Adam Rose
@adamrose.bsky.social
8.7K followers 340 following 1.1K posts
✒️ Deputy Director of Advocacy @freedom.press 💽 Fellow and former COO of Starling Lab (Stanford+USC) 🌴 Board of Directors @lapressclub.bsky.social
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adamrose.bsky.social
I made a DRAFT field guide to help journalists (or anyone) navigate police + protests in Los Angeles. ~80% done. Slides all illustrated w/photos:

👮 Agencies & Uniforms
🔫 Firearms & Devices
🎯 Munitions
🦺 PPE
🏥 Injuries

Sharing this as rough draft b/c feedback VERY welcome!

(Note: Google Slides.)
LA Protest Visual Field Guide: How to identify police and “less lethal” munitions
LA Protest Visual Field Guide How to identify police and “less lethal” munitions An overview of law enforcement agencies commonly operating around Los Angeles and their use of so-called “less lethal” ...
docs.google.com
adamrose.bsky.social
Links to full materials from trainings Mayor Bass took…

drive.google.com/file/d/14UIz...

drive.google.com/file/d/1UTGq...

Notable screenshots:
adamrose.bsky.social
Oh! And I got a copy of the certificates of completion Mayor Bass got for her mandatory HR training. I also have a copy of the training slides making it clear they’re told they’re supposed to retain records. I’m on mobile, but can dig those up later.
adamrose.bsky.social
So fishy!!! I actually made a separate public records request just to learn what was the special technology they claimed to use to recover the deleted messages. I even asked for the user manual, because that’s obviously not exempt. They refuse to provide any info.
April 7, 2025‬
‭ Adam Rose‬
‭ VIA E-MAIL: <adjoro@gmail.com>‬
‭ Re:‬‭ California Public Records Act Request‬
‭ Dear Mr. Rose:‬
‭ This letter responds to your California Public Records Act (“CPRA”) request, dated March 26,‬
‭ 2025 to the Office of the Mayor of Los Angeles (“Office”) seeking the following:‬
‭ Please‬‭ provide‬‭ documentation‬‭ related‬‭ to‬‭ the‬‭ "specialized‬‭ technology"‬‭ used‬‭ to‬
‭ recover‬‭ approximately‬‭ 125‬‭ of‬‭ Mayor‬‭ Bass's‬‭ text‬‭ messages‬‭ that‬‭ were‬‭ provided‬
‭ to the LA Times under a different CPRA request referenced here:‬
‭ https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-26/mayor-karen-bass-text-m‬
‭ essages-provide-vivid-window-into-early-fire-response‬
‭ Specifically, please provide:‬
‭ 1.‬‭ The‬‭ most‬‭ recent‬‭ user‬‭ guides‬‭ or‬‭ similar‬‭ documentation‬‭ related‬‭ to‬‭ the‬
‭ "specialized technology."‬
‭ 2.‬‭ Invoices,‬‭ receipts,‬‭ or‬‭ similar‬‭ financial‬‭ records‬‭ for‬‭ how‬‭ the‬‭ "specialized‬
‭ technology" was acquired or subscribed to, dating back to at least 2020.‬
‭ 3.‬‭ Emails‬‭ with‬‭ City‬‭ staff‬‭ (including‬‭ the‬‭ Mayor,‬‭ Mayor's‬‭ staff,‬‭ and‬‭ other‬‭ City‬
‭ employees) about this "specialized technology" from Jan 1, 2025 to today.‬
‭ For‬‭ the‬‭ purposes‬‭ of‬‭ searching,‬‭ please‬‭ use‬‭ the‬‭ name‬‭ or‬‭ brand‬‭ of‬‭ the‬‭ technology,‬
‭ software, equipment, or otherwise in order to produce pertinent records.‬
‭ (“Request”)‬
‭ The Office has conducted a search and determined that there are non-exempt records in its‬
‭ possession responsive to your Request. The responsive records contained attorney-client‬
‭ communications and work product, and so have been withheld pursuant to Government Code‬
‭ Hello,

Please re-open this request and ensure that you fulfill your duty to assist and search, pursuant to California law and court ruling described below.

For example only:
If your response means that the Office of the Mayor doesn't have the records but a specific IT office or finance office does, this is a practical basis that can be overcome and you must suggest the correct place to request such records.
If my use of the phrase "specialized technology" is not appropriately worded, you must provide assistance to help me rephrase the request.
If there are releasable records related to the "specialized technology" which are not as obvious to request as user guides and billing information, you must assist me in identifying those releasable documents as they may be responsive to the purpose of the request.
To be clear, the purpose of this request is to understand the nature of the "specialized technologies" that the City of Los Angeles has to recover other records.

Thank you,
Adam
Reposted by Adam Rose
joeyneverjoe.bsky.social
I requested email records from the LA Mayor’s office regarding journalist detainments, arrests, and assaults during the two weeks of protests anti-ICE protests in June. Only one email was released and it was from @adamrose.bsky.social. Are we really to believe her office has one email about it?
Email titled: Fwd: URGENT: LAPD holding journalist in jail for up to a week

Sent to the Mayor’s office and LAPD officers

Email says:

Anthony Orendorff is an independent filmmaker currently in LAPD custody in Van Nuys.
I'm in contact with his sister, who informs me that the Public Defender's office says he may be held for up to a week.
However, there is clearly a dispute about the situation. I cannot say with certainty until I find video, and I ask you to seek BWV immediately (today) and act to ensure this is handled appropriately -- including the potential of expedited release this afternoon.
Orendorff was arrested at an active ICE raid at a Costco parking lot in Pacoima yesterday (Thursday, June 19). According to his sister: "LAPD was called to do crowd control and singled him out. There were tons of witnesses who saw what happened. He didn't touch any officer. He was lunged at by one officer in particular and arrested, and charged with battery."
PIO confirms to me that the charge is a misdemeanor PC 243(b) for battery on a police officer.
Unfortunately, LAPD officers have proven themselves extremely unreliable over the past two weeks - and frankly last several years. The description by Orendorff's sister would be consistent with many recent examples of false and misleading statements used to "justify" unlawful detainment and arrest of journalists. As a separate matter, I have reviewed the footage of the incident with ABC News chief national correspondent Matt Gutman including the preceding incident. In the Gutman case, an officer assaulted Gutman by grabbing him from behind and shoving him. Gutman's arm lifted slightly for balance, clearly a natural reflex, but he controlled himself and did not lay hands on the officer.
Subsequently, an unhinged officer screamed at Gutman about "touching" an officer and shoved Gutman for no reason. As video proves, Gutman was the victim of assault by an LAPD officer, and then LAPD attempted to blame the victim.
adamrose.bsky.social
adamrose.bsky.social
Let’s see the video.

DHS also just claimed in appeal of LA Press Club’s lawsuit that a reporter “shot” an officer. I suspect false statement to court. Not only does “victim” officer’s report not say he was shot, the alleged reporter doesn’t exist in dozens of videos I reviewed from scene. 🤔
cjciaramella.bsky.social
UPDATE: In emailed statement to me / @reason.com, DHS alleges that WGN-TV producer Debbie Brockman "threw objects at Border Patrol’s car and she was placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer."
Reposted by Adam Rose
gwensnyder.bsky.social
New Orwellianism just dropped
premthakker.bsky.social
Huh: TikTok took down my 8-second video featuring this image of Debbie Brockman — the news producer just detained by Trump’s CBP agents — saying it violates the “joy of TikTok”
adamrose.bsky.social
Let’s see the video.

DHS also just claimed in appeal of LA Press Club’s lawsuit that a reporter “shot” an officer. I suspect false statement to court. Not only does “victim” officer’s report not say he was shot, the alleged reporter doesn’t exist in dozens of videos I reviewed from scene. 🤔
cjciaramella.bsky.social
UPDATE: In emailed statement to me / @reason.com, DHS alleges that WGN-TV producer Debbie Brockman "threw objects at Border Patrol’s car and she was placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer."
Screencap of email from DHS public affairs: Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin:

 

“U.S. Border Patrol was conducting immigration enforcement operations and when several violent agitators used their vehicles to block in agents in an effort to impede and assault federal officers. In fear of public safety and of law enforcement, officers used their service vehicle to strike a suspect’s vehicle and create an opening. As agents were driving, Deborah Brockman, a U.S. citizen, threw objects at Border Patrol’s car and she was placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer. 

 

“This incident is not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of illegal aliens violently resisting arrest and agitators and criminals ramming cars into our law enforcement officers. These attacks highlight the dangers our law enforcement officers face daily—all while receiving no pay thanks to the Democrats’ government shutdown.”
adamrose.bsky.social
I used to live 3 blocks from the heart of skid row in DTLA. It was fine. Super close to Little Tokyo, which is lovely.
adamrose.bsky.social
Just landed (still on plane!) after three days in San Francisco.

I stayed in the Tenderloin, most infamous crime ridden part of town.

Walked around a LOT. Alone. At night.

I was fine.

Felt safer than I remember, just a lot of stores closed.

What’s a billionaire with armed security so afraid of?
Reposted by Adam Rose
freedom.press
The FAA's drone flight ban in the Chicago area allows ICE to "take their militarization techniques to the sky," FPF's @adamrose.bsky.social told the @theguardian.com.

"They’re trying to keep the enemy out of the sky, the enemy being anyone who is observing them."
US immigration enforcement using military hardware and tactics on civilians
Agencies like Ice are way ahead of Donald Trump, who wants the military to treat cities like ‘training grounds’
www.theguardian.com
adamrose.bsky.social
From outside, appears LAPD fired their PR person for... doing her job?

(Irony: I'm quoted criticizing her for NOT doing her job in past. Which was a real problem!)

The alleged "leak" sounds like coordinating media access for a press conference. That what they're supposed to do. And ... gone!

Hmm.
LAPD spokesperson resigns after U.S. attorney complains about alleged leak, sources say
Jennifer Forkish, the LAPD’s public information director, said she resigned Thursday. Sources familiar with her ouster said the acting U.S. attorney contacted LAPD leaders alleging a suspected leak fr...
www.latimes.com
adamrose.bsky.social
Excellent piece by @dwallacewells.bsky.social on increasing state violence and the haunting anonymity of masked ICE agents.

I'm quoted in here a couple times, in particular calling out government counter-arguments ("filming is violence") as Orwellian.
dwallacewells.bsky.social
ICE has been pulling guns on civilians, spraying tear gas in the face of protestors who film them, shooting priests with pepper spray and pellets—and, increasingly it seems, targeting journalists and others trying to document their activities. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...
Opinion | ‘ICE Goes Masked for a Single Reason’
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Adam Rose
freedom.press
Journalist Mario Guevara was deported because the American government punishes reporters to protect its own power.

“There’s no real crime here. It’s just pretext,” FPF's @adamrose.bsky.social told @dwallacewells.bsky.social.
Opinion | ‘ICE Goes Masked for a Single Reason’
www.nytimes.com
adamrose.bsky.social
Thank you for this coverage! Greatly appreciated!
adamrose.bsky.social
It’s literally a journalist’s job to be at protests. If journalists are protesters, cops are protesters. Stupid argument.

Journalists do yell “I’m press!”

Press may yell expletives, but usually only after being shot by police. Which is allowable. It makes them human. Doesn’t make them a protester.
djbyrnes1.bsky.social
Some dispute over journalists "shouting" at protests.

Plaintiff attys bring up a journalist shouting "don't shoot," rather than shouting protest chants.

Govt. atty brings up the issue of presence.

"From our point of view, being at a protest can be construed" as protest activity, he says.
adamrose.bsky.social
Dispersal orders are often impossible to hear at protests.

Even when law enforcement sends officer “to the back” so they can say they heard it, often people in crowd can’t.

It may be louder in the crowd, and it may also be that sound bounces and moves as a wave.

The need visual cues.
djbyrnes1.bsky.social
More discussion now over language surrounding dispersal orders; how many need to be given, and how agents can respond to refusals.

Plaintiff atty says there's a concern over "demonstrator[s] being dealt with... removed from the protest, and rarely being charged," contra their constitutional rights.
adamrose.bsky.social
Journalist hate this one simple acronym!
adamrose.bsky.social
I also often see photos of DHS officers with stinger grenades, little black orbs thrown by hand. Those are apparently controversial even in law enforcement circles due to safety concerns. Many so-called “less lethal” munitions are really more like “potentially fatal maiming” munitions.
adamrose.bsky.social
I should add that pepper balls have their own special launcher, looks a lot like a paintball gun and same general idea.

I’m posting on a flight so may be slow to add more, but hit me up with any questions on LLMs!
adamrose.bsky.social
Typically they use 40mm launchers and 37mm launchers. The 40mm shoots foam rounds (blue tips) and sometimes flash bangs, and the 37mm shoots foam batons (a set of 5 black donuts from a single canister). Both may shoot chemical grenades but usually that’s 40mm. Some munitions can also be thrown.
adamrose.bsky.social
That qualifier could be important. This is potentially an extremely troubling development that law enforcement would invariably abuse in unconstitutional ways if given any opportunity.
Reposted by Adam Rose
seth-stern.bsky.social
It's great that this TRO will issue. The lawyers and plaintiffs deserve tons of credit for making this happen.

But why is Judge Ellis walking back the position of the DOJ and at least one federal appellate court that journalists can't be dispersed at protests?
Reposted by Adam Rose
djbyrnes1.bsky.social
Back in federal judge Sara Ellis' courtroom in Chicago for a second day of discussion on a proposed restraining order to rein in federal immigration agents' violent behavior.

Debate began on this issue on Monday, and ended without the court entering a formal order.
djbyrnes1.bsky.social
@unraveledpress.com & other press have been threatened, shot with less-lethals and arrested while reporting on federal immigration activities in Chicagoland and on the resulting protests at Broadview.

I'm now at a hearing asking the federal court to rein ICE & co in. I'll let you know how it goes.
unraveledpress.com
Well, yeah, we're suing ICE.

This wasn't really a hard decision. As little faith as we have in institutions, we recognize the value of drawing visible lines in the sand. We drew ours personally a while ago, but better late than never.

May every protester be freed and may this occupation end.
adamrose.bsky.social
"The media" isn't without sin (nor is it a monolith).

I think of Diana when DHS whines how ICE agents are afraid of being "doxxed."

Burly macho actors with guns, violently assaulting innocent people on govt behalf?

They couldn't handle 1% of what this girl went through.

SHE deserved none of it.
When the media chased Princess Diana to her death, it was forced to look in the mirror - Poynter
Princess Diana’s death was not only a moment of tremendous grief for those who loved and admired her. It was also a reckoning for the press.
www.poynter.org