The Australian embassy in Washington DC has reached out to the US State Department after an Australian reporter from Network Seven, as well as a camera operator, were attacked by police amid the protests outside the White House
Camera operator Tim Myers and reporter Amelia Brace were assaulted by police officers while covering protests outside the White House. Brace was clubbed with a baton and Myers was struck by a police officer with a riot shield and then punched in the face while they were covering the peaceful protests in Lafayette Square in Washington DC on Monday.
This news comes after President Trump has said that if cities and states had failed to get in control of the protests and “defend their residents”, then he would deploy the army in order to “quickly solve the problem for them”.
Amelia Brace has visible bruising across her shoulders, as well as welts from wear she hat been shot with rubber bullets, saying her injuries were similar to being shot from an unsafe distance with a paintball gun.
“It was an absolutely terrifying experience but we came through it together,” Brace said.
“We are providing consular support to the Australian citizens involved and my team will continue to check on their wellbeing,” Sinodinos said.
“I understand that Channel 7 will make a formal police complaint asking to have the matter investigated.
“We are in discussion with the State Department and they have offered assistance to identify where the complaint should be targeted.
“As Australia’s Foreign Minister, Marise Payne, emphasised overnight, Australia is always supportive of people’s right to peaceful protest and we encourage all involved to exercise restraint and to avoid violence.”
The US Ambassador to Australia has responded to the footage of the US riot police assaulting the Channel Seven journalists during the protests in front of the White House.
In a statement posted to Twitter, Arthur B Culvahouse Jnr wrote that
“freedom of the press is a right Australians and Americans hold dear”.
“We take mistreatment of journalists seriously, as do all who take democracy seriously,” he said in a statement shared by the US Embassy in Canberra.
The Ambassador continued: “We remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting journalists and guaranteeing equal justice under law for all.”
This comes after the President of the United States spent almost an hour in an underground shelter beneath the White House on Friday, according to an anonymous source.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has described the attack on the journalists as troubling and has requested an investigation into the incident.
Morrison to the team at Network Seven to check on the welfare of the crew, offering his government’s full support if they decide to pursue a formal complaint against the United States police through the Washington DC Australian embassy.
Anthony Albanese, the leader of the Australian Labor Party, has condemned the attack, saying that the Australians were simply doing their jobs.
“In a democratic society the role of the media is critical, and it’s important the media are able to report on events, including crises such as we’re seeing in the United States, free from harassment,” he told reporters.
“The violence that has occurred towards members of the media is completely unacceptable.”
