An Australian news crew has had a violent encounter with police while covering protests over the police killing of George Floyd in America.
7NEWS journalist Amelia Brace and camera operator Tim Myers were filming a rally outside the White House when they were set upon by police in riot gear.
Footage filmed by the American ABC network show the Myers being hit with a shield and punched in the face, while Brace was 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,” wrote 7NEWS political editor Mark Riley on Twitter.
Brace later told Sunrise the tear gas used by police made it hard to breath during the altercation.
“I managed to get a rubber bullet to the backside and Tim got one in the back of the neck,” she said.
“There was no escape at that moment. We had the National Guard behind us and police coming through so quickly.”
Federal opposition leader Anthony Albanese is concerned the pair was attacked by police while doing their jobs.
Mr Albanese said Australia’s ambassador to the United States should make representations on their behalf.
US President Donald Trump had vowed to “maximise federal law enforcement presence” in Washington after days of violent demonstrations led to fires across the city and left scores of businesses with broken windows.
“Mayors and governors must establish an overwhelming law enforcement presence until the violence has been quelled,” Mr Trump said.
“If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them.”
