Sunrise crew ‘worse for wear' after 'terrifying' attack during George Floyd protests

Amelia Brace says she and her cameraman are "worse for wear” today after being attacked by police during protests in Washington DC.

Seven News reporter Amelia Brace has provided a grim update on her and her cameraman's condition after police officers “turned on” them as they reported on protests in Washington DC.

Brace and Timothy Myers ACS were giving a live update from the White House on Monday evening (US time) when they were shoved and hit by heavily-armed police.

The incident occurred at 6:30pm as police began pushing back crowds 30 minutes before a curfew was due to come into effect and went to air live on Australian television.

Speaking on Sunrise this morning, Brace said they were both "worse for wear" today, admitting they were probably running on "adrenaline" in the wake of the attack.

"I can feel across the back of my shoulders where I got whacked by the baton, and we have these welts from the rubber bullets - it's similar to if you got shot too closely by a paintball gun," the reporter explained.

"We just are glad that the bullets were rubber and not real bullets - I would have panicked if I hadn't realised that it was not a real bullet."

Amelia Brace was hit by police as she waited for US President Donald Trump to give an address. Picture: Supplied Picture: Sunrise

RELATED: US ambassador responds to Sunrise incident

While Brace was certainly in police's firing line yesterday, Myers appeared to cop the brunt of the attack, with footage showing an officer ramming him with a riot shield before punching him in the face.

"He's a bit flat today - but the way Tim handled the situation yesterday was just amazing," Brace said of her colleague.

"He really copped it at the start there, and then to go on to get rubber bullets to the back and then the tear gas... We had to really keep our heads down to try to avoid the gases as we were trying to sneak through the crowd, just desperately trying to get away from those police officers.

"It was a terrifying experience, but we came through it, and an hour later, I finally had a chance to give him a hug and say, 'Are you OK?'"

Brace, who is based in the US full-time as a Seven correspondent, also expressed her dismay at the actions of local authorities.

"I am really disappointed.. It's not just about the media and the fact that we were attacked while we were doing our job, but it's the fact that it was before curfew," she told Sunrise hosts David Koch and Samantha Armytage.

"Every single person had a legal right to be there, and to see these people tear gassed, to make way for a photo opportunity for the president, is just outrageous.

"This is not the United States that I know at the moment. It's a police state, martial law, and to see civilians treated like that is really upsetting."

Watch the shocking moment #7NEWS reporter @AmeliaBrace and our cameraman were knocked over by a police officer LIVE on air after chaos erupted in Washington DC. pic.twitter.com/R8KJLnfxPN

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) June 1, 2020

Myers was struck with a riot shield during the incident. Picture: AAP/ABC 7 News via Twitter

Brace said she and Myers were “pretty bruised, but okay”. Picture: AAP/ABC 7 News via Twitter

On Tuesday, Brace detailed what had actually happened during the attack, explaining that when they heard “a volley of rubber bullets ring out from the National Guard” they sheltered behind a tree and then ducked for cover behind a building.

“Our expectation was that the police would pass by in a wave as we’d seen them do as the last curfew was enforced. Pushing protesters back. Aggressively. But not violently,” she wrote in the West Australian.

“That was when they turned on us.”

The assault, which saw Brace hit with a police baton and Myers struck with a riot shield, was caught live on camera.

Brace said they both screamed “media, media media!” but the police pushed on.

“Feeling the thwack of a baton across the back of my neck and the sting of rubber bullets. Next came the tear gas. Burning our lungs as we tried to run,” she wrote.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has demanded an investigation into the assault from the Australian embassy in Washington DC.

The United States Ambassador to Australia, Arthur B Culvahouse Jr, said in a tweet on Tuesday that he took “the mistreatment of journalists seriously”.

A statement from Ambassador Arthur B. Culvahouse Jr. pic.twitter.com/EW5aPaptjE

— US Embassy Canberra (@USAembassyinOZ) June 2, 2020

“Freedom of the press is a right Australians and Americans hold dear,” he said.

“We take mistreatment of journalists seriously, as do all who take democracy seriously.

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

After the incident, Brace said she and Myers were “pretty bruised, but okay”.