Australian journalist hit a rubber bullet during its reports of Los Angeles – national protests

Australian television journalist Lauren Thomasi was injured in the leg by a Rubber bullet On Sunday during the reporting of the tower from the center of Los Angeles on the widespread protests of the US President Donald Trump Migration Campaign and after The deployment of the National Guard forces in California To the city.

Tomassi, 9News correspondent, was lived on the air when an officer lifted his fire weapon and fired a round of distance, Which was taken on the video.

“After hours of standing, the situation is now deteriorating – Lapd is moving on horseback, shooting rubber bullets at the demonstrators, and transporting them through the heart of Los Angeles,” said Tomasi before looking at the officer lifting his rifle and shooting the rubber bullet on it.

“You are just and ing shot the reporter!” A sound outside the camera shouted from the crowd.

Then the Tomasi crew asked her if she was fine and answered, “Yes, I’m fine. I am fine.”

The shooting occurred about an hour after Thomasi was arrested in the midst of a group of demonstrators while she was trying to talk about the shooting sound.

“They asked people to get out of this area, and the demonstrators were refusing,” Tomasi said.

“We are safe here. It’s just noisy. But you can see fluctuation. I can see the police here firing rubber bullets at these demonstrators.”

On Monday, Thomasi I told 9News that it is safe And without being harmed after the accident.

“I’m fine, Jimmy’s photographer and I am both safe. This is just one of the unfortunate facts to report these types of accidents,” she said.

9News also Make a statementWhich confirms that Thomasi was “shocked by a rubber bullet.”

The Outlet said: “Lauren and the camera operator are safe and will continue their primary work that covers these events. This incident is a blatant reminder of the inherent risks that journalists can face during the reporting of the front lines of the protests, which confirms the importance of their role in providing vital information.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Australia also issued a statement saying that “all journalists should be able to do their work safely.”

“Australia supports freedom of the media and the protection of journalists,” the ministry said.

Australian Senator Sarah Hanson Jong asked Prime Minister Anthony Albaniz To demand an “urgent interpretation” from the Trump administration.

Hanson Yong wrote: “The American authorities who shoot a shocking and unacceptable Australian journalist must be called.” “The Prime Minister must request an urgent explanation and tell President Trump to stop the police in shooting at reporters.”

“Freedom of the press is an essential pillar of a strong democracy that works.”

Tensions escalated in Los Angeles on Sunday, when thousands of demonstrators moved to the streets in response to Trump’s deployment of at least 300 soldiers from the California National Guard, which led to extinguishing a major highway and setting fire to self -driving cars as the application of the law used tear gas and rubber strikes to control the crowd.

Many demonstrators dispersed with the fall of the evening and the police announced an illegal association, an introduction to the officers who move and arrest the people who did not leave. Some of the rest threw things on the police from behind a temporary barrier that extends the street width, and some of them threw pieces of concrete, rocks, electric motorcycles, and fireworks in highway officers in California and their cars parked on the 101st highway heading south. The officers ran under a coverage bridge.

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The protests revolve on Sunday in Los Angeles, a sprawling city with a population of four million people, on several blocs from the city center. This was the third and most intense day of the demonstrations against the Trump immigration campaign in the region, where about 300 National Guard soldiers’ arrival paid anger and fear among many residents.

The guard was specially deployed to protect federal buildings, including the detention center in the city center, where the demonstrators focused.

They stood side by side, carrying long guns and riot shields while the demonstrators shouted “shame” and “returning home.” After some closely approached the members of the Guard, another group of official officers advanced to the group, and shot the boxes full of smoke in the street.

Minutes later, the Los Angeles Police Administration launched tours of munitions control of the crowd to disperse the demonstrators who said they had been illegally assembled. Then a large part of the group moved to prevent traffic on the 101st highway until the state patrol officers cleared them from the road late in the afternoon.

Police chief Jim McDunil said that the officers were “drowned” by the remaining demonstrators. He said they included the ordinary instigators who appear in demonstrations to cause a problem.

Several dozens of people have been arrested throughout the weekend of the protest. One of them was held on Sunday to throw a Molotov cocktail in the police, and the other to formulate a motorcycle in a group of officers.

This is not the first time that Trump activates the National Guard to suppress the protests. In 2020, he asked several rulers to send forces to Washington, DC, to respond to the demonstrations that arose after that George Floyd He was killed by Minneapolis police officers. Several governors who asked them, and sending forces to the federal boycott. The rulers who refused to do so were allowed to do so, while maintaining their forces on the homeland.

This time, however, Trump behaves in the opposition of the California governor. Gavin New No.In light of the normal circumstances, who will retain the control of the National Guard in California. While Trump said that the forces’ estimation was necessary to “confront the marshes” in California, the democratic ruler said this step was “intentionally calming and will only rise tensions.”

– With files from the Associated Press

& Copy 2025 Global News, a Division of Corus Entertainment Inc.