Metal fragments and a piece of plastic the size of a nickel remain embedded in Kaden Rummler's skull after he was shot in the face by a homeland security agent using ammunition classified by the department itself as “less lethal,” at close range.

“When I “He hit me, I didn't realize what had happened. I remember falling to my knees and covering my head. "I just felt pressure and a ringing in my ears," Rummler recalled in an interview with KTLA. "They said it was a miracle I survived." The incident occurred on Friday, January 9, during a vigil and protest outside the federal building in Santa Ana, denouncing the abuse of power and the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an immigration agent in Minneapolis. The protest was one of several that escalated and, consequently, increased concerns about the effects of the excessive use of tactics to suppress and disperse protesters. These same tactics—which include tear gas, rubber bullets, and other devices—were not only used in Minnesota, but also in Los Angeles and Santa Ana, where they have caused injuries to participants like Rummler. Dr. Rohini Haar, an emergency physician practicing in Oakland, California, who is also a medical advisor for Physicians for Human Rights and a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, says that calling the tactics used by police and federal agents “less-lethal” is dangerous, since a single blow from any of their ammunition could be fatal. “The danger and health risks are really related to how they are used and on whom,” Haar said. “Over more than 30 years of research, we have analyzed literature reviews and assessments. These chemical irritants can damage any part of the body, from the eyes to numerous skin, lung, and mucous membrane lesions in the mouth and other areas.”

Haar has been investigating crowd control weapons since 2014 and was the lead author of the report titled “Lethal in Disguise.” The report describes the health effects of crowd control weapons. These include tear gas, rubber bullets, sonic cannons, water cannons, and similar devices.

When asked about the types of chemicals found in some ammunition used by officers, she mentioned the use of CS gas, which is actually a type of powder She described how,When this powder comes into contact with the skin, it dissolves in the moisture of that part of the body and causes irritation and pain. Inhaling it causes a cough that protesters have reported having for up to a week later. Also, the use of tear gas projectiles, which has been used in several protests, such as the one where journalist Ruben Salazar lost his life while covering the demonstrations in 1970. Something that is still seen in some videos of the protests that began in June in Los Angeles and Santa Ana is protesters coughing, while others run for cover from chemicals, rubber bullets, and tear gas projectiles. "What we have learned is that the silicone versions can last longer because they do not dissipate easily in the air. In addition, more powerful versions are known to exist, such as CR gas and CX," Haar explained. "The problem is that there is almost no regulation of these riot control agents in civilian policing. As a result, neither police departments nor manufacturers are required to report what they are using, in what quantity, or how many canisters are fired in an incident." In the case of stun grenades, Haar explained that they were created by the US military for use in armed conflicts, not for crowd control at protests. However, in the last 20 years, their use has expanded beyond the military sphere—where they are used less frequently today—and into civilian policing. “Ten years ago, some very interesting reports were published showing how many people had been seriously injured or killed by stun grenades,” Haar said. "These grenades cause fires and can cause severe burns to people when they hit them directly. Another cause of concern is the use of stun grenades in conjunction with tear gas." Haar added that he and his colleagues have identified more than 80 different types of projectiles, as well as the various weapons from which they are fired, used in contexts such as the demonstrations recorded during the past year. I have noted that, in cases like Rummler's in Santa Ana, When these projectiles are fired at close range, they can impact with a force comparable to that of live ammunition and cause serious injuries. Furthermore, I have explained that, because they are not shaped like bullets—but rather like balls, cylinders, or other geometries—when fired at long range they can injure more than one person. “All our data shows that this is where most of the injuries occur,” Haar said. “Once again, they are dense and unaimed, so they can hit children, bystanders, and the elderly.”

In June, during protests against the Trump administration's immigration policy and the decision to deploy the National Guard in the nation's second-largest city, it was reported that Los Angeles Police Department officers fired more than 1,000 projectiles and 20 rounds of CS gas at protesters in a single day.

Haar also emphasized that,In addition to the physical injuries and health problems associated with the misuse of these weapons, many people report a decline in their mental health after experiencing situations similar to Rummler's.

In Los Angeles, the City Council unanimously approved a proposal two weeks ago to limit the use of less-lethal weapons and heavy-handed tactics by local police during protests.

“After all these years of research with our entire global group of academics, advocates, and lawyers, we came to the conclusion "Ultimately, projectiles have no place in crowd control because they are simply not safe," Haar concluded. The City Council unanimously approved a proposal two weeks ago to limit the use of less-lethal weapons and heavy-handed tactics by local police during protests. proposal two weeks ago to limit the use of less-lethal weapons and heavy-handed tactics by local police during protests. “After all these years of research with our entire global group of academics, advocates, and lawyers, we came to the conclusion that, ultimately, projects have no place in crowd control, as they are simply not safe,” Haar concluded.

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