Human Rights Watch (HRW) recently asserted that law enforcement exhibited “excessive force and deliberate brutality” during protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles from June 6-14. HRW highlighted that these protests were largely peaceful, yet officers allegedly deployed various “less lethal” weapons, such as tear gas and pepper balls, at protestors without discernible justification or audible dispersal orders. These weapons, while categorized as less lethal, still pose risks of severe injury or death.
Ida Sawyer, the crisis and conflict director at HRW, condemned the response, stating it amounted to a violent suppression of public protest rights and media freedom. The group documented 39 instances where journalists were harmed, including an incident where Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi was injured by a kinetic impact projectile. This development has spurred legal actions against the County of Los Angeles and the Department of Homeland Security, as detailed in JURIST.
HRW argues that this use of force contravenes the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Personnel, and the First Amendment of the US Constitution. The ICCPR, specifically Article 21, restricts limitations on peaceful assembly to scenarios necessary for the protection of public order and safety. Similarly, the UN Basic Principles mandate non-violent measures be prioritized in handling peaceful demonstrations.
The incidents in Los Angeles also highlight the constraints in California’s Penal Code, particularly Section 13652, which limits the use of “kinetic energy projectiles” to scenarios involving threats to life or serious bodily harm. The protests, sparked by intensified immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, saw federal agents escalating their detention activities against suspected undocumented individuals. This prompted advocacy groups to demand a complete prohibition on less lethal weapons at peaceful protests, emphasizing the paramount importance of safety.
The use of force by the authorities during these protests brings into question the balance between maintaining public order and upholding constitutional rights. With ongoing legal proceedings and public outcry, the situation underscores the need for law enforcement to adhere strictly to international conventions and domestic legal frameworks to protect civil liberties.