A protest called in solidarity with the mobilizations against the Iranian regime ended this Sunday in scenes of chaos and tension in the Westwood neighborhood, in Los Angeles, after a U-Haul rental truck advanced towards a crowd of demonstrators concentrated in front of a federal building. What had begun as a peaceful rally escalated into clashes between attendees, the driver of the vehicle and police, forcing authorities to intervene and order dispersal.
The events took place at around 3:30 p.m. on Veteran Avenue, where hundreds of people had gathered to show their support for the protests that have been rocking Iran since late December. Several videos captured the moment the truck drove into the rally, triggering shouts, running and panic scenes as protesters tried to move away from the vehicle.
The moment when the truck bursts into the protest
The images show how the U-Haul advanced towards the group of people, generating an immediate reaction of fear and confusion. After the vehicle was stopped, police officers extracted the driver while several protesters surrounded him and tried to hit him with various objects, such as flagpoles, garbage and their own hands. In one of the videos, a protester can be seen climbing onto the truck and smashing the windshield.
This footage of Iranian demonstrators taking down the U-Haul driver who tried to mow down a rally in Los Angeles is the most insane one yet.
Hundreds of people immediately chased this guy down, destroyed his truck, and neutralized him before the LAPD even got involved. pic.twitter.com/6qeO9hn4zw
– The Persian Jewess (@persianjewess) January 12, 2026
Once out of the vehicle, the driver was chased by the crowd as police escorted and eventually detained him. In the midst of the chaos, some protesters tore off political messages placed on the truck, which increased the tension at the scene.
An act of solidarity with the protests in Iran
The rally had been organized in support of the protests taking place in Iran, where thousands of people are demanding a change of regime in a context of severe economic crisis. These demonstrations have been met with harsh repression by the Iranian authorities. Human rights activists in the country claim that at least 538 people have died and more than 10,000 have been arrested after 15 days of protests.
The emotional climate of the event was reflected in the testimonies of several attendees. Sean Zarrabi, who videotaped the moment the police took the handcuffed driver away, stated, “People are raising their voices, and this person goes through the crowd and tries to kill people.”
The emotional impact on the Iranian community in exile
The protest also highlighted the distress of the Iranian diaspora at the situation in their home country. The interruption of Internet access in Iran, one of the government’s strategies to stifle the mobilizations, makes it difficult to communicate with family and friends.
Shilla Aran, visibly moved, recounted the difficulties in contacting her grandmother in Iran and described the context in which many citizens live. “It is very sad because young people die every day there. Especially now, they have no freedom. We are very lucky to live here. Our people there…live on maybe $50 a month. That’s one person’s salary. It’s very distressing that women don’t have freedom. They have to wear hijab. They have no rights. It’s very sad,” she explained.
The reaction of the local authorities
Following the incidents, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called for calm and respect for the right to peaceful protest, even in contexts of high political tension. “Although we are in a highly charged environment, it is always important for Angelenos to remember that our protests must be peaceful, regardless of how charged the issue is,” she said.
Police reported that one protester suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene. As for the driver of the truck, authorities confirmed that he was taken to a hospital for treatment of various injuries and will likely face charges of attempted assault with a deadly weapon.
Disgusting. A U-haul plows through protesters in Los Angeles. More sick people. pic.twitter.com/vsajdjNWKE
– Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) January 12, 2026
As tensions rose, the LAPD eventually issued a dispersal order, after which the crowd began to quickly break up. Once the situation calmed down, the U-Haul truck was left parked in the area, surrounded by broken glass, debris and police tape, while the scene was secured.
Ongoing research and international context
The investigation into what happened remains open as authorities try to clarify the exact circumstances that led the driver to drive the vehicle into the protest.
The incidents in Westwood came at a time of growing international tension over the Iranian government’s response to domestic protests. U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that the crackdown in Iran may have crossed a red line and that the U.S. military has “strong options.” A U.S. official said the president would receive a briefing on possible U.S. responses on Tuesday.
Trump further warned, “We’re watching it very closely. If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States.”
Economic crisis and widespread protests in Iran
The protests in Iran have their origin in the country’s serious economic situation, marked by inflation of close to 40% per year and a sharp depreciation of the currency. The Iranian rial has plummeted to more than 1.4 million to the dollar, making basic products such as meat and rice more expensive.
In December, the government introduced a new price bracket for subsidized gasoline, increasing the cost of one of the world’s cheapest fuels and adding further pressure on the population. In addition, the Iranian Central Bank recently ended a preferential exchange rate for most commodities except medicines and wheat, which is expected to further boost food prices.
The demonstrations began in late December with traders in Tehran and quickly spread throughout the country. Although initially focused on economic issues, they soon turned into openly anti-government slogans. Social unrest has been dragging on for years, especially after the death in 2022 of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in police custody, which triggered mass protests.
According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, more than 570 protests have taken place in Iran’s 31 provinces. In some of them, slogans in support of the exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi have been heard, who has called for the mobilizations to continue.
