logo
Journalist Shot by Police at LA Protests

Journalist Shot by Police at LA Protests

Newsweek9 hours ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
An Australian journalistm Lauren Tomasim was struck by police-fired projectiles during escalating protests in Los Angeles this weekend, amid broader national unrest following President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement raids.
Why It Matters
The shooting of a journalist by police using less-lethal munitions raises international concerns about press freedom and the safety of reporters covering unrest. It highlights the increasingly aggressive stance of U.S. law enforcement toward media during demonstrations.
After a series of immigration raids on Friday sparked a large protest in the city, the president federalized the California National Guard and deployed troops to Los Angeles, despite objections from Governor Gavin Newsom.
U.S. Correspondent Lauren Tomasi has been caught in the crossfire as the LAPD fired rubber bullets at protesters in the heart of Los Angeles. #9News
LATEST: https://t.co/l5w7JxixxB pic.twitter.com/nvQ7m9TGLj — 9News Australia (@9NewsAUS) June 9, 2025
What To Know
Tomasi, a U.S. correspondent for 9News Australia, was hit by less-lethal rounds near Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday evening while documenting clashes between demonstrators and heavily armed police.
Less-lethal munitions can refer to rubber bullets, pepper spray, tear gas, and electric-shock weapons, among others.
A spokesperson for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said: "The Australian Consulate-General in Los Angeles is in contact with an Australian injured in protests, and stands ready to provide consular assistance if required."
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been urged to seek an "urgent explanation" from Trump.
National Guard troops were mobilized to reinforce local police, and armored vehicles and military personnel became visible across key intersections in L.A.
Lauren Tomasi was caught in the crossfire as the LAPD fired rubber bullets during protests on Sunday.
Lauren Tomasi was caught in the crossfire as the LAPD fired rubber bullets during protests on Sunday.
9News Australia
In recent years, organizations such as the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders have flagged the United States for a rise in press-targeted violence during protests.
According to a 2024 report by the Committee to Protect Journalists, attacks on journalists in the U.S. increased by more than 50 percent from 2023 to 2024, with members of the media facing threats including violence, online harassment, legal challenges, and attacks by police.
Reporters Without Borders has also condemned arrests and violence against journalists covering protests, urging law enforcement agencies to protect and respect the rights of all media personnel.
How Did the Protests Break Out?
Protests in Los Angeles erupted following immigration raids conducted in the city by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents (ICE). As tensions escalated, Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops and used federal authority to place them under national command, bypassing Newsom without invoking the Insurrection Act.
Heavily armed police and National Guard troops were deployed to disperse demonstrators in Downtown L.A. What were described initially as peaceful protests escalated as crowds attempted to block roads and took part in vandalism.
Law enforcement officials cited threats to public safety, including property damage and officer injuries, as justification for escalating their tactics. However, video footage captured by bystanders and media raised questions about the proportionality of force used, including against credentialed reporters.
What Happens Next
As investigations into Tomasi's injury begin, the Australian government has reportedly initiated diplomatic inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The LAPD has not publicly commented on whether the journalist was targeted or struck inadvertently.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

L.A. immigration protests: California to sue Trump admin over National Guard deployment after dozens arrested, Waymos set on fire, freeways blocked
L.A. immigration protests: California to sue Trump admin over National Guard deployment after dozens arrested, Waymos set on fire, freeways blocked

Yahoo

time25 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

L.A. immigration protests: California to sue Trump admin over National Guard deployment after dozens arrested, Waymos set on fire, freeways blocked

The Los Angeles Police Department has declared all of downtown L.A. an unlawful assembly area after protests erupted over the weekend in response to the Trump administration's intensified immigration crackdown. President Trump sent National Guard troops into California without the consent of the governor, inflaming tensions between demonstrators and law enforcement that has led to dozens of arrests. At least 44 people were arrested by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a raid at several locations around Los Angeles on Friday, including Ambiance Apparel in the garment district and a Home Depot in the Westlake District. These areas are known to have significant migrant populations and labor-focused industries. Protests then erupted in Los Angeles in response to Trump's immigration crackdown that has seen federal agents arrest a student on his way to volleyball practice and erroneously deport a man to El Salvador. Sunday marked the third straight day of protests over the wave of immigration raids. Crowds gathered in downtown Los Angeles and Boyle Heights. Protesters marched from Boyle Heights to the Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal building, in downtown L.A. This led to the LAPD declaring the area an unlawful assembly. Protesters moved from outside the federal building and walked onto the 101 Freeway, blocking it, around 3:30 p.m. local time. Police fired tear gas and other projectiles into the crowd and cleared the crowd by 5 p.m. Meanwhile, another protest started Sunday outside of Los Angeles City Hall Protesters outside the city's prison in Alameda were arrested, according to the LAPD. Around 300 National Guard troops arrived in Los Angeles County on Sunday after Trump deployed them to protect federal property and personnel, without the consent of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat with whom he often spars. As governor, Newsom would normally retain control and command over California's National Guard. The White House said the deployment was necessary to 'address the lawlessness' in the state, and initially stated that 2,000 troops were being deployed. About 500 Marines are also prepared to deploy to the area, the Northern Command said. It's the first time in nearly 60 years that a president has called in the National Guard without a state's request or consent. The last time was when President Lyndon Johnson sent the Guard to protect a 1965 civil rights march in Alabama. Newsom said California is suing the Trump administration over the federal mobilization of the National Guard. Newsom told MSNBC that Trump's federal mobilization of the National Guard was 'an illegal act, an immoral act, an unconstitutional act.' The governor also alleged that Trump is the one to blame for the escalation in California, saying, 'He's exacerbated the conditions. He's lit the proverbial match. He's putting fuel on this fire.' Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, told NBC News that anyone who obstructs immigration enforcement would be arrested. When asked if that would include Newsom or Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, he replied, 'I'll say it about anybody. … You cross that line, it's a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien. It's a felony to impede law enforcement doing their job.' Newsom responded to Homan's NBC interview on Sunday by saying: 'He knows where to find me.' Homan later clarified those remarks in an interview with Fox News. 'The reporter asked me, well, could Gov. Newsom or Mayor Bass be arrested? I said, 'Well no one's above the law — if they cross the line and commit a crime, absolutely they can.'' He added: 'There was no discussion about arresting Newsom.' The peaceful protests escalated into vandalism, autonomous cars set ablaze, fireworks and other objects thrown at law enforcement, police firing rubber bullets (including at an Australian journalist), and dozens of arrests by the LAPD. 'In recent days, many protests across the city have been peaceful and we thank the community for expressing their views and their frustration in a responsible manner,' LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said in a Sunday news conference. 'However, when peaceful demonstrations devolve into acts of vandalism or violence, especially violence directed at innocent people, law enforcement officers and others, we must respond firmly.' McDonnell said that a total of 39 people had been arrested — 29 on Saturday and 10 on Sunday. He also said the LAPD was not given advance notice that federal operations would occur in the area. On Sunday, several Waymo driverless vehicles were vandalized and set on fire in downtown Los Angeles. A Waymo spokesperson told USA Today Monday morning that its autonomous vehicles have been removed from the area and the company has temporarily suspended its ride-hailing service 'out of an abundance of caution.' Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass told CNN on Monday that the situation has since calmed in the city. 'If you dial back time and go to Friday, if immigration raids had not happened here, we would not have had the disorder that went on last night,' Bass said. 'We do not know where and when the next raids will be. That is the concern because people in this city have a rapid response network.' 'If they see ICE, they go out, and they protest, and so it's just a recipe for pandemonium that is completely unnecessary,' Bass added.

Waymo suspends robotaxi rides near LA protests after 5 cars are set ablaze
Waymo suspends robotaxi rides near LA protests after 5 cars are set ablaze

Yahoo

time40 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Waymo suspends robotaxi rides near LA protests after 5 cars are set ablaze

Five Waymo vehicles were set on fire during protests in LA about Trump's immigration crackdown. The company suspended service in downtown LA, a spokesperson confirmed to BI. Waymo doesn't think the vehicles were intentionally targeted and is working with the LAPD. Waymo suspended robotaxi service in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday after five vehicles were set on fire during protests against President Donald Trump's immigration raids in the city. Photos show Waymo cars covered in anti-ICE graffiti burning in the street, engulfed in smoke. A spokesperson for Waymo confirmed to Business Insider that five vehicles had been vandalized during the protests. The company temporarily suspended service in downtown LA and doesn't think its vehicles were intentionally targeted, the spokesperson said. Waymo is working with the Los Angeles Police Department, they added. On Sunday night, the LAPD said on X that "burning lithium-ion batteries release toxic gases." Electric vehicles often use lithium-ion batteries. The spokesperson told BI that Waymo, which Alphabet owns, operates more than 300 vehicles in LA and is continuing operations in other parts of the city. It's not the first time that Waymo vehicles have been targeted in California. Last year, a crowd in San Francisco set one of the robotaxis on fire during Lunar New Year celebrations amid a wave of distrust about driverless vehicles. The protests broke out on Friday after an immigration raid in the city. Over the weekend, Trump bypassed California Gov. Gavin Newsom's authority and ordered 2,000 National Guard members to the LA area. Despite the dramatic images, the protests have largely been peaceful, according to multiple reports. The demonstrations have become a political lightning rod between Newsom and Trump, and the governor has announced that he's suing the administration. They may, however, serve as an olive branch between the president and Elon Musk, who had an ugly falling out last week. Read the original article on Business Insider

How burning Waymos became the image of the LA protests
How burning Waymos became the image of the LA protests

The Verge

time40 minutes ago

  • The Verge

How burning Waymos became the image of the LA protests

Is there a more potent image from the current anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles than a row of driverless Waymo vehicles covered in anti-ICE slogans and engulfed in flames? At least five Waymos were destroyed during the protests over the weekend, CNN reports. And the company tells us that it has suspended its service in certain parts of the city under direction from the Los Angeles Police Department. As we've seen before, Waymo's autonomous vehicles have a way of turning into collateral damage during times of civil unrest. They are often sitting ducks, lacking an innate ability to avoid the scene or flee when surrounded by a group of people. Unlike Immigration and Customs Enforcement, they won't run over protesters who stand in their way — their programming forbids it. And their presence likely adds fuel to a volatile situation, where protests against ICE and billionaire oligarchs are in coexistence. Waymo insists the protests aren't related to its service, but it seems clear the robotaxis represent a change that a lot of people are unhappy about. While the protesters aren't rallying in opposition to the Alphabet-owned company, others watching from afar can't help but draw some conclusions about the tech industry in general's role in society today. Critics note that Waymo's robotaxis are festooned with cameras, which they use to perceive their environment and detect obstacles. But the cameras are also recording their surrounding environment and storing the footage. The company has been known to share that footage with law enforcement agencies, including the LAPD, when requested or subpoenaed. So it makes sense, these critics theorize, that protesters who are worried about their identities being revealed by rolling 'surveillance devices' would seek to destroy them. Waymo is a project of Google, whose CEO, Sundar Pichai, attended Donald Trump's inauguration. And the company's effort to replace human drivers with robots is a threat to blue-collar jobs — to say nothing of its work on AI and all the societal implications on labor and education that entails. The destruction underscores a serious obstacle to Waymo's future. By all accounts, most people in Los Angeles like the driverless cars. LA hasn't experienced the same fierce objections to Waymo as San Francisco. Most of the time, the company has an incredible ability to coast on good vibes and customer delight. The novelty is powerful, and Waymo's ability to avoid most dangerous situations, while other autonomous vehicle companies have been less lucky, has helped propel it to the front of the pack in the robotaxi race. But some residents still feel left out of the technological revolution, and those feelings are laid bare during civil unrest like what's unfolding in LA. They see the gleaming, futuristic robots rolling down the street, with their spinning sensors and all-seeing cameras, and they ask, Why? Did they consent to taking part in an experiment by Big Tech to see if robots can be trained to be better drivers than humans? Will this serve their communities? They point to the examples of blocked intersections, low-speed collisions with pedestrians or cyclists, or minor traffic infractions, and they ask whether this technology is really as ready as the company claims. The burning Waymos rankle plenty of people, too, even those who support the cause of the protesters. Liberals, especially, often decry the destruction of property and worry that the images of flaming vehicles fuel the right-wing narrative about 'lawless cities' and 'radicals' or 'paid protesters' facing off with law enforcement officers just trying to do their jobs. And they urge protesters to avoid falling into the trap that the right has set for them. The burning Waymos rankle plenty of people, too. But of course, it's never so simple. If Waymo continues to expand to new cities, it will naturally come into conflict with protests, just as it does with street festivals, sports victories, and other situations in which the destruction of property is occasionally the unintended outcome. And if the company continues to cooperate with law enforcement, it may find itself increasingly at odds with communities that distrust these agents of the state. 'Safety is our highest priority,' Waymo spokesperson Ethan Teicher said in an email. 'We removed vehicles from Downtown Los Angeles and will not be serving that specific area for the time being, out of an abundance of caution and with guidance from LAPD.' The company's mission is to become the world's 'most trusted driver' by making transportation safer and more accessible. And there are cases when Waymo releasing footage to law enforcement can be helpful, like when one of its vehicles witnesses a hit-and-run. But as the company becomes a bigger part of city life, it will inevitably come into conflict with all the many forces that are currently roiling our country. And that's something that not even the world's most trusted driver can avoid.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store