{"id":27019,"date":"2026-01-11T19:29:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T03:29:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/u-haul-truck-drives-into-crowd-at-westwood-rally-against-iran-rulers\/"},"modified":"2026-01-11T19:29:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T03:29:10","slug":"u-haul-truck-drives-into-crowd-at-westwood-rally-against-iran-rulers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/u-haul-truck-drives-into-crowd-at-westwood-rally-against-iran-rulers\/","title":{"rendered":"U-Haul truck drives into crowd at Westwood rally against Iran rulers"},"content":{"rendered":"

U-Haul Truck Drives into Crowd at Westwood Rally Against Iran Rulers<\/h1>\n

Introduction to the Incident<\/h2>\n

Police are investigating an incident in which a man drove a U-Haul into several people on Sunday during a protest in Westwood against the Iranian government. The Los Angeles Fire Department said two people were evaluated at the scene and declined treatment. Police said one adult was confirmed struck by the vehicle but did not sustain significant injuries, and no ambulances were called to the scene. The driver of the truck, however, was injured in the chaos following the incident, according to L.A. Police Capt. Richard Gabaldon.<\/p>\n

Details of the Incident<\/h2>\n

Video Sunday afternoon showed protesters trying to pull the suspect out of the vehicle. As officers took him from the U-Haul and into custody, angry protesters continued to punch and lash out at him. Demonstrators pounded on the truck and ripped off a sign attached to the vehicle that had a message in Arabic and another in English: \u201cNo Shah. No Regime. USA: Don\u2019t Repeat 1953. No Mullah.\u201d
\nProtesters stand near a U-Haul truck at the Westwood protest on Jan. 11, 2026. The vehicle carried a sign with messages in Arabic and English.
\n(KNN.News)<\/p>\n

Investigation and Charges<\/h2>\n

Officials do not believe that the incident was politically motivated or an act of terrorism but stemmed from an altercation in the crowd, Gabaldon said. The suspect has no arrest record, according to Gabaldon, who said the man could face a charge of assault with a deadly weapon.<\/p>\n

Eyewitness Accounts<\/h2>\n

Among the protesters was Abraham Moe and his wife and daughter, Sanaz and Kiana, who are Iranians. They told The Times they saw the U-Haul truck making its way into the crowd and knew that something was wrong when people started screaming. At that moment, they said, the protest quickly became a scene of fear and confusion.<\/p>\n

Response and Aftermath<\/h2>\n

The Fire Department said that resources after the incident were delayed due to the size of the teeming crowd near the Wilshire Federal Building. As many as 3,000 people had gathered for the protest in Westwood by around 3 p.m., according to the L.A. Regional Transportation Management Center. A spokesperson said the agency shut down the northbound and southbound offramps to Wilshire Boulevard to prevent protesters from potentially taking over the freeway. The ramps remained closed until around 5 p.m., when the crowd had mostly dispersed.
\nA U-Haul truck is seen amid a crowd in Westwood near the Wilshire Federal Building on Jan. 11, 2026.
\n(KNN.News)<\/p>\n

Official Response<\/h2>\n

A few hours after the incident, Mayor Karen Bass arrived at the scene. During a news conference, she voiced concern about U.S. intervention in international situations and emphasized the importance of keeping protests peaceful \u201cregardless of how charged the issue is.\u201d \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of various protests that are happening, and obviously we want everybody to exercise their 1st Amendment right,\u201d Bass said. \u201cBut how one does that is critical, and exercising your 1st Amendment right peacefully is what is absolutely critical.\u201d<\/p>\n

Context of the Protests<\/h2>\n

Iran has been roiled by two weeks of protests. Activists say at least 538 people are dead and more than 10,000 have been arrested. Kiana Moe, protesting in Westwood, said the people of Iran are \u201cprotesting peacefully, and saying they don\u2019t want this regime. The purpose is for the freedom of Iran.\u201d \u201cPeople in Iran, they don\u2019t have a voice right now,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The incident at the Westwood rally against Iran’s rulers highlights the tensions and passions involved in political protests. While the investigation into the U-Haul incident continues, it serves as a reminder of the importance of peaceful protest and the need for authorities to balance the right to free speech with public safety.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n