Australian reporter injured by nonlethal round while covering live immigration protests in Los Angeles.
In Newcastle, Australia, a notable incident occurred over the weekend during a live broadcast from downtown Los Angeles, involving an Australian television journalist, Lauren Tomasi of 9News. While reporting on large-scale protests sparked by President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and the controversial deployment of California National Guard troops, Tomasi was struck in the leg by a nonlethal round fired by law enforcement.
Video footage of the event captured Tomasi, microphone in hand, as she delivered her report amidst a tense atmosphere. Suddenly, an officer behind her discharged a nonlethal round at close range. Tomasi was seen reacting in pain and quickly moving away from the police line with her cameraman. The incident raised immediate concerns, exemplified by a voice off-camera exclaiming the gravity of the situation.
Despite the abrupt disruption, Tomasi reassured her crew, stating she was uninjured. Her ability to communicate remained intact, as she continued her report amidst the chaos unfolding around her. A protester even interrupted the broadcast by grabbing the camera, highlighting the volatility of the protest situation. Tomasi commented on the refusal of demonstrators to vacate the area despite police orders, emphasizing the underlying tensions characterizing the scene.
Following the incident, Tomasi addressed her condition in a follow-up interview with 9News, affirming that both she and her cameraman were safe. She acknowledged the inherent risks associated with covering such events, referring to the “unfortunate realities” reporters often face.
The protests themselves, which began with a few hundred participants on Friday, escalated by Sunday to thousands, blocking a major freeway and causing damage, including the burning of self-driving vehicles. This escalation of unrest prompted President Trump to send National Guard troops to Los Angeles, a decision made against the wishes of California Governor Gavin Newsom. This marked a significant event in state-federal relations, being the first deployment of National Guard forces without state consent since 1967.
9News is a prominent outlet in Australia, part of the larger media conglomerate Nine, which operates various platforms including Channel Nine and esteemed publications such as The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. The coverage of these protests and subsequent events underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policy and public response within the United States.
