Incident details
- Date of incident
- March 28, 2026
- Location
- Los Angeles, California
- Targets
- Henry Cherry (Independent)
- Assailant
- Law enforcement
- Was the journalist targeted?
- Yes
Assault
Federal officers at a protest outside a federal building March 28, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. Photojournalist Henry Cherry was struck with projectiles while covering the demonstration.
Independent photojournalist Henry Cherry was struck with multiple projectiles while covering a protest outside an immigration detention center 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.
Cherry told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that after arriving to cover the protest, he was struck with crowd-control munitions in the feet and helmet, even though he was clearly identified as press, with a press vest, press helmet and credentials.
“I was clearly identified as media; they could have not hit me,” he said, adding that he felt targeted as a journalist and didn’t venture further into the fray for fear of getting injured or detained. “They’ve seen me before. I recognized them, and they recognized me.”
He also said that despite having goggles and a respirator mask, he was affected by the chemical irritants, as Department of Homeland Security officers deployed tear gas canisters, then sprayed pepper balls into the crowd as protesters attempted to toss the canisters back.
“I would have to get off the line for a second so I could breathe,” he told the Tracker. “It’s so permeating.”
DHS did not respond to a request for comment. On the night of the protest, the agency wrote on the social platform X that people at the protest were throwing things at officers, two of whom were receiving medical care after being hit. It did not address the use of munitions against members of the press.
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogs press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
