If you don’t want to know how violence is escalating in Los Angeles right now, take a look at this video!
California residents began protesting against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles over the weekend. On Friday, ICE targeted several workplaces — masked agents went to areas like Home Depot and just started grabbing people. Some were immigrants, some weren’t. All were forced to prove they were citizens, and reports say not all proof was even accepted. This is not the government targeting based on gang affiliation or criminal record, this is the government targeting based on ethnicity. And it’s scary as hell.
But some LA citizens stood up against the masked agents, trying to protect the members of their community. Unrest soon spread to areas such as Paramount, Compton, and parts of the 101 Freeway. While protests remained peaceful at first, it all changed once President Donald Trump got involved.
Everything got much worse when POTUS called in 2,000 National Guard troops to the area — perhaps illegally and DEFINITELY without Governor Gavin Newsom‘s request or approval. That’s the first time the National Guard has been deployed without a state’s governor’s approval since the ’60s. Once troops arrived on Sunday, things really started to escalate, as was shown in a live report that became its own story.
Related: Elon Musk Turns Against Trump!
While covering the situation for 9 News Australia, US correspondent Lauren Tomasi was “caught in the crossfire as LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) fired rubber bullets at protesters in the heart” of the city, the new program explained on X (Twitter). Lauren began by telling viewers that the situation in downtown LA had “rapidly deteriorated” since she began reporting. Explaining the scene behind her, she detailed:
“The LAPD moving in on horseback, firing rubber bullets at protesters, moving them on through the heart of L.A.”
And then one of the law enforcement members — seemingly taking direct aim at her even though she was keeping her distance and not doing anything but speaking to the camera — fired right at her! He hit her in the leg! WTF.
She screamed upon the bullet’s impact and raced away from the area with her camera person. She could be heard saying off-camera, “I’m good, I’m good.” Watch (below):
Whoa. So awful. We’re glad she’s okay.
In a statement, the network confirmed the reporter and camera operator were “safe” and continuing their work, noting:
“This incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers journalists can face while reporting from the front lines of protests, underscoring the importance of their role in providing vital information.”
Per CBS News, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said on Sunday that 39 people were arrested in connection to the unrest over the weekend, with some reports estimating even higher amounts of those taken into custody. As protests continue, Trump has 500 Marines ready to deploy, too.
He just makes everything worse…
Over the weekend, Governor Newsom urged residents to “remain peaceful,” slamming Trump for “trying to manufacture a crisis in L.A. County — deploying troops not for order, but to create chaos.” Many other politicians also spoke out against the troops’ arrival. It sadly seems like Trump got exactly what he wanted…
Thoughts? Let us know (below).
[Image via 9 News Australia/YouTube]
The post Reporter Shot By Cops On Live TV While Covering LA Protests! Watch! appeared first on Perez Hilton.