Since June 2025, local, state, and federal law enforcement in Los Angeles have deployed thousands of “less-lethal” crowd control munitions—such as rubber bullets, tear gas, and flash bang grenades—against protesters, many of whom were not accused of any wrongdoing. Legal experts and witnesses have raised concerns that some uses violated California protest laws. Although a federal judge banned the LAPD from using 40mm projectiles at protests, the department continues to use other dangerous weapons, including a 37mm launcher that fires multiple rubber bullets simultaneously. This weapon is particularly risky due to its scatter pattern and the LAPD’s “skip firing” policy, which increases the chance of unintended injuries to bystanders.
Physicians for Human Rights highlights that multi-projectile impact weapons cause the majority of serious injuries, especially ocular trauma. Other hazardous crowd control tools include beanbag rounds, flash bang grenades, and chemical agents like tear gas and pepper spray, which can affect anyone in the area and pose severe risks to vulnerable populations. Experts advise protesters to heed unlawful assembly declarations, protect their face and eyes with appropriate gear, and use saline solution to flush chemical irritants. Ultimately, personal safety decisions at protests require balancing protection with mobility and situational awareness, and sometimes the safest choice is to avoid confrontation altogether.
