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Australia raises Washington police attack on media crew with US Govt

The Australian embassy in Washington DC is talking to the US State Department after a Network Seven reporter and cameraman were beaten by police outside the White House.

Jun 03, 2020, updated Jun 03, 2020
Washington police punched and clubbed a Network Seven crew while clearing protesters from a park near the White House so Donald Trump could walk through for a photo opportunity.  Photo: AAP/ABC 7 News via Twitter

Washington police punched and clubbed a Network Seven crew while clearing protesters from a park near the White House so Donald Trump could walk through for a photo opportunity. Photo: AAP/ABC 7 News via Twitter

Australian Ambassador to the US Arthur Sinodinos said on Tuesday he was “aware of the treatment” inflicted on Amelia Brace and Tim Myers.

Brace was clubbed with a truncheon and Myers hit with a riot shield while covering peaceful protests in Washington DC’s Lafayette Square on Monday.

The moment our @7NewsAustralia team is attacked by police. Cameraman Tim Myers has covered war zones around the world. Today this is what confronted him and @AmeliaBrace outside the White House pic.twitter.com/KPY0NZIwsm

— Ashlee Mullany (@AshleeMullany) June 1, 2020

“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 beatings happened when police and National Guard units aggressively cleared the square to allow US President Donald Trump to pose for photos outside a church holding a bible.

Brace and Myers were shot with rubber bullets and struggled to breathe after tear gas was fired at the crowd.

Brace said they were “pretty bruised, but okay”.

Seven’s director of news and public affairs Craig McPherson described the police actions as “nothing short of wanton thuggery”.

Payne said she asked the Australian embassy to investigate.

“I want to get further advice on how we would go about registering Australia’s strong concerns with the responsible local authorities in Washington,” she said.

US Ambassador to Australia Arthur Culvahouse said the US takes mistreatment of journalists seriously.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting journalists and guaranteeing equal justice under law for all,” Culvahouse said.

The police crackdowns follow Trump’s advice to US governors that they need to aggressively target violent protesters.

“You have to dominate or you’ll look like a bunch of jerks, you have to arrest and try people,” the president told the governors on a conference call.

-AAP

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