Judge keeps limits on use of 'less-lethal' weapons by federal agents at L.A. protests

"Vera wrote that federal officers "unleashed crowd control weapons indiscriminately and with surprising savagery." "Indeed, under the guise of protecting the public, federal agents have endangered large numbers of peaceful protestors, legal observers, and journalists - as well as the public that relies on them to hold their government accountable," Vera wrote in the 45-page opinion. "The First Amendment demands better." Vera wrote that he expected federal authorities to disseminate the order to their officers and agents in the field."

"Arguing that the 1st Amendment "deserves better," a federal judge barred federal agents from targeting reporters with crowd control weapons during protests. Lawyers for the city of Los Angeles and Homeland Security have argued that it isn't always possible for police to distinguish journalists from protesters during chaotic demonstrations. But U.S. District Judge Hernán D. Vera was unmoved, extending Tuesday restrictions he first ordered in July on the use of less-lethal weapons at street protests."

"The judge has yet to make a ruling in a separate lawsuit filed against the LAPD over allegations of excessive force by its officers. Less than a month after Vera issued his temporary restraining order limiting the use of force, at least three reporters covering a protest were left bruised and bloody after being struck by LAPD officers' batons. Tuesday's decision in the case against the Department of Homeland Security adds a provision to Vera's previous ruling, also restricting the use of less-lethal weapons against "protesters who are not themselves posing a threat of imminent harm to a law enforcement officer or another person.""

U.S. District Judge Hernán D. Vera extended restrictions preventing federal agents from using crowd-control weapons against journalists during protests. Vera found federal officers used less-lethal weapons indiscriminately and with surprising savagery, endangering peaceful protesters, legal observers, journalists, and the public. The order requires federal authorities to inform field officers and agents of the restrictions. The extension adds a provision barring less-lethal weapons against protesters who are not posing an imminent threat to officers or others. The judge has not yet ruled in a separate lawsuit against the LAPD alleging excessive force. Reporters were injured despite earlier temporary limits.

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