Australian Reporter Hit by Rubber Bullet in Los Angeles Immigration Protests

An Australian journalist, Lauren Tomasi, was struck in the leg by a nonlethal rubber bullet while reporting live from large-scale protests in Los Angeles against President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and the deployment of National Guard troops. The incident occurred as Tomasi was reporting amidst escalating tensions between protesters and riot police, with video showing an officer firing at close range. The protests, which began with a few hundred participants, quickly grew to thousands, involving freeway blockades and clashes with police, including the use of tear gas and arrests. Over the weekend, at least 118 arrests were made in connection with protests against ICE raids, with multiple incidents of violence reported. President Trump authorized the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, a move made without the consent of California’s governor, Gavin Newsom. The situation reflects heightened conflict over immigration enforcement and civil unrest in the city.