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The Dangerous Truth About the ‘Nonlethal’ Weapons Used Against LA Protesters
- The recent protests in Los Angeles against ICE raids led to the arrests of at least 56 individuals, amid a growing intensity of raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- Use of the National Guard and nonlethal weapons by law enforcement raised concerns over the suppression of dissent and instilling fear, as stated by civil society groups and California governor Gavin Newsom.
- Law enforcement agencies used various 'nonlethal' weapons like PGL-65, 37mm/40mm Sage Deuce Projectile Launchers, tear gas grenades, and rubber ammunition to disperse protesters in Los Angeles.
- Canada bans the use of such 'nonlethal weapons' for protest control, labeling them as prohibited weapons with concerns raised by civil society organizations about their potential dangers.
- Kinetic projectiles like rubber bullets are discouraged under Geneva conventions due to potential severe injuries, such as skull fractures, brain damage, and even death, when fired at protesters.
- The Geneva conventions specify rules for the application of kinetic projectiles, emphasizing not firing in automatic mode, avoiding multiple simultaneous firings, and not targeting the face, neck, or torso.
- Usage of 'less lethal' weapons is widespread, with many countries keeping the specific models confidential, hindering accountability and verification of their illegal use against peaceful civilians.
- Amnesty International has documented abusive use of 'nonlethal' weapons like Penn Arms GL-1 and Defense Technology 1325 in social protests, leading to serious injuries and human rights violations.
- In Chile, police actions during protests resulted in over 440 eye injuries, including cases of eye loss or rupture, highlighting the devastating impact of these 'less lethal' weapons.
- Amnesty International's 2023 report 'My Eye Exploded' calls for the suspension of using 40-mm gas or impact projectiles against peaceful civilians to prevent further harm and human rights violations.
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