PROTECTING FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF JOURNALISTS AND PROTESTERS
We filed suit, along with our co-counsel at the ACLU of Southern California, against Kristi Noem and the Department of Homeland Security to stop DHS from unnecessarily and indiscriminately attacking journalists, legal observers, and protesters during the ICE protests in Southern California.
The lawsuit is a continuation of our work in Index Newspapers, Index Newspapers LLC v. United States Marshals Service, 977 F.3d 817 (9th Cir. 2020), the leading protest case in the Ninth Circuit, in which we enjoined DHS and the U.S. Marshal’s Service from dispersing and intimidating journalists and legal observers at the 2020 protests in Portland. On August 25, 2025, the Court heard argument on our motion for a preliminary injunction. On September 10, 2025, the District Court in Los Angeles issued a sweeping 45-page preliminary injunction against DHS and Secretary Noem, restraining them from violently assaulting reporters, legal observers, and peaceful protesters.
“The rights to protest and report are critical to our constitutional democracy. If the government can suppress them with violence, the government is the only one controlling the messages to our nation. That is the hallmark of a totalitarian state and the very evil the First Amendment was designed to protect against.”
Partner organizations: ACLU of Southern California; Schon Brun, Seplow, Harris Hoffman & Zeldes LLP; and Law Office of Peter Bibring.
Important Documents:
Complaint - LA Press Club et al. v. Kristi Noem
Plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction
DHS's Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction
Reply in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction
Order Granting Preliminary Injunction
Media Coverage: Washington Post, “Federal judge curbs DHS force against journalists in L.A.”; Los Angeles Times, “Judge keeps limits on use of ‘less-lethal’ weapons by LAPD and feds at protests”; USA Today, “Federal judge hands press groups wins in lawsuits against LAPD, DHS”; The American Prospect, “Press Freedoms Protected From ICE Assaults in Los Angeles”; Rolling Stone, “Lawsuit Against DHS Reveals Pattern of Excessive Force Against Journalists”; The Dissenter, “'Surprising Savagery': US Court Prohibits Attacks On Journalists Covering ICE Protests”; LAist, “Judge issues sharp rebukes of the LAPD and federal agents after anti-ICE protests”; U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, “LA journalists win court order protecting them from DHS violence at protests”; Vanguard News Group, “Court Issues Injunction against DHS for Violating First Amendment Rights”; The Intercept; The Daily Journal; The Recorder; USA Today; and The Hill.