Incident details
- Date of incident
- July 10, 2026
- Location
- Los Angeles, California
- Assailant
- Private individual
- Was the journalist targeted?
- Yes
Assault
A far-right activist pepper-sprays people at a political protest in Los Angeles, California, on July 10, 2026. Photographer Christopher Almaraz was hit by the chemical irritant while documenting the event.
Independent photographer Christopher Almaraz was hit with chemical irritant by a right-wing extremist while documenting a political protest in downtown Los Angeles, California, on July 10, 2026.
Almaraz went to City Hall to photograph a news conference organized by far-right political activists, two of whom were among the Jan. 6, 2021, defendants pardoned by President Donald Trump.
The event, which centered on Spencer Pratt’s failed campaign for mayor of LA and allegations of voter fraud after he lost in the primary, drew counterprotesters.
During the protest, one of the organizers was punched and knocked to the ground. Almaraz said another organizer, a member of the far-right Proud Boys, then began pepper-spraying people in the crowd and turned toward him.
Almaraz, who publishes his work on social media and Substack, and is working on a documentary project, said he gestured to his clothing to identify himself as a member of the press.
According to Almaraz, the Proud Boy warned him not to move behind him. Almaraz, who said he often works close to the action to capture photographs, continued documenting the scene. When the man warned him again, Almaraz told him not to tell him what to do.
“And right when I said that, he Maced me,” Almaraz told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.
Almaraz said the man continued pepper-spraying people nearby. At that point, he said, he tried to stop him.
“I know what I was doing at that point was no longer acting as a member of the press,” Almaraz said. “I just wanted to stop him from macing people and incapacitate him as fast as possible.”
During the ensuing struggle, Almaraz said he was struck in the head with a pepper-spray can, which fractured his skull and required three stitches.
Also at the protest that day, the same individual punched another photographer in the face. Both photographers said they filed police reports following the incidents.
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogs press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
