An Australian journalist, Lauren Tomasi, was shot with a rubber bullet while covering protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles. The incident, captured live on camera, saw U.S. authorities, including the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the national guard, engaging in confrontation with demonstrators, who were protesting Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Tomasi was reporting when she was shot in her calf, a scene that drew immediate public outrage, as witnessed by her immediate response and a bystander’s accusation of the police action. Nine News, her employer, confirmed the event and Tomasi’s safety, emphasizing the critical role of journalists in documenting such incidents. This event marked a stark reminder of the risks journalists face while covering public protests, highlighting the importance of their role in delivering essential information to the public. The police had previously advised journalists to maintain a safe distance from areas of operation, yet Tomasi was still hit. The incident drew international condemnation, with Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to seek an explanation from the U.S. administration. The senator emphasized the critical importance of press freedom and denounced the shooting as “simply shocking” and “completely unacceptable.”
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/jun/09/australian-reporter-shot-with-rubber-bullet-while-covering-anti-ice-protests-in-los-angeles
