At a Glance
- A 48-year-old driver steered a U-Haul box truck into a Westwood rally backing Iranian protesters
- No serious injuries were reported after demonstrators scattered
- The truck displayed signs opposing the crowd’s views, sparking a clash
- Why it matters: The incident highlights rising tensions in the diaspora over Iran’s ongoing crackdown on domestic protests
A U-Haul box truck plowed through a crowd of demonstrators supporting Iranian protesters in Westwood on Sunday afternoon, prompting police intervention and the arrest of the driver. The incident unfolded near the Federal Building at Veteran Avenue and Ohio Avenue, a neighborhood home to the largest Iranian community outside Iran.
Calor Madanescht, 48, was booked on suspicion of reckless driving after officers formed a skirmish line to separate him from angry protesters, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Jail records did not list an initial court date.
How the Chaos Unfolded
Demonstrators had gathered to voice solidarity with nationwide protests in Iran that activists say have claimed more than 530 lives since late December. Some waved the flag of Iran from before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Around mid-afternoon, the large box truck entered the protest zone.
Messages on the truck’s cargo area read:
- “No Shah. No Regime. USA: Don’t Repeat 1953. No Mullah.”
The wording referenced the 1953 coup that ousted Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh and the later overthrow of the Shah. Protesters interpreted the slogans as provocative, tore them off the vehicle, and confronted the driver.
“The protestors had a completely different perception of what was happening, and that was due to the writing that was across the side of his truck,” said demonstrator Ariel Rofeim. “That rhetoric is not something that Iranians are unfamiliar with.”
Rofeim said he tried to alert officers when the truck appeared. “It was at that time the truck started pressing forward and started coming straight towards me,” he added.
Police Response and Arrest
Officers stopped the U-Haul and ordered Madanescht to turn around because he was approaching a large crowd, the LAPD stated. After demonstrators removed the signs and allegedly attacked him, the driver accelerated toward a group of officers. People jumped clear to avoid being struck.
LAPD formed a skirmish line, took Madanescht into custody, and later issued a dispersal order. By 5 p.m. the crowd began leaving the area.
Investigators said Madanescht intended to deliver a message at the demonstration but became overwhelmed. The truck’s windows and side mirrors were shattered during the confrontation. Authorities searched and impounded the vehicle but reported finding nothing of significance.
Background on Iran Protests
The Westwood rally mirrored unrest in Iran that began Dec. 28 after the Iranian currency collapsed under international sanctions tied to the country’s nuclear program. Demonstrations have since evolved into open challenges against Iran’s theocracy, with protesters returning to the streets of Tehran and other major cities on Sunday.
Key Takeaways
- LAPD arrested Calor Madanescht for reckless driving after a U-Haul entered a pro-Iranian-protest crowd
- Messages on the truck opposing the protesters’ views triggered a clash
- No serious injuries were reported, and the vehicle was impounded
