears to show the officers – it is not immediately clear whether they are LAPD officers or another agency – intentionally targeting reporter Lauren Tomasi.
The temporary restraining order has been introduced to allow courts more time to deliberate on long-term restraining orders, Politico reports.
LAPD said it had not commented on the pending lawsuit.
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