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bencamach0.bsky.social
camacho
@bencamach0.bsky.social
4.8K followers 270 following 230 posts
multi-award winning journalist, documentary photographer // production West Side Storytellers, union IWW-FJU, signal: bencamacho.01

new worker-led publication @thesouthlander.com

https://linktr.ee/bencamacho
Posts Replies Media Videos
bencamach0.bsky.social
made some graphics to go with my story

read if you haven't yet!

inadvertent.substack.com/p/birds-of-a...
November 17, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Reposted by camacho
eltragon.bsky.social
Border Patrol has been targeting the elderly heavily. Today in Santa Ana, that’s almost all they took, including this man and his cane.
A border patrol questions an elderly man with a cane in a parking lot before taking him.
November 15, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Reposted by camacho
elizabethweill.bsky.social
People held at the Core Civic-run ICE jail in Kern County, California are denied medical care, access to their attorneys, and, for disabled detainees, the most basic accommodations, according to a class action lawsuit filed by the ACLU and others. www.thecarceralreport.com/p/people-at-...
November 14, 2025 at 3:48 PM
bencamach0.bsky.social
my first story on mass surveillance is out: inadvertent.substack.com/p/birds-of-a...

co-publishing with @calonews.bsky.social
Birds Of A Feather Flock Together: Santa Ana And ICE’s Efforts To Surveil You
SAPD’s new mass surveillance system comes as ICE drafted plans to set up a 24/7 social media surveillance team in Santa Ana. Mayor Amezcua in denial.
inadvertent.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:10 PM
bencamach0.bsky.social
The chief and cops that continue to shoot journalists and interfere with our work need to be held in contempt.

From the horse’s mouth, the LAPD does not want to follow the federal injunction handed down to them.

No consequences = no accountability
joeyneverjoe.bsky.social Joey Scott @joeyneverjoe.bsky.social · 8d
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell released a statement about the dept’s opposition to the injunction that protects journalists at protests. Their biggest hang-up is not being able to freely use less-lethals on people to “de-escalate” protests.
Chief of Police Response to Preliminary Injunction Involving Media at Protests Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) remains firmly committed to upholding the most vital principle of our democracy: the right to a free press and an informed public. Protections for members of the media during First Amendment assemblies constitute a vital component of our policies and training and are a critical focus in our crowd management, intervention, and control strategies. The LAPD's policies and procedures are consistent with both state and federal law and have been modified since the protests in 2020 in a continued effort to improve the LAPD's efficiency in crowd management, protect all peaceful demonstrators, and ensure their ability to demonstrate lawfully are preserved and protected. However, when a peaceful demonstration is threatened by people intent on unlawful and violent behavior, the risk of harm to everyone involved increases substantially. In these moments, the LAPD must declare an unlawful assembly, and issue dispersal orders, to ensure the safety of the public and restore order. Recently, a preliminary injunction was issued that negatively affected the LAPD's ability to manage the complexities of unlawful assemblies and unruly crowds. These events are often volatile and can escalate rapidly. Individuals frequently carry dangerous weapons and use violent tactics to obstruct law enforcement operations. Amid these emotionally charged and hazardous conditions, our officers trained to the highest standards make every effort to identify duly authorized members of the media and support their constitutional right to report safely and freely. The LAPD has several key concerns with the injunction, including: • Ambiguity in defining "duly authorized" media personnel, which may allow individuals with ill intent who are not duly authorized media personnel to gain access to areas behind the officers' skirmish lines, increasin • Uncertainty surrounding mutual aid operations, including the LAPD's potential liability for actions taken by partnering agencies that may operate under different protocols and tactical guidelines. • Setting an impossible standard for LAPD officers, and potentially holding the City in contempt and liable for financial sanctions for actions of LAPD officers that are lawful under both state and federal law, and appropriate for all other law enforcement agencies except the LAPD. While we remain committed to fostering professional and respectful relationships with our medi partners, and will comply with the injunction as required, its broad scope and ambiguous provisions may compromise officer safety, hinder effective crowd management, and negatively impact the wider community. For this reason, the LAPD fully supports the City Attorney's efforts to correct the problems created by the injunction. The LAPD remains committed to upholding the safety and constitutional rights of all Angelenos residents, demonstrators, officers, and legitimate members of the press without exception.
November 11, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Reposted by camacho
joeyneverjoe.bsky.social
With an injunction they still do this:
bsky.app/profile/joey...
joeyneverjoe.bsky.social Joey Scott @joeyneverjoe.bsky.social · Oct 19
Here's the video from @filmthepolicela.bsky.social of @shoton35mm.bsky.social getting shot at by LAPD. You can see the horse cop point Lex out before the other officer shoots Lex. You can see clear as day the LAPD violated the federal injunction.
November 10, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Reposted by camacho
joeyneverjoe.bsky.social
Again, nobody has in the history of protests in LA pretended to be press to attack police or engage in criminal behavior. They just want to use force against anyone and not worry if the person on the other side of the rubber bullet is press or not.
November 10, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Reposted by camacho
joeyneverjoe.bsky.social
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell released a statement about the dept’s opposition to the injunction that protects journalists at protests. Their biggest hang-up is not being able to freely use less-lethals on people to “de-escalate” protests.
Chief of Police Response to Preliminary Injunction Involving Media at Protests Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) remains firmly committed to upholding the most vital principle of our democracy: the right to a free press and an informed public. Protections for members of the media during First Amendment assemblies constitute a vital component of our policies and training and are a critical focus in our crowd management, intervention, and control strategies. The LAPD's policies and procedures are consistent with both state and federal law and have been modified since the protests in 2020 in a continued effort to improve the LAPD's efficiency in crowd management, protect all peaceful demonstrators, and ensure their ability to demonstrate lawfully are preserved and protected. However, when a peaceful demonstration is threatened by people intent on unlawful and violent behavior, the risk of harm to everyone involved increases substantially. In these moments, the LAPD must declare an unlawful assembly, and issue dispersal orders, to ensure the safety of the public and restore order. Recently, a preliminary injunction was issued that negatively affected the LAPD's ability to manage the complexities of unlawful assemblies and unruly crowds. These events are often volatile and can escalate rapidly. Individuals frequently carry dangerous weapons and use violent tactics to obstruct law enforcement operations. Amid these emotionally charged and hazardous conditions, our officers trained to the highest standards make every effort to identify duly authorized members of the media and support their constitutional right to report safely and freely. The LAPD has several key concerns with the injunction, including: • Ambiguity in defining "duly authorized" media personnel, which may allow individuals with ill intent who are not duly authorized media personnel to gain access to areas behind the officers' skirmish lines, increasin • Uncertainty surrounding mutual aid operations, including the LAPD's potential liability for actions taken by partnering agencies that may operate under different protocols and tactical guidelines. • Setting an impossible standard for LAPD officers, and potentially holding the City in contempt and liable for financial sanctions for actions of LAPD officers that are lawful under both state and federal law, and appropriate for all other law enforcement agencies except the LAPD. While we remain committed to fostering professional and respectful relationships with our medi partners, and will comply with the injunction as required, its broad scope and ambiguous provisions may compromise officer safety, hinder effective crowd management, and negatively impact the wider community. For this reason, the LAPD fully supports the City Attorney's efforts to correct the problems created by the injunction. The LAPD remains committed to upholding the safety and constitutional rights of all Angelenos residents, demonstrators, officers, and legitimate members of the press without exception.
November 10, 2025 at 7:57 PM
bencamach0.bsky.social
got a good one coming next week. subscribe: inadvertent.substack.com
Inadvertent | Ben Camacho | Substack
Inadvertent is an independent, muckraking outlet. Click to read Inadvertent, by Ben Camacho, a Substack publication.
inadvertent.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Reposted by camacho
harmscommitted.com
"What does federal attention mean for our safety? For our sources?"

"That's the calculation foreign correspondents make in conflict zones. Now it's what local journalists are making in American cities."
#California #USA #Media #Deportation #EthnicCleansing
When your local reporter needs the same protection as a war correspondent
Five months of covering ICE raids taught our small LA newsroom hard lessons — and we're still figuring out how to sustain it.
lapublicpress.org
November 6, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Reposted by camacho
dig-a-hole.bsky.social
If only certain people can only say certain things at state-mandated certain times and in state mandated certain places, speech is not free.

If only state sanctioned reporters can report state sanctioned things at state sanctioned locations, the press is not free.
November 6, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Reposted by camacho
joeyneverjoe.bsky.social
Councilmember Ysabel Jurado has introduced a motion to protect journalists covering protests. The motion: LAPD will create a public campaign on how to obtain LAPD-issued press passes along w/ signing MoUs between press groups and the city to create an agreement on conduct at protests.
Councilmember Ysabel Jurado Introduces Motion to Bolster Protections for Journalists Covering Protests LOS ANGELES – Today, Councilmember Ysabel Jurado introduced a motion to bolster protections for journalists covering protests and other public demonstrations in Los Angeles, ensuring they can report freely and safely. The motion follows a federal lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department, citing multiple instances in which officers fired less-lethal projectiles at journalists covering protests. A judge subsequently issued a Temporary Restraining Order prohibiting such targeting, reaffirming the critical role of the press in keeping the public informed and enabling civic participation. “When the press can freely and safely do its job, the public can participate fully in our democracy,” said Councilmember Ysabel Jurado. “Our responsibility as a City is to make sure those who report the truth are protected, not punished, for doing their jobs.” State law does not require specific press credentials for journalists covering protests. LAPD Media Guidelines note that press badges are “optional tools,” but ambiguity in verifying press status has led to constitutional violations, costly settlements, and federal court intervention, highlighting the urgent need for clear, standardized guidelines to protect members of the press and safeguard taxpayer dollars. Councilmember Jurado’s motion calls on the LAPD to develop a public campaign explaining how members of the press can obtain an LAPD press badge. It also calls for collaboration with several City departments to create a Memorandum of Understanding between the LAPD, the Los Angeles Press Club, and the Radio & Television News Association of Southern California. The MOU would establish a shared code of conduct for First Amendment demonstrations, setting clear, operational standards for how LAPD engages with journalists. The motion also calls on the City Attorney, CLA, and CAO to develop
November 5, 2025 at 11:27 PM
bencamach0.bsky.social
The problem is not press unable to identify themselves properly. The problem is LAPD shooting us with kinetic munitions and interfering with our work. Ysabel Jurado and Eunisses Hernandez would have us meet LAPD on LAPD’s terms when LAPD is the one breaking the law and shooting people.
joeyneverjoe.bsky.social Joey Scott @joeyneverjoe.bsky.social · 13d
Councilmember Ysabel Jurado has introduced a motion to protect journalists covering protests. The motion: LAPD will create a public campaign on how to obtain LAPD-issued press passes along w/ signing MoUs between press groups and the city to create an agreement on conduct at protests.
Councilmember Ysabel Jurado Introduces Motion to Bolster Protections for Journalists Covering Protests LOS ANGELES – Today, Councilmember Ysabel Jurado introduced a motion to bolster protections for journalists covering protests and other public demonstrations in Los Angeles, ensuring they can report freely and safely. The motion follows a federal lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department, citing multiple instances in which officers fired less-lethal projectiles at journalists covering protests. A judge subsequently issued a Temporary Restraining Order prohibiting such targeting, reaffirming the critical role of the press in keeping the public informed and enabling civic participation. “When the press can freely and safely do its job, the public can participate fully in our democracy,” said Councilmember Ysabel Jurado. “Our responsibility as a City is to make sure those who report the truth are protected, not punished, for doing their jobs.” State law does not require specific press credentials for journalists covering protests. LAPD Media Guidelines note that press badges are “optional tools,” but ambiguity in verifying press status has led to constitutional violations, costly settlements, and federal court intervention, highlighting the urgent need for clear, standardized guidelines to protect members of the press and safeguard taxpayer dollars. Councilmember Jurado’s motion calls on the LAPD to develop a public campaign explaining how members of the press can obtain an LAPD press badge. It also calls for collaboration with several City departments to create a Memorandum of Understanding between the LAPD, the Los Angeles Press Club, and the Radio & Television News Association of Southern California. The MOU would establish a shared code of conduct for First Amendment demonstrations, setting clear, operational standards for how LAPD engages with journalists. The motion also calls on the City Attorney, CLA, and CAO to develop
November 6, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Reposted by camacho
harmscommitted.com
"Nvidia, [..] the world's first $5 trillion company, is powering [ICE's] investigative division."

"[I]nvesting in [large language model] systems that can be used to surveil U.S. citizens, migrants."
#USA #Surveillance #Deportation #EthnicCleansing
ICE Investigations, Powered by Nvidia
ICE’s investigative division, increasingly involved in street-level immigration enforcement, struck a software deal with Nvidia.
theintercept.com
November 2, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Reposted by camacho
lexroman.com
Also I have an entire project dedicated to how exactly to run a reader-funded newsletter and it is also reader-funded. For $7/mo or $75/yr you can know everything I know

paidnewsletterplaybook.com
The Paid Newsletter Playbook
Your guide to starting and running a paid newsletter financially backed by your subscribers. From audience growth to winning over paid subscribers to reducing churn, you'll find it all here.
paidnewsletterplaybook.com
November 2, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Reposted by camacho
lexroman.com
Journalists are questioning whether the reader funded model works. I think the real problem is many journalists expected someone else to run their business—namely Substack.

One asked me “what does it mean to run the business?” vs letting a tech company do it

My answer: youtube.com/shorts/8mh_W...
What does it mean to run your business and not rely on a tech co like substack to do it for you
YouTube video by Lex Roman
youtube.com
November 2, 2025 at 8:27 PM
bencamach0.bsky.social
Inadvertent (my substack) turned 1 last month! 🎉🎃

inadvertent.substack.com

If you still haven't subscribed -- you should. All of my independent reporting is on there.
November 2, 2025 at 4:24 PM
bencamach0.bsky.social
you'll never see LAPD do this to the echo park rising crowd
lataco.bsky.social L.A. TACO @lataco.bsky.social · 16d
LAPD Disperses Dodger Fans in Echo Park with Horses

By @shoton35mm.bsky.social
November 2, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Reposted by camacho
lataco.bsky.social
LAPD on horses charge at and beat guests standing in line to the Short Stop in Echo Park. @shoton35mm.bsky.social
November 2, 2025 at 8:42 AM
bencamach0.bsky.social
i dont fw with dodgers/baseball like that but LA did need a win after everything, we need joy
November 2, 2025 at 4:54 AM
bencamach0.bsky.social
People's last time seeing their friends/family are in videos that show them being taken away (violently, most of the time).
mikkipedia.bsky.social Mikki Halpin @mikkipedia.bsky.social · 17d
A jornalero asked today if we had video of his friend being taken at a raid last month, and we were like "Are you sure you want to see it? It's horrible." He said "It's the last time I will see my friend." 💔

Your movie is beautiful
November 2, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Reposted by camacho
joeyneverjoe.bsky.social
LA City Attorney making the same argument as DHS in their Chicago lawsuit about “fake press.” LAPD’s then-Chief Moore told me and other journo’s to our faces multiple times people were pretending to be press to commit crimes. He never provided evidence to us.

www.latimes.com/california/n...
"The problem with this vague definition is that anyone can claim they are a Journalist under the court's definition, Supervising Assistant City Atty. Shaun Dabby Jacobs wrote in the memo. "All a person needs to do is print out a badge that says 'Press, or carry a camera... and they can go behind police line or into other restricted areas." The memo asks what clothing might identify a person as a journalist. "Is it simply that the person is wearing a suit or professional work dress? ... It would be very easy for someone who is not a member of the media and is intent on causing trouble or harm to other peaceful protesters or to the LAPD, to pose as a journalist since they have some of these 'indicia of being a Journalist!"
November 1, 2025 at 4:38 PM
bencamach0.bsky.social
I was co-producer and DP on this mini-doc, we worked meticulously on this project. It is a glimpse into what is happening to families across the country.

Every person being taken is loved by their own. Lives are shattered through banishment and forced disappearances. Even in the cases where the
thesouthlander.com The Southlander @thesouthlander.com · 21d
Narciso Barranco arrived to the U.S. in 1994. He spent 24 days locked up in a detention center after being violently arrested by a snatch squad of federal immigration agents in Santa Ana on June 21.
November 2, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Reposted by camacho
thesouthlander.com
Narciso Barranco arrived to the U.S. in 1994. He spent 24 days locked up in a detention center after being violently arrested by a snatch squad of federal immigration agents in Santa Ana on June 21.
October 28, 2025 at 10:55 PM