Shocking footage has emerged of an Australian reported and her camera being attacked by police during a protest outside the White House.
Channel 7 News US correspondent Amelia Brace and cameraman Tim Myers were giving a live cross to Sunrise on Tuesday morning when the assault occurred.
“We’ve been fired at with rubber bullets, my cameraman has been hit, we’ve also seen teargas being used,” Brace tells the Sunrise team.
A police officer then approaches the camera with a riot shield.
You can see the footage below Brace’s live cross below.
https://twitter.com/7NewsSydney/status/1267589085121490944
According to 7News, cameraman Myers was hit with a riot shield and punched in the face and Brace was clubbed with a truncheon.
The footage below appears to be the assault on Myers.
Police outside the WH just repeatedly bashed a cameraman as they pushed back protestors – just now on @ABC7News pic.twitter.com/XyE2sI6I3v
— Ben Siegel (@bensiegel) June 1, 2020
Speaking with 7News, Brace recounted the harrowing incident.
“We were at some distance, expecting a crackdown at curfew time… but their surge took everyone by surprise,” the reporter said.
“Cameraman Tim Meyers and I are both okay. Pretty bruised, but okay,” she added.
Although the media is meant to be exempt from curfews put in place during such protests, Brace said she has been told to stay away.
“But tonight, it’s unclear to us if that’s changed,” Brace said. “The secret service outside our hotel is telling us we can’t leave the area.”
Since the footage emerged, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has stepped in to instruct the Australian embassy in the US to investigate the inicident.
US ambassador to Australia Arthur B Culvahouse Jr released a statement saying the embassy takes the mistreatment of journalists seriously.
