Thereโs been intense chaos and unrest in Los Angeles over the past few days.
Caught right in the middle of the turmoil was Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi โ hit by a rubber bullet during the violent clashes.
โYou just f**king shot the reporterโ
Lauren Tomasi, Nine Newsโ U.S. correspondent, has been covering the protests that erupted in response to Presidentย Donald Trumpโsย controversial immigration crackdown.
On Sunday, June 8,ย demonstrators flooded downtown Los Angeles, with some setting vehicles on fire near the Metropolitan Detention Centre.
The day had began quietly, with relatively small groups protesting the immigration raids, but tensions quickly escalated as crowds swelled to thousands by the afternoon.
Reporting live from 257 E Temple Street, Tomasi described how the LAPD was โmoving in on horseback, firing rubber bullets at protesters.โ Just moments later, the chaos hit close to home โ Tomasi was struck by a rubber bullet.
A bystanderโs voice pierced the noise: โYou just f**king shot the reporter.โ
Tomasi remained calm, responding, โIโm good,โ when someone checked if she was alright. Footage released by Nine News appears to show an officer deliberately aiming in her direction before opening fire. The network later confirmed in a statement:
โLauren Tomasi was struck by a rubber bullet. Lauren and her camera operator are safe and will continue their essential work covering these events. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers journalists can face while reporting from the frontlines of protests, underscoring the importance of their role in providing vital information.โ
Demands an explanation
Australian Greens senatorย Sarah Hanson-Youngย responded swiftly, demanding an explanation from U.S. officials.
โThe first thing [Prime Minister Anthony Albanese] must tell the president is to stop shooting at our journalists,โ she said. โFreedom of the press is a fundamental pillar of a strong, functioning democracy.โ
The protests, centered around recent immigration raids,ย had already prompted the LAPDย to declare an โunlawful assemblyโ and issue warnings via social media for both the public and press to stay clear of the Civic Center area.
The incident has sparked international outrage and renewed scrutiny on law enforcementโs use of force during civil unrest. Meanwhile, President Trump reportedly urged the LAPD to โbring in the troops,โ and the National Guard has since been deployed to reinforce overwhelmed police forces.
โDonโt give the administration what it wantsโ
Trump has described Los Angeles as lawless chaos where Democratic leaders have lost control. Yet, so far, the unrest remains confined to just a few blocks in downtown.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is urging residents to put an end to the violence.
โAngelenos โ do not take part in violence and chaos. Donโt give the administration what it wants,โ she wrote onย X.
Both Mayor Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom have publicly opposed Trumpโs decision to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles.
As the dust settles, one thing remains clear: the frontlines of protest are becoming increasingly dangerous โ not just for demonstrators, but for those trying to tell their stories.
