Freelance photographer Montez Harris was charged repeatedly by a police horse and shot with a crowd-control munition while reporting on anti-deportation protests in downtown Los Angeles, California, on June 11, 2025.
The protests began June 6 in response to federal raids in and around Los Angeles of workplaces and areas where immigrant day laborers gathered, amid the Trump administration’s larger immigration crackdown. After demonstrators clashed with LA law enforcement officers and federal agents, President Donald Trump called in the California National Guard and then the U.S. Marines over the objections of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass.
At the time of the incident, Harris was filming at Grand Park in front of Los Angeles City Hall with a large camera and long lens, and had a camera bag, according to a lawsuit filed by the Los Angeles Press Club and others against the Los Angeles Police Department earlier this month over alleged attacks against journalists.
An LAPD officer on horseback then charged his horse into Harris at least two times, according to the lawsuit and a video of the incident. “Leave the area,” officers screamed at Harris, who was already walking away.
“Get out of here or you’re gonna get shot,” said another officer, who was on foot. Harris was later shot with a crowd-control munition, according to Adam Rose, chair of the L.A. Press Club’s press rights committee.
Soon after that, a third officer, also on foot, can be seen in the video shoving Harris.
Harris declined to comment when contacted by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.
The LAPD, when reached for comment, directed the Tracker to the department’s social media accounts, where statements and comments would be posted. The account does not appear to have posted any comment concerning the incident involving Harris.
Two days before this incident, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said in a press conference that he was “very concerned” about reports that journalists were being hit by crowd-control munitions.
This content originally appeared on U.S. Press Freedom Tracker: Incident Database and was authored by U.S. Press Freedom Tracker: Incident Database.