At a Glance
- A 48-year-old man drove a U-Haul truck into a crowd of Iranian solidarity demonstrators in Westwood.
- Calor Madanescht was arrested on suspicion of reckless driving after the Sunday afternoon incident.
- The truck displayed anti-regime slogans that protesters tore off before clashing with the driver.
- Why it matters: The confrontation in L.A.’s Iranian hub highlights rising tensions amid ongoing protests in Iran.
A U-Haul box truck plowed through a crowd of demonstrators rallying for Iranian freedom Sunday in Westwood, leading to the arrest of the 48-year-old driver, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The Incident
The events erupted near the Federal Building at Veteran Avenue and Ohio Avenue, a neighborhood known as the heart of the largest Iranian community outside Iran. Demonstrators waving pre-1979 Iranian flags scattered as the large box truck entered the area.
Police said officers stopped the truck and ordered the driver to turn around because he was approaching a large crowd of protesters. The truck’s cargo area bore signs opposing the crowd’s views. Protesters tore the signs off the truck and attacked the driver, who then steered toward a group of LAPD officers.
“Individuals from the crowd jumped out of the truck’s path of travel to avoid being struck,” the LAPD stated. “Officers formed a skirmish line between the box truck and the crowd and took the driver into custody.”
Driver and Aftermath
Calor Madanescht, 48, was arrested on suspicion of reckless driving. Jail records did not list an initial court date. The truck, with shattered windows and side mirrors, was stopped several blocks away, surrounded by police cars. Authorities searched and impounded the vehicle but found nothing of significance.
The Messages on the Truck
Demonstrators tried to remove a sign attached to the truck that read:
- “No Shah. No Regime.”
- “USA: Don’t Repeat 1953. No Mullah.”
The Shah of Iran was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. In 1953, a coup ousted Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh.
Background on Iranian Protests
Activists report that more than 530 people have been killed in a crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran. Demonstrators again flooded Tehran and Iran’s second-largest city on Sunday. The protests began on Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian currency amid international sanctions tied to Iran’s nuclear program. The demonstrations have since escalated into direct challenges to Iran’s theocracy.
Police Response
Officers issued a dispersal order, and by 5 p.m. demonstrators began leaving the area. No serious injuries were reported.
