By Emeka Blast 
Covering LA Protests: British Photographer Hit by Non-Lethal Munitions
British photojournalist Nick Stern was injured while covering anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protests in Los Angeles on June 9, 2025. Stern, who has been based in the U.S. since 2007, was documenting a standoff between protesters and police outside a Home Depot in Paramount when a 14mm sponge bullet struck his thigh. Despite wearing visible press credentials, he was hit by what is believed to be a high-velocity sponge round, which is classified as “less-lethal” but can still cause severe injury if misused .
The impact caused immediate pain, and Stern briefly lost consciousness. He was assisted by protesters and treated by medics before being transported to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery. Doctors found a 40mm object embedded in his leg, likely a sponge round .q
This incident is not the first time Stern has been injured while covering protests. In 2020, during the George Floyd protests, he sustained substantial bruising after being hit by another live round .
The protests in Los Angeles were sparked by President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops and a controversial travel ban affecting citizens from 12 predominantly African and Middle Eastern countries. The demonstrations, which began peacefully, escalated into clashes between protesters and law enforcement, leading to the use of rubber bullets, tear gas, and flash-bang grenades to disperse crowds .(
Stern, who typically makes himself “as visible as possible” while working in hostile situations to ensure he is recognized as media, condemned the apparent indiscriminate force used by police and expressed concern that tensions may escalate further, especially with the National Guard deployed under President Trump’s orders.
The incident has drawn international criticism, with human rights groups and UN officials calling for the release of detainees and the opening of humanitarian corridors to Gaza. This event follows a previous attempt by the flotilla in May 2025, when their vessel Conscience was attacked by drones in international waters off Malta. Despite these challenges, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition remains committed to raising awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and challenging the Israeli blockade.
