During the recent protests against immigration raids, the Los Angeles Police Department deployed officers on horseback to control and disperse crowds, drawing criticism from some civil rights groups who say the mounted units unnecessarily harmed demonstrators.
Those critics also say the department has a history of using officers on horseback to “charge” at people while using batons to strike at them.
Videos shared on social media and on TV news show members of the LAPD Metro Mounted Platoon using horses to force protesters back from the downtown L.A. Civic Center and, in at least one case, their horses appear to step on or trample a protester…