Violence and Misuse of Force
Los Angeles became the stage for the first documented misuse of crowd-control weapons in the 2025 immigration enforcement protests. On June 6, a journalist covering a downtown demonstration was struck by shrapnel from a flashbang grenade thrown into the crowd. This marked the start of a troubling nationwide trend, as law enforcement increasingly deployed such tactics against both protesters and media members.
A collaborative report from the UC Berkeley Human Rights Center and Physicians for Human Rights recorded 412 incidents across the country where these crowd-control weapons were misused. Journalists represented 43% of the individuals injured in these cases, highlighting the growing danger for those documenting the unrest. The report found that in Los Angeles County, not only were there the most incidents of weapon misuse, but local and state law enforcement were directly responsible — a distinction not shared by any other region in the dataset.
The Freedom of the Press Foundation has tracked 151 incidents in just one year in Los Angeles where journalists were either attacked or detained by police. These occurrences became more common as protests across the country grew in response to President Trump’s mass deportation agenda. To address these mounting concerns, California passed significant legal reforms in 2021 to protect journalists, especially in protest settings.
The revised penal code granted journalists greater access to protest zones by allowing them to pass police lines. These protections ensured they could not be arrested, detained, or cited for staying after crowds were dispersed. Additionally, the law explicitly prohibited law enforcement from obstructing or injuring journalists while they worked. California also limited the use of kinetic impact projectiles, or KIPs, for crowd control, though local agencies continued to use them extensively despite the known risks. Every severe injury in the dataset was linked to KIP use.
Adam Rose, deputy director of advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, described the severe harm suffered by journalists in these incidents. He cited cases where at least two photographers each lost an eye while covering protests. Others sustained traumatic brain injuries or concussions. Many found themselves unable to return home, as they were coated in pepper spray and tear gas residue that posed a risk to their families and pets.
Leadership and Escalation of Violence
The presence of Greg Bovino, then-Commander-at-large of Border Patrol, at protest sites was linked to sharp increases in the use of excessive force. In Los Angeles, 46 incidents of weapon misuse occurred on the day he arrived, and 68 more followed in the week after. This represented a dramatic rise compared to the nine incidents in the seven days prior to his arrival. The connection between Bovino’s presence and the spike in violence was clear.
Alexa Koenig, director of the UC Berkeley Investigations Lab, suggested that Bovino’s actions were part of a calculated effort to intimidate the public. She described the strategy as intentional — designed to foster fear and discourage the exercise of First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly. After two journalists, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed in Minneapolis, Bovino was demoted back to his Border Patrol post in El Centro, California. He eventually resigned from his position in March 2026.
The report highlights a broader issue with how leadership within the Department of Homeland Security influenced the behavior of law enforcement. Experts argue that more comprehensive training and stronger enforcement of existing guidelines are needed to protect journalists and prevent such abuses. The findings underscore the urgent need for systemic change to safeguard the rights of the press and the public to peaceful protest.
While California has taken steps to improve journalist protections, the data suggests these laws are not always enforced. The report calls for stricter oversight and accountability measures to ensure compliance. Until then, journalists covering sensitive political movements, such as those related to immigration enforcement, remain at high risk of physical harm and legal threats, according to press freedom advocates.
The incidents in 2025 have left a lasting mark on both media professionals and the communities they serve. As the debate over police accountability and the right to protest continues, the findings in this report reinforce the need for robust legal frameworks that not only protect the press but also uphold democratic principles and transparency in law enforcement actions.