US federal forces blind two protesters shot in face with ‘less-lethal’ munitions
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- Two protesters, Kaden Rummler and Britain Rodriguez, were blinded by close-range "less-lethal" munitions fired by federal officers during an anti-ICE protest in Santa Ana, California, sparking concerns over federal use-of-force policies.
- Video footage shows Rummler, 21, being shot in the face with a less-lethal round, sustaining serious injuries including glass and metal fragments near his carotid artery, and subsequently dragged by an officer; Rodriguez reported a similar injury at the same protest.
- Homeland Security policies classify strikes to the head or neck with impact weapons as deadly force, yet DHS described protesters as violent despite evidence showing minimal or no aggressive behavior during the event.
- Local officials and observers characterized the
