LAPD Officers On Horseback Draw Complaints About Use Of Force During Protest

During recent protests in Los Angeles over federal immigration raids, the LAPD’s use of mounted officers has come under fire from civil rights advocates who say the department deployed excessive force. Videos circulating online show LAPD’s Metro Mounted Platoon using horses to push demonstrators away from the Civic Center, including an incident in which horses appear to trample a protester. 

Civil rights attorney Carol Sobel, in a letter co-signed by the National Lawyers Guild and L.A. Community Action Network, condemned the tactics and argued they violate long-standing legal agreements. “How could the horses be used in this manner 25 years after the DNC,” Sobel asked, referencing a 2000 protest where police similarly used horses to disperse crowds, resulting in injuries.

The letter also recalled the violent police response to a 2007 May Day protest in MacArthur Park, which led to litigation and mandatory changes in officer training, including how horses should be deployed in crowd control. Sobel emphasized that despite those reforms, the LAPD continues to use aggressive strategies. 

One video, aired by ABC7 and the Associated Press, shows a protester lying on the ground surrounded by officers on horseback. A firework explodes nearby, spooking the horses. In the footage, a horse kicks the protester, another moves toward them, and an officer is seen striking the person on the head with a baton before another officer pulls the protester down and restrains them.

Police Chief Jim McDonnell acknowledged the incident but dismissed concerns, saying, “The horse didn’t trample the person,” and argued the animal was walking around them. He added the investigation is still ongoing. However, neither Mayor Karen Bass nor LAPD leadership has publicly responded to the complaints outlined in the letter. 

At a Police Commission meeting this week, community members raised concerns about LAPD’s mounted unit and their conduct during the protests. Commission President Erroll Southers stated, “I want to stress that a lack of a robust response today does not indicate an absolution to this behavior,” while confirming investigations are underway.

Link: LAIST