A 21-year-old college student named Kaden Rummler has shared the devastating impact of being blinded in one eye during a protest in Southern California. This incident occurred on January 9, at a demonstration against federal immigration enforcement following the tragic shooting of a woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis.
Rummler reported that he was in severe pain and required extensive surgery lasting six hours on his left eye after being struck by a projectile fired by federal officers. He expressed that the injury has drastically altered his life, stating that he now lacks depth perception and is unable to drive. Additionally, his attorney revealed that shards of metal and pieces of plastic remain lodged in his skull, raising the possibility of a legal case against the authorities involved.
It’s going to affect every aspect of my life, Rummler noted, as he hopes to pursue a career in forestry. Echoing his experiences, another participant in the same protest, 31-year-old Britain Rodriguez, also claimed he was blinded in one eye due to a similar projectile.
Rodriguez recounted the moment, saying, I remember hitting the ground and feeling like my eye exploded in my head. Both individuals' injuries come amid rising tensions between federal agents and communities during protests related to immigration policies under the Trump administration.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not provided detail regarding the type of projectile used in these incidents, and assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin commented that the protesters had displayed violent behavior without addressing the severity of the injuries inflicted. Rummler has since been charged with disorderly conduct.
Despite the injuries sustained, Rummler expressed his commitment to activism, stating, I refuse to sit around idly and watch that happen, and in 50 years, I would absolutely regret not trying to make a change. This event has prompted calls for a thorough investigation into the use of force by the authorities involved.
Rummler reported that he was in severe pain and required extensive surgery lasting six hours on his left eye after being struck by a projectile fired by federal officers. He expressed that the injury has drastically altered his life, stating that he now lacks depth perception and is unable to drive. Additionally, his attorney revealed that shards of metal and pieces of plastic remain lodged in his skull, raising the possibility of a legal case against the authorities involved.
It’s going to affect every aspect of my life, Rummler noted, as he hopes to pursue a career in forestry. Echoing his experiences, another participant in the same protest, 31-year-old Britain Rodriguez, also claimed he was blinded in one eye due to a similar projectile.
Rodriguez recounted the moment, saying, I remember hitting the ground and feeling like my eye exploded in my head. Both individuals' injuries come amid rising tensions between federal agents and communities during protests related to immigration policies under the Trump administration.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not provided detail regarding the type of projectile used in these incidents, and assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin commented that the protesters had displayed violent behavior without addressing the severity of the injuries inflicted. Rummler has since been charged with disorderly conduct.
Despite the injuries sustained, Rummler expressed his commitment to activism, stating, I refuse to sit around idly and watch that happen, and in 50 years, I would absolutely regret not trying to make a change. This event has prompted calls for a thorough investigation into the use of force by the authorities involved.
