Incident details
- Date of incident
- May 1, 2026
- Location
- Los Angeles, California
- Targets
- Steven Berumen (Independent)
- Arrest status
- Detained and released without being processed
- Arresting authority
- Los Angeles Police Department
- Unnecessary use of force?
- No
Arrest/Criminal Charge
Police officers kettle a group of mostly press, including photographer Steven Berumen, during a workers’ rights and immigration protest on May 1, 2026, in Los Angeles, California.
Independent photographer Steven Berumen was detained by police while covering a workers’ rights and immigration protest in Los Angeles, California, on May 1, 2026.
Thousands rallied in downtown LA for International Workers’ Day as part of nationwide “May Day Strong” demonstrations that also called for an end to the war in Iran and the immigration raids that have swept the city since June 2025. Later, demonstrators gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Center, where immigrants are being held.
Berumen told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that during that evening, LA Police Department officers kettled a group of mostly press, sealing them inside a tightened perimeter. Berumen said he was photographing at the time and suddenly noticed he was surrounded by police.
According to Berumen, officers told those inside the kettle that anyone who tried to leave — including press — would be arrested. Berumen did not have a press credential but was wearing a blue press vest and carrying his camera equipment.
“It was kind of terrifying, honestly,” Berumen said. “I was worried about my camera; I was worried about my gear.”
At least six other journalists were either detained or arrested in the kettle. Berumen was ultimately released after about 20 minutes, once officers collected several journalists’ names and information.
The LAPD did not return a request for comment from the Tracker, but in a statement posted on May 1, it wrote: “The Los Angeles Police Department fully supports the rights of individuals to peacefully assemble and exercise their First Amendment rights.”
In an earlier statement following the March 28 “No Kings” rally — which resulted in more than two dozen press freedom violations — Chief Jim McDonnell said that any use of force or allegations of mistreatment involving media members would be investigated and addressed.
“The LAPD recognizes the media’s right to cover events and makes reasonable efforts to accommodate, with those efforts consistent with our primary duty to maintain public safety and order,” that statement said.
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogs press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
