Incident details
- Date of incident
- July 10, 2026
- Location
- Los Angeles, California
- Targets
- Jonny Morales (Independent)
- Assailant
- Private individual
- Was the journalist targeted?
- Yes
Assault
A far-right activist punches independent photographer Jonny Morales, whose arm and camera are visible in the frame, during a political protest outside City Hall in Los Angeles, California, on July 10, 2026.
Independent photographer Jonny Morales was punched in the face by a right-wing extremist while documenting a political protest in downtown Los Angeles, California, on July 10, 2026.
Morales 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.
When Morales arrived, one of the organizers had been punched, and clashes were breaking out between individuals at the rally and others gathered outside the news conference.
“I felt it was important to document,” Morales said.
Morales said he was photographing the scene when another organizer, a member of the far-right Proud Boys, struck a woman, who stumbled backward, dazed, and fell into Morales. The man then aimed his fists at Morales.
“He started swinging toward me like a lunatic; it’s just disgusting violence, basically,” Morales said.
In a video posted to Instagram, a shirtless man can be seen punching Morales, who is wearing a jean jacket and holding a camera. The journalist then falls to the ground.
Morales, who was not wearing press credentials at the time, said he confronted the individual, telling him that he had just attacked a member of the press. According to Morales, the man responded by accusing him of being a counterprotester. Later, the individual allowed Morales to photograph him.
Morales said the same man had also punched him at an earlier protest in June. He and another photojournalist, whom the individual also pepper-sprayed on July 10, have filed a police report.
After the assault, Morales said he experienced jaw pain and headaches. At first, he did not believe he had been targeted because he was focused on photographing the event. After reviewing videos of the incident, however, he said he believes otherwise.
“They did stop me from pursuing my job, my work, being a journalist,” Morales said. “These guys should be held accountable for their actions.”
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogs press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
