Man indicted for distributing face shields at L.A. immigration protest

Source: Washington Post

The face shields, which guard against irritants and debris, were handed out to demonstrators protesting the Trump administration’s immigration raids.

A man accused of providing face shields to Los Angeles demonstrators protesting the Trump administration’s immigration raids pleaded not guilty Thursday to a charge of conspiracy to aid and abet civil disorders.

A federal grand jury indicted Alejandro Orellana, 29, on Wednesday, according to court documents.

On June 9 — a day after hundreds of National Guard troops dispatched by President Donald Trump arrived in Los Angeles to quell demonstrations — Orellana drove his black Ford F-150 into the city with the bed full of white boxes containing face shields, according to federal prosecutors.

Protesters who grabbed the face shields from the truck would later “commit acts to obstruct, impede, and interfere with law enforcement officers,” the indictment said. Prosecutors said they identified Orellana through videos and photos posted on social media.

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