Australian actress Kate Neilson reveals the horror of the Los Angeles riots – and says protesters told her to stay near the front because police ‘won’t shoot white people’
Australian actress and model Kate Neilson has revealed the frightening reality of the anti-police brutality protests happening in Los Angeles.
Kate, who has been living in LA since 2016, told the Herald Sun the demonstrations were the ‘scariest thing I have ever experienced’.
‘The damage is so bad in West Hollywood, there is literally nothing left to do. It was just madness in the end,’ she said on Monday.
‘I got told to go to the front because I’m white and won’t get shot’: Actress Kate Neilson has revealed the frightening reality of the anti-police brutality protests happening in Los Angeles
‘Because I’m white, I got told to go to the front as I won’t get shot,’ she said.
Kate said that witnessing the demonstrations first-hand had been a ‘huge eye opener’ because it helped her understand why black Americans were fighting for justice.
She insisted it was a peaceful protest and the only violence was from the police.
Protest: Kate, who has been living in LA since 2016, told the Herald Sun the demonstrations were the ‘scariest thing I have ever experienced’
‘Everyone has the right to protest. The police literally just started shooting into the crowd and caused unnecessary violence,’ she said.
‘I was left a little bit traumatised from seeing it first-hand. But I get why they’re doing it and we need to open our eyes to what is happening.’
Kate, who was once engaged to retired AFL star Wayne Carey, also shared footage of the protest to Facebook and claimed she had witnessed police shooting ‘rubber bullets into innocent people’.
‘Unnecessary violence’: Kate also shared footage of the protest to Facebook and claimed she had witnessed police shooting ‘rubber bullets into innocent people’
‘I just witnessed police shooting rubber bullets into innocent people right in front of my eyes!!! Those things are lethal and dangerous,’ she wrote.
‘I have never been so terrified in all of my life… how is this justice? The police should be ashamed! Why isn’t anyone stopping them?’
Protests and riots have erupted across the U.S. since George Floyd, an unarmed black man, died in Minneapolis last Monday after a white cop pressed his knee against his neck for eight minutes.
Riots: Protests and riots have erupted across the U.S. since George Floyd, an unarmed black man, died in Minneapolis last Monday after a white cop pressed his knee against his neck
The officer involved, Derek Michael Chauvin, was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter days after footage of the incident went viral.
Protesters took to the streets demanding reform after what many consider another senseless death and example of police brutality.
Mr Floyd had been accused of using a counterfeit $20 bill at a deli.
Los Angeles erupted in violence Saturday as cops in riot gear clashed with protesters who sprayed graffiti and torched police cruisers while officers shot rubber bullets into crowds and beat demonstrators with batons.
Riots: Los Angeles erupted in violence Saturday as cops in riot gear clashed with protesters who sprayed graffiti and torched police cruisers while officers shot rubber bullets into crowds and beat demonstrators with batons