Photographer’s camera pushed into his face by police at LA protest

Independent photographer Steven Berumen had his camera shoved into his face by a police officer while documenting a protest against immigration raids in Los Angeles, California, on March 28, 2026.

The protest followed a “No Kings” demonstration held earlier in the day in LA, one of thousands across the U.S. that organizers said drew more than 8 million people against Trump administration policies.

After the main march, people gathered outside downtown LA’s Metropolitan Detention Center, where immigrants are held, and the Roybal Federal Building, locations where many demonstrations have centered since sweeping immigration enforcement began in the city in June 2025.

Berumen told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that the LA Police Department began pushing people away from the detention center. Some officers were on horseback, while another on foot shoved Berumen’s camera into the photographer’s face, ramming it into his glasses.

“My camera wasn’t damaged, my glasses weren’t damaged, but it was kind of annoying,” Berumen said. “I was following the line. They were telling everyone to move back, including press and protesters; I thought I was a safe distance away.”

Earlier in the day, he was also struck with a crowd-control munition fired by federal officers, but he said it was unclear if that assault was targeted against him as a member of the press.

The March 28 rally resulted in at least 19 press freedom violations. In a written statement shared April 2, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said that police were responding to acts of violence and vandalism and eventually issued a dispersal order. Anyone identifying as a “duly authorized” member of the media was contacted, verified and separated from those facing arrest for failure to disperse, according to the statement. McDonnell added that any use of force or allegations of mistreatment, including those 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,” the statement said.