Student journalist hit with projectiles at LA ‘No Kings’ protest

Student journalist Delfino Camacho was struck with crowd-control munitions while documenting a protest against the Trump administration in Los Angeles, California, on June 14, 2025.

The protest in downtown Los Angeles was one of hundreds of “No Kings” demonstrations held nationwide to counter a military parade attended by President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. It also followed days of protests in the city and nearby towns against recent federal raids, part of the Trump administration’s larger immigration crackdown.

Camacho was taking pictures and reporting for California State University’s Long Beach Current, as well as the university’s bilingual publication ENYE, near the Metropolitan Detention Center, where immigrants were being held. At one point during the protest, Camacho got caught up in tear gas fired by authorities. He said he was also peppered with what he described as smaller, foam bullets, striking his helmet, chest and arms.

“They shoot those like nothing,” he said of the law enforcement who fired the projectiles, which he said he didn’t believe were targeted at members of the press. He isn’t sure whether it was the LA Police Department or the LA County Sheriff’s Department who fired.

When reached for comment, the LAPD directed the Tracker to the department’s social media accounts. In a June 15 statement posted to social platform X, the department acknowledged that LAPD officers used numerous “less-lethal rounds” and made arrests related to protest activity when responding to the demonstrations.

The statement did not address the use of crowd-control munitions against identifiable press.

In a statement emailed to the Tracker on June 10, the Sheriff’s Department said it prioritizes maintaining access for credentialed media, “especially during emergencies and critical incidents.”

“The LASD does not condone any actions that intentionally target members of the press, and we continuously train our personnel to distinguish and respect the rights of clearly identified journalists in the field,” a public information officer wrote. “We remain open to working with all media organizations to improve communication, transparency, and safety for all parties during public safety operations.”