The Los Angeles Police Department has officially confirmed that officers fired more than 1,000 “less-lethal” projectiles during large-scale immigration protests on June 8, making it one of the most forceful police responses to civil unrest in the city in recent years.
According to the newly released department report, officers deployed a total of 1,040 projectiles, including foam rounds, rubber bullets, beanbag ammunition, and CS gas canisters, during confrontations with demonstrators opposing federal immigration raids and the deployment of National Guard troops.
Massive Turnout and Police Response
The June 8 protest, which drew an estimated 6,000 participants, was part of a wider wave of demonstrations across the state in response to aggressive ICE operations. LAPD said it deployed 584 officers that day to manage the crowd.
While most protesters remained peaceful, the situation escalated when groups reportedly set fire to autonomous vehicles and blocked sections of a major freeway. Police say projectiles were used to disperse the crowd and regain control of public areas.
Among the munitions used, the report notes 20 tear gas rounds were fired. Officials also recorded six injuries connected to the use of these projectiles.
Preceding Incidents
Just two days earlier, on June 6, LAPD officers fired 34 rounds at a smaller protest of about 100 people. According to prior reporting, some demonstrators used objects from Grand Park—such as benches and barricades—as makeshift shields against police force. During that earlier event, LAPD acknowledged deploying over 600 rounds of less-lethal ammunition.
Legal and Civil Rights Concerns
The department’s disclosure has drawn renewed criticism from civil rights organizations, who argue that such heavy use of force may violate state guidelines regulating crowd control tactics. Under California law, “less-lethal” munitions cannot be used indiscriminately or targeted at vital areas of the body.
These events also coincide with ongoing federal litigation. Just last week, a federal judge issued a temporary injunction limiting the use of force against journalists by LAPD and Department of Homeland Security agents during protests. The ruling followed multiple complaints that reporters had been struck by rubber bullets and tear gas while covering public demonstrations.
Public and Political Fallout
The LAPD’s report has sparked further calls for accountability, with local activists and watchdog groups demanding independent oversight into the department’s use-of-force policies.
City officials have not yet indicated whether disciplinary reviews will follow the report, but the sheer volume of projectiles fired—especially in a single day—has amplified scrutiny over how law enforcement responds to public dissent.
