A large demonstration in support of the Iranian people in Los Angeles was thrown into chaos on Sunday when a driver steered a U-Haul rental truck directly into the marching crowd.
Chaos on Veteran Avenue
The incident occurred on the afternoon of 11 January 2026 along Veteran Avenue in the Westwood neighbourhood. A significant crowd had gathered, with many waving the pre-1979 Iranian flag, to protest against the current theocratic regime in Iran. According to police, the truck drove down the street filled with marchers, forcing protesters to scramble for safety.
One individual was struck by the vehicle, but authorities confirmed that nobody sustained serious injuries. The Los Angeles Fire Department assessed two people at the scene, both of whom declined further medical treatment.
Driver Detained After Crowd Confrontation
After speeding through the march, the truck was stopped several blocks away, where it was quickly surrounded by police cars. Helicopter footage from local news outlet KABC captured the tense aftermath, showing officers working to control an angry crowd that had swarmed the vehicle.
Protesters were seen throwing punches and thrusting flagpoles through the driver's side window, which was already shattered along with the side mirrors. The driver, a man whose identity has not been released, was taken into custody. The Los Angeles Police Department stated he was detained "pending further investigation."
Historical Grievances on Display
A banner attached to the truck referenced deep-seated historical tensions, reading: "No Shah. No Regime. USA: Don’t Repeat 1953. No Mullah." This is a direct allusion to the US and UK-backed coup in August 1953 that overthrew Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh.
That coup, driven by Western fears of Soviet influence and British desires to regain control of Iran's nationalised oil industry, cemented the power of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Many historians argue it directly paved the way for the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the establishment of the theocratic state that rules Iran today.
The protest in Los Angeles, home to the largest Iranian diaspora community outside Iran, coincided with renewed street demonstrations in Tehran and other Iranian cities. Activists report that a government crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran has resulted in more than 530 deaths.
Following the truck incident, police issued a dispersal order in Westwood. By 5pm local time, only around a hundred protesters remained in the area, bringing a tense day to a subdued close.
