MAJOR UPDATE: Journalists File Suit After LAPD Attacks During Immigration Protests – Matt Gutman Among Those Targeted

You may have seen the viral clip going around that we posted of an officer losing it with Matt GUTMAN, a journalist.

In the wake of chaotic immigration protests earlier this month, journalists in Los Angeles are taking legal action against the LAPD after multiple members of the press were struck by rubber bullets, pushed, and harassed—despite clearly identifying themselves as working media. The incidents, which unfolded from June 6 to June 8, came after a series of ICE raids sparked mass demonstrations across downtown Los Angeles.

At least 27 separate incidents involving press members have been documented by watchdog groups. Reporters from outlets including The New York Post and Australia’s ABC News were caught in the crossfire. One photographer was hit in the head with a rubber bullet. Another journalist, Lauren Tomasi, was injured in the leg while covering the protests.

Perhaps one of the most widely viewed encounters involved ABC News Chief National Correspondent Matt Gutman. During a live broadcast, Gutman was shoved and yelled at by an LAPD officer in full riot gear. The moment quickly gained traction online, with a Reddit thread titled “ABC Reporter Matt Gutman Keeps Cool While Heated Cop Harasses Him” drawing hundreds of comments praising his composure and criticizing the officer’s aggressive behavior.

The Los Angeles Press Club and other First Amendment advocates have condemned the police actions, calling them a clear violation of press freedoms. Lawsuits have now been filed on behalf of several journalists injured during the protests, alleging that officers used unnecessary and excessive force.

The situation has raised serious concerns about freedom of the press in high-conflict situations. “Targeting the media isn’t just an overreach of power—it’s a direct attack on democracy,” said a spokesperson from Reporters Without Borders. The group, along with the Committee to Protect Journalists and PEN America, is monitoring the case closely.

City and state leaders have also weighed in. Mayor Karen Bass called the events “deeply disturbing,” and Governor Gavin Newsom demanded an independent investigation into police conduct during the protests. Meanwhile, President Trump’s deployment of over 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to maintain order has drawn backlash from civil rights organizations who accuse the administration of escalating tensions rather than deescalating them.

Matt Gutman has not yet commented publicly on the encounter, but his silence has done little to stop the growing outrage. The video of his restraint in the face of aggression has become a symbol of professionalism under pressure and a reminder that the press should never be a target—especially when they’re there to report the truth.

As lawsuits move forward and the national spotlight remains on Los Angeles, the incident serves as a warning: in times of civil unrest, the treatment of journalists says everything about the state of democracy.

Source Thread (Reddit):

ABC Reporter Matt Gutman Keeps Cool While Heated Cop Harasses Him