Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi was hit with rubber bullets while covering the riots in Los Angeles, California. Footage of the incident shared by 9News Australia shows that the LAPD official deliberately targeted her.
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
— 9News Australia (@9NewsAUS) June 9, 2025
LATEST: https://t.co/l5w7JxixxB pic.twitter.com/nvQ7m9TGLj
Lauren Tomasi is the US Correspondent for Channel Nine. The LAPD officer can be seen turning towards her before firing his shot. Tomasi winced in pain after being hit.
Visuals appear to confirm that LAPD deliberately targeted Australian Reporter with rubber bullets.
— Sensei Kraken Zero (@YearOfTheKraken) June 9, 2025
Bet this won't affect USA's press freedom index. pic.twitter.com/xCAk2MEaGJ
The incident invited a statement from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The statement said “all journalists should be able to do their work safely” and “Australia supports media freedom and the protection of journalists.”
Australian Senator blames Donald Trump for actions of LAPD
Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to seek an explanation from President Donald Trump over the matter. “The first thing (Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) must tell the president is to stop shooting at our journalists,” Hanson-Young told The Guardian. “Freedom of the press is a fundamental pillar of a strong, functioning democracy.”
‘Trump is a threat to journalistic freedom and to democratic values and we cannot afford, as Australians, to sit by and see an attack on those values by US authorities shooting at one of our journalists,’ she added.
It is unclear why the Australian Green Senator is blaming Donald Trump for the attack on the journalist since the LAPD reports to the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners, which is appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. Mayor Karen Bass is from the Democrat Party. She is currently clashing with President Donald Trump over how to best resolve the protests.
