A weekend of intensifying protests in downtown Los Angeles turned violent Sunday, June 8, as law enforcement clashed with demonstrators over reported immigration raids. Among those caught in the chaos was 9News Australia’s U.S. correspondent Lauren Tomasi, who was struck by a rubber bullet during a report.
Reporter covering LA protests hit by rubber bullet
Tomasi was reporting from the scene as officers on horseback used force to disperse the crowd. In a video posted online, a Los Angeles Police Department officer is seen turning, aiming and firing in her direction. The rubber bullet hit her in the leg as she was in the middle of delivering her report.
The demonstrations were sparked by reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity across the city. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), protesters surrounded and vandalized a federal building in Los Angeles on Friday, June 7.
“Make no mistake, Democrat politicians like Hakeem Jeffries, Mayor (Michelle) Wu of Boston, Tim Walz, and Mayor (Karen) Bass of Los Angeles are contributing to the surge in assaults of our ICE officers through their repeated vilification and demonization of ICE,” Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. “From comparisons to the modern-day Nazi gestapo to glorifying rioters, the violent rhetoric of these sanctuary politicians is beyond the pale. This violence against ICE must end.”
DHS claimed it took LAPD nearly two hours to respond — a claim the department denies.
“The LAPD was not given advance notice that the federal operations would occur in that area,” LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said. “Once the call for assistance came in, LAPD responded within 38 minutes.”
Gov. Newsom pushes back, sues administration
Thousands took to the streets over the weekend as President Donald Trump ordered the National Guard to shut down major roadways and freeways in an effort to contain the unrest. California Gov. Gavin Newsom pushed back against the move, saying federal intervention would only exacerbate an already volatile situation.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Newsom announced Monday, June 9, that they are suing Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for placing the California National Guard under federal command without state approval. Bonta says troops were redirected from San Diego to Los Angeles, bypassing the governor and local law enforcement.
“Let me be clear: There is no invasion. There is no rebellion. The President is trying to manufacture chaos and crisis on the ground for his own political ends,” Bonta said. “Federalizing the California National Guard is an abuse of the President’s authority under the law – and not one we take lightly. We’re asking a court to put a stop to the unlawful, unprecedented order.”
Weekend of protests against ICE raids
Throughout the weekend, officers used tear gas, flash bangs and rubber bullets to disperse crowds, eventually declaring the protests an unlawful assembly and ordering demonstrators to leave downtown immediately.
Sunday’s violence marked a stark contrast to the previous day, when LAPD’s public information officer called the demonstrations peaceful and said there were no incidents to report. By Sunday night, McDonnell described the scene as “disgusting” and increasingly dangerous.
“What we’ve seen subsequent to that is getting increasingly worse and more violent,” McDonnell said. “Tonight, we had individuals out there shooting commercial grade fireworks at our officers — that can kill you.”
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, 42 people were arrested. Five officers were injured. Charges included assault with a deadly weapon, looting, arson and failure to disperse.
Throughout the week, DHS reported that 118 migrants residing in the country illegally were arrested in the Los Angeles area. The agency also claimed that five of those individuals are affiliated with gangs. However, DHS has not provided any documents pertaining to the criminal records of those arrested.
Earlier this year, the agency claimed that 238 men deported to Venezuela were largely violent criminals. A subsequent investigation from CBS News found that of the 238, roughly a dozen had been accused of murder, rape, assault and kidnapping. Meanwhile, 75% had no criminal record at all.
