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Reposted by Adam Rose

Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 3h

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

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 13h

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

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 20h

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.

David Wallace-Wells @dwallacewells.bsky.social · 1d

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

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Reposted by Adam Rose

Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 1d

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

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you for this coverage! Greatly appreciated!

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 1d

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.

Dave Byrnes @djbyrnes1.bsky.social · 1d

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.

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 1d

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.

Dave Byrnes @djbyrnes1.bsky.social · 1d

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.

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 1d

Journalist hate this one simple acronym!

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 1d

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.

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 1d

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!

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 1d

Some useful details on common LLMs starts here around slide 14: docs.google.com/presentation...

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

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 1d

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.

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 1d

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.

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Reposted by Adam Rose

Seth Stern @seth-stern.bsky.social · 1d

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?

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Reposted by Adam Rose

Dave Byrnes @djbyrnes1.bsky.social · 2d

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.

Dave Byrnes @djbyrnes1.bsky.social · 4d

@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.

unraveled @unraveledpress.com · 4d

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.

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 2d

"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

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 2d

Interesting! Do you know if the grenades made to fire from launchers work the same way, or do they have pre-drilled holes? And same question about triple-chasers. (I thought those were all drilled on bottom or between segments, but realizing now maybe not.)

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 2d

Video is helpful, thanks!

What's odd to me is the hole isn't there in the marketing photo. So as a "flameless" device, how is a hole opening up? Chemical burns through? Pre-punctured inside and explodes away?

Flameless Tri-Chamber CS Grenade - Defense Technology

The design of the Tri-Chamber Flameless CS Grenade allows the contents to burn within an internal can and disperse the agent safely with reduced risk of fire. The grenade is designed primarily for ind...

www.defense-technology.com

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 2d

Yes! Sold here, says for indoor but can be used for crowd control: www.defense-technology.com/product/flam...

But I'm wondering how the hole is made. Seen here too, so not unique to this incident: www.chemicalweaponsresearch.com/munitions/dt...

Flameless Tri-Chamber CS Grenade | Chemical Weapons Research Center

www.chemicalweaponsresearch.com

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 2d

Spotted in this week's @poynterinstitute.bsky.social newsletter ...

"how it feels when your editor is in the google doc while you're still writing" over a photo of someone in a Michael Myers mask peering out from behind a bush

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 2d

I've looked at a lot of photos of used "less lethal" munitions in Chicago, Portland and LA. Haven't seen many holes like this. (I'm less familiar with this specific grenade-style tri-chamber.)

Anyone ideas on what causes hole? Part of discharge mechanism? Malfunction? Damaged after already spent?

Dave Byrnes @djbyrnes1.bsky.social · 5d

Locals, CPD, press, a few protestors and legal observers remain on scene but the feds are gone. Air is still foul from all the chemicals. One protestor found one of the gas cannisters feds were deploying into the crowd

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 2d

OMG, this @djbyrnes1.bsky.social thread! Great play-by-play of yesterday's hearing in Chicago Headline Club case against DHS.

Similar to LA Press Club case that led to federal injunction, judges are NOT amused by DHS lawyers.

Highlighting these ::chef's kiss:: back-to-back combos, but read it all!

Govt. atty getting into the specific elements of the complaint involving use of force. He says DHS' use of force policy is designed to protect people's lives and constitutionality.

"You can't fire a tear gas cannister at someone's head... unless lethal force is justified," he says.

Side note: that tear gas line hits different after Saturday tbh, seeing as a federal agent briefly aimed a gas can launcher straight at me during the 40th/Kedzie protest.

He didn't shoot & I don't know if it was because I had my press jacket on or because people were already running from the scene.

Def. atty also raising the concern of ICE agents (federal employees who like to wear masks) getting "doxxed."

I'm floored. Ellis essentially just told the govt. to suck it up. Cites incidents of judges getting doxxed.

"It's unfortunately part of the cost of doing business as a public servant," she says.

She adds that violations of ICE agents' rights can't be addressed if they won't identify themselves.

She concedes it can be "scary" to be followed home or harassed, but adds,

"That doesn't mean you get to do this job and be anonymous."

"There needs to be some way to identify them," Ellis continues, asking if feds have badge number or any other identifying mark for people who may be abused by immigration agents.

Def. atty continues his argument, says "violent terrorist organizations" are trying to doxx agents.

This prompts open laughter in the courtroom.

"Well, I think we have a different idea of what's going on in Chicago," Ellis tells the def. atty, who is appearing remotely.

Back to Jon Loevy for his rebuttal, who argues there is no ongoing "revolution in the streets" in Chicago.

Says instead it's "soccer moms" yelling at ICE agents and "skinny kids" protesting.

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 2d

Yikes! Any idea what made the hole?!? Who posted original photo?

That one in the hand is CS instead of OC, but same general idea. CS is tear gas and dissipates a lot faster. OC is pepper spray and you'd want to remove all exterior clothing before going inside your vehicle or home after. Nasty.

Flameless Tri-Chamber CS Grenade - Defense Technology

The design of the Tri-Chamber Flameless CS Grenade allows the contents to burn within an internal can and disperse the agent safely with reduced risk of fire. The grenade is designed primarily for ind...

www.defense-technology.com

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 2d

Thanks! Is that canister from this day/incident where DHS/ICE gassed Chicago PD? www.reddit.com/r/50501/comm...

From the 50501 community on Reddit: Chicago police officers peppered sprayed by ice.

Explore this post and more from the 50501 community

www.reddit.com

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Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 3d

Amen! Also, it's helpful to get images of the spent canisters to ID chemical agent -- but ONLY if fully spent and safe to approach.

I posted a related thread about Portland here which has some more background. I ended up getting very mixed reports on the chemical experience/symptoms.

Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · 5d

Journalists in Portland: Try to get photos of gas canisters/munitions, either spent on ground or still carried by DHS. ONLY IF SAFE. Use long lens. Risks unknown, don’t approach.

This green smoke isn’t super common. Raised concerns in 2020. Documenting DHS munitions may help accountability later.

Alex Baumhardt @alexbaumhardt.bsky.social · 5d

Federal forces inexplicably tried to move all protestors out a city block using chemical irritants.

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