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A Look at the ‘Less Lethal’ Weapons Authorities Used to Crack Down on Los Angeles Protests
- Demonstrations took place in downtown Los Angeles on June 7, 2025, following the detention of several individuals by ICE on suspicion of immigration offenses.
- The protests began following rumors of immigration raids that mobilized sympathetic neighbors and angry demonstrators into confrontations with heavily armed federal agents and police.
- Authorities deployed police, 700 Marines, and at least 2,000 National Guard troops who used less-lethal weapons such as rubber bullets, tear gas, and pepper spray to disperse crowds.
- Less-Lethal munitions designed to cause pain without penetration have nevertheless caused serious injuries, including journalists being hit and documented fatalities from taser use.
- The use of less-lethal force sparked debate due to risks of escalating tensions, provoking distrust of authorities, and triggering further violence and conflict.
28 Articles
28 Articles
Why ‘nonlethal’ isn’t the right word for the weapons used on journalists
In Tuesday’s edition of The Poynter Report newsletter, I wrote about how journalists have come under attack while covering the protests in Los Angeles. I wrote about how several, including […] The post Why ‘nonlethal’ isn’t the right word for the weapons used on journalists appeared first on Poynter.
What are the ‘less lethal’ weapons being used in Los Angeles?
After United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested multiple people on alleged immigration violations, protests broke out in Los Angeles. In response, police and military personnel have been deployed around the greater LA area. Authorities have been using “less lethal” weapons against crowds of civilians, but these weapons can still cause serious harm. Footage of an Australian news reporter being shot by a rubber bullet…
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