Los Angeles Protester Hospitalized After Rubber Bullet Eye Injury During No Kings Rally

During the "No Kings Day" rally in downtown Los Angeles, photographer and protester Marshall Woodruff was struck in the right eye by a rubber bullet fired by the Los Angeles Police Department amidst clashes that broke out after the initially peaceful protest. Woodruff described the impact as severe, fracturing his cheek and tearing part of his eye, requiring a lengthy five-hour surgery, with uncertain prospects for regaining full vision. The police declared an unlawful assembly after some attendees threw bricks and bottles at officers, prompting a forceful response involving rubber bullets and mounted police. Woodruff and others criticized the police actions as excessive, noting that the escalation was not due to peaceful protesters. The incident occurred as part of widespread demonstrations against President Donald Trump and his policies, which included nearly 30,000 protesters in LA alone and over 1,500 coordinated protests nationwide, some of which experienced violence and confrontations. Woodruff remains hospitalized and recovering, highlighting the personal cost amid the political unrest.