Incident details
- Date of incident
- October 18, 2025
- Location
- Los Angeles, California
- Targets
- Henry Cherry (Independent)
- Assailant
- Law enforcement
- Was the journalist targeted?
- Yes
Assault
Mounted officers confront individuals at a “No Kings” protest in Los Angeles, California, on Oct. 18, 2025. Photojournalist Henry Cherry was hit with a baton and struck by impact projectiles while covering the demonstration.
Henry Cherry, an independent photojournalist, was struck with a police baton and crowd-control munitions while covering a “No Kings” protest in downtown Los Angeles, California, on Oct. 18, 2025.
The police actions at the rally, one of thousands nationwide that day voicing opposition to the Trump administration, appeared to violate a state law prohibiting officers from firing munitions at members of the press.
The actions also seemed to flout a preliminary injunction issued earlier this fall that bars the LA Police Department during protests from restricting press access to areas that are not crime scenes.
Cherry told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that a mounted LAPD officer struck him on the helmet and arm with a baton while he was documenting the demonstration. Another officer shoved him. And in a separate incident, he was hit with crowd-control munitions in the feet, legs and knee.
Also that day, officers blocked Cherry from documenting a cordoned-off area before allowing him in. Cherry said he was also affected by chemical irritants, such as tear gas and pepper spray.
Cherry, who was clearly identified as press, said the attacks felt targeted.
“There’s no doubt I’m a journalist,” he said.
The LAPD said in a statement that it is investigating all use-of-force incidents from Oct. 18 and could not comment on active investigations.
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogs press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
