Why would they when the worst possible outcome is to take paid leave and find a job a couple cities over?
This is a gang war, fundamentally. Cops view the protest movement as an existential threat (and strictly, they're not wrong) and are going to use whatever tools they can find to fight it. They aren't trying to enforce the law, they're trying to put down their enemies.
I just got sent this, and I'm shocked, but also not that shocked? Some great indie journalism.
https://knock-la.com/tradition-of-violence-lasd-gang-history...
The dramatic brush you're painting this with is extremely unrealistic.