United States: Police Attack On Australian Journalists Cause Diplomatic Crisis - Amelia Brace Severely Injured
Location: United States, Washington, DC
Date: June 4, 2020
Australian Channel 7 News US correspondent Amelia Brace and her crew were assaulted by the police on June 1 outside of the White House.
Brace and her crew were reporting live on the peaceful protests when police in riot gear moved in to clear the protesters from the area about 6:25pm Monday (local time) before the curfew at 7:00pm. Brace was clubbed with a truncheon and cameraman Tim Myers hit with a riot shield and punched in the face by the police in Washington DC's Lafayette Square on Monday.
Cameraman Tim Myers hit with shield, punched in the face, @AmeliaBrace hit with truncheon. Doing their jobs while citizens bashed, shot with rubber bullets, and gassed so @realDonaldTrump can have a photo opportunity with a bible, the believers' book of peace. This is America. https://t.co/wP85rxO8E5
— Mark Riley (@Riley7News) June 1, 2020
Amelia Brace spoke to Australia’s Sunrise newspaper and said she and Myers were "not too bad" and the effects from the tear gas were worse.
"A police officer's face came around that corner and just really went for us and I was screaming 'Media! Media! Media!' because, obviously, the media is not meant to be getting caught up in this — we're not meant to be getting targeted," Brace told the ABC.
"And despite that as I ran away, clearly stating that we were media, with my cameraman with a camera on his shoulders, I was hit across the back with the baton.”
Australian Ambassador to the US, Arthur Sinodinos said the two journalists are receiving consular support: "We are in discussion with the State Department and they have offered assistance to identify where the complaint should be targeted.” said Sinodinos.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the attack as troubling and has asked for an investigation and ordered the embassy to investigate the incident and register Australia's "strong concerns" with local authorities.
CFWIJ stands with Amelia Brace and her crew and shares their concern over “police being the most constant source of danger for reporters covering the protests.”
The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.