Australian Reporter Shot Live on Air During Anti-ICE Riots in Los Angeles

An Australian television journalist was struck by a rubber bullet live on air while covering violent anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles, highlighting growing international concerns over media safety during civil unrest in the United States.

Lauren Tomasi, US correspondent for Nine News, was reporting from downtown LA on Sunday when she was hit in the leg by a rubber bullet fired by a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer. The dramatic moment, broadcast live, captured Tomasi shouting in pain before the feed cut away.

Just moments earlier, she had warned that the situation had “rapidly deteriorated” as LAPD officers moved in on horseback to disperse protesters.

“LAPD moving in on horseback, firing rubber bullets at protesters, moving them on through the heart of LA,” Tomasi reported before being struck.

In a statement, Nine News confirmed that both Tomasi and her camera operator were unharmed aside from the injury and would continue reporting.

“This incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers journalists face while covering events from the front lines,” the network said, calling it a sobering example of the critical role of media during national crises.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade weighed in, stating: “All journalists should be able to do their work safely. Australia supports media freedom and the protection of journalists.” The agency is monitoring the situation closely.

Australian Senator Sarah Hanson-Young called for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to issue a formal protest to the Trump administration.

“Albanese must tell the president to stop shooting at our journalists,” she said, calling the attack “a direct violation of press freedom.” The senator, representing the Greens party, added that “freedom of the press is a fundamental pillar of a strong, functioning democracy.”

According to The Guardian, Albanese may have the opportunity to address the issue directly with President Trump at the upcoming G7 summit in Canada next week.

The confrontation took place amid sweeping anti-immigration demonstrations in Los Angeles, sparked by President Trump’s aggressive deportation policies. Thousands of protesters flooded the streets over the weekend, bringing much of the city to a halt. Demonstrations centred around federal buildings where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was holding undocumented immigrants for deportation.

In response to escalating unrest, Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops on Saturday. By late Sunday, the president announced an additional 500 U.S. Marines were on standby, intensifying concerns about the militarisation of protest responses. “BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!” Trump posted on Truth Social, echoing previous calls for aggressive crackdowns on civil dissent.

Los Angeles has become a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration and civil liberties, with critics warning that the heavy-handed federal response risks undermining constitutional rights, including those of the press.

Published by https://m10news.com | By F. Dayo Olusola | Category: World News