Key Highlights
- A U-Haul truck drove into a crowd during an anti-Iranian regime rally in Westwood, California.
- The incident turned chaotic as protesters clashed with the driver and police.
- Demonstrators tore down political messages from the truck and chased the driver after removal by officers.
- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged peaceful protests despite the tense environment.
- The rally was in solidarity with ongoing anti-regime protests in Iran, where at least 538 people have been killed.
Rally Chaos and Protest Intensity in Westwood
On Sunday afternoon, a peaceful protest against the Iranian regime’s policies in Westwood, Los Angeles, turned chaotic when a U-Haul truck drove into the crowd. Video footage captured the moment as people screamed and fled from the approaching vehicle at around 3:30 p.m., with the truck moving toward hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the federal building.
Clashes Erupt Between Protesters, Driver, and Police
Exclusive footage by AIR7 showed officers pulling the driver from his truck while protesters surrounded him, attempting to strike him with objects including flag poles, trash, and their hands. One protester climbed onto the vehicle and kicked its windshield. After the driver was removed, protesters chased him, trying to hit him as police escorted him away and took him into custody.
Demonstrators also tore down political messages from the truck as tensions escalated. The rally had drawn hundreds of people in solidarity with ongoing protests in Iran, where demands for regime change over a failing economy have led to a violent crackdown by the Iranian government.
Global Context and U.S. Response
The violence in Westwood came amid rising tensions over Iran’s response to its domestic unrest. President Donald Trump stated that if the Iranian regime violently killed peaceful protesters, the U.S. “will come to their rescue.” A U.S. official told ABC News that the president would be briefed on Tuesday regarding possible responses.
The protests in Iran began in late December and have since drawn over 570 demonstrations across all of its provinces. Activists claim at least 538 people have been killed and more than 10,000 detained after 15 days of demonstrations.
The Iranian government has shut down internet access to suppress the protests.
The economic pressure on Iran has intensified with the reimposition of UN sanctions over its nuclear program, leading to a currency crisis and rising inflation rates. Food prices are expected to spike as Iran ends preferential dollar-rial exchange rates for all products except medicine and wheat.
Local Impact and Community Response
Shilla Aran described the situation in Iran, saying, “Young people are dying every day there. Especially now, like, they have no freedom.” The Iranian government’s crackdown has forced its people to live on as little as $50 a month, with women facing restrictions such as mandatory hijab wear.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged demonstrators with different views to exercise their rights peacefully, stating, “Even though we’re in this highly charged environment, it’s always important for Angelenos to remember that our protests have to be peaceful, regardless of how charged the issue is.”
Ongoing Investigation and Aftermath
Police reported one protester received minor injuries which were treated at the scene. At a press conference on Sunday evening, officials said the driver was being treated in the hospital for attempted assault with a deadly weapon charges.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing as the crowd quickly began to shrink after police issued a dispersal order. The U-Haul truck was seen stopped in the area surrounded by shattered glass, debris, and crime scene tape.