Australian journalist caught in crossfire as LA protests turn violent over Trump immigration raids

Sky News AU

2 days ago

An Australian journalist has been shot by a rubber bullet in Los Angeles while reporting on police using rubber bullets against protesters amid riots about President Donald Trump's immigration raids.
An Australian journalist has been shot by a rubber bullet in Los Angeles amid riots and protests over immigration raids.
Channel Nine News' US Correspondent Lauren Tomasi was reporting on authorities firing rubber bullets when she was shot.
The officer can be seen lining up his weapon at Ms Tomasi and fires at her after she finished her report.
Ms Tomasi can be heard wincing and grabbing her calf before saying she was 'good' as she and the cameraman ran away. — 9News Australia (@9NewsAUS) June 9, 2025
California National Guard troops arrived in Los Angeles to quell demonstrations over President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement.
The National Guard began deploying as demonstrations over federal immigration raids continued for a third day in Los Angeles, culminating in confrontations between protesters and police.
Los Angeles police declared one rally near City Hall to be an "unlawful assembly", alleging that some protesters threw concrete, bottles and other objects at police.
"Arrests are being initiated," the department wrote in a post on social media.
Demonstrators shouted "shame on you" at police and some appeared to throw objects, according to a video.
A group of protesters blocked the 101 Freeway, a major thoroughfare in downtown Los Angeles.
Groups of protesters, many carrying Mexican flags and signs denouncing US immigration authorities, gathered in several spots around the city.
The Los Angeles branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation organised speakers outside of City Hall for an afternoon rally.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said he requested the Trump administration withdraw its order to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles County, calling it unlawful.
Newsom accused Trump of trying to manufacture a crisis and violating California's state sovereignty.
"These are the acts of a dictator, not a President," he wrote in a post on X.
The White House disputed Newsom's characterisation, saying in a statement that "everyone saw the chaos, violence and lawlessness".
Earlier, about a dozen National Guard members, along with Department of Homeland Security personnel, pushed back a group of demonstrators that amassed outside a federal building in downtown Los Angeles, video showed.
US Northern Command said 300 members of the California National Guard had been deployed to three areas in the Los Angeles area.
Their mission was limited to protecting federal personnel and property.
Trump in a social media post on Sunday, called the demonstrators "violent, insurrectionist mobs" and said he was directing his cabinet officers "to take all such action necessary" to stop what he called "riots".
Speaking to reporters in New Jersey, he threatened violence against demonstrators who spit on police or National Guard troops, saying "they spit, we hit".
He did not cite any specific incidents.
"If we see danger to our country and to our citizens, it will be very, very strong in terms of law and order," Trump said.
National Guard troops were also seen in Paramount, in southeast Los Angeles, near the Home Depot, the site of altercations between protesters and police on Saturday.
Law enforcement faced off with a few hundred protesters in Paramount and 100 in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, with federal officers firing gas canisters in efforts to disperse crowds, according to Reuters witnesses.
Authorities in Los Angeles arrested about 30 people on Saturday, including three on suspicion of assaulting an officer.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office said three deputies sustained minor injuries.
Sky News / Reuters