The Los Angeles City Council will consider an ordinance that would prevent the police from using crowd control weapons against peaceful protesters and journalists.
Councilman Hugo-Martínez, who represents District 13, is issuing regulations that would have prevented the Los Angeles Police Department from using “chemical agents” unless officers are threatened with physical violence.
The public safety committee approved the proposal and sent it to a vote by all members of the Council on Wednesday. Things will be considered by the Council in November or December, said Nick Barnes-Batista, director of communications for District 13.
The system will also require officials to provide clear, audible instructions regarding safe exit routes within ‘Kettling,’ when crowds are drawn to areas designated by the police.
After the first production of the demonstration “they are not kings” in the summer that saw many journalists shot with unusual rounds, tears, arrested, the officials who are facing the “continuation of harassment” of members of the media.
US District Judge Hernan D. Vera issued a temporary order preventing police officers from using rubber projectiles, chemical weapons and flash bangs against journalists.
Under the court’s order, officers are allowed to use those weapons “only when the officer reasonably believes that the suspect is resisting violence or facing an immediate threat of violence or bodily harm.”
Lapd Chief Jim McDonnell called the definition of a journalist “enforcing the release of news on Monday, increasing the punishment for news on Monday, increasing the punishment for news can prevent the police from confronting” people with the intention of illegal behavior. “
“The risk of harm to everyone involved is greatly increased,” McDonnell said. “The Lapd must declare an illegal assembly, and issue dispersal orders, to ensure public safety and restore order.”
The La Press Club, who are responsible for the case that led to this law, said that journalists were arrested and attacked by officials during an immigration protest in August. The Press Club is also involved in a similar lawsuit against the US Department of Homeland Security.
“This case is about the lapd, but if necessary, we are ready to take the same step to deal with the misconduct of journalists in other agencies,” the agency wrote in a press release from June.
Vera ruled in September that any authorized representative of any news service, online news service, newspaper, or radio station or network “is protected under court orders. Journalists who obstruct or physically interfere with the law are not subject to protection.”
Any past author lit by the City Council can work on these letters but not other organizations that can respond to protests that turn into a revolving door, such as the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Patrol, thus dealing with the work process.
Barnes-batista, District 13 spokeswoman, said the City Council will have to discuss how to formulate the rules.
“There are definitely unanswered questions [how] The city would not want the city to be responsible for other agencies to follow the policy, he said. So it will have to be used. ”
Last month, the City Council, led by Councilor Hernandez, voted unanimously to deny a request by the city’s attorney, Hydee Feldstein Soto, to push Vera’s order to be removed.
“Journalism is under attack in this country – from the Trump administration’s cuts to the Press to the Pentagon’s censorship of local news organizations,” Hernandez said. “The answer cannot be for Los Angeles to join that attack because of the protection of the court to protect journalists.”
