Over the past few days, Los Angeles has been very chaotic and uncertain.
Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi was the one hit by a rubber bullet in the midst of the clashes.
“You just f**king killed a reporter”
Lauren Tomasi, Nine News’ U.S. correspondent, has reported on the protests started by President Donald Trump’s immigration policy.
On June 8, Sunday, many individuals demonstrated in downtown Los Angeles, and some of them set vehicles ablaze near the Metropolitan Detention Centre.
At first, only a few people were protesting the immigration raids, but more and more gather in the city in the afternoon, making things tense.
On-the-spot from 257 E Temple Street, Tomasi reported the LAPD coming in on horseback and shooting rubber bullets. A short time later, the same events hit home for Tomasi as he was hit by a rubber bullet.
There was another voice in the shouting, saying: “You just shot the reporter.”
Tomasi stayed calm and told the person who asked her, “I’m fine.” It appears from Nine News’ footage that an officer aimed right at Haines before shooting. According to a statement issued by the network, this is what happened.
Lauren Tomasi was hit by a rubber bullet. Lauren and her camera operator are doing well and will go on with their important job covering these events. This event shows the serious dangers journalists encounter when covering protests, underlining the need for their contributions to the media.
Calls to be explained
Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young quickly asked her U.S. counterparts to provide an explanation.
The very first thing he should say to the president is to end the targeting of our journalists with bullets. A functioning democracy relies on the freedom of the press.
Recent immigration raids led to protests, and because of this, the LAPD declared an “unlawful assembly” and warned both citizens and media on social networks to avoid the area around the Civic Center.
This event has upset people worldwide and made people look more closely at how the police deal with disturbances and protests. Police forces are now being reinforced by the National Guard due to Trump’s previous request to the LAPD to “bring in the troops.”
Do not show the administration success.
Trump portrays Los Angeles as a city in chaos because the Democratic authorities have lost their grasp on it. Thus far, the protests are only found in a small area within the downtown area.
The mayor wants Angelenos to stop the violence.
“Californians — aim to avoid violence and disorder as much as possible. She wrote on X that “don’t let the administration have its way with you.”
Both Mayor Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom of California have made their opposition to Trump’s move known.
After the demonstrations have finished, it is obvious that protesting now carries more risk for both participants and those who document the events.
