A truck collision disrupted a protest in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 11, leaving two people injured during a demonstration expressing solidarity with ongoing unrest in Iran. The incident occurred in the Westwood neighborhood, where a driver allegedly accelerated a U-Haul vehicle into the crowd, according to local authorities.
The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed two individuals were evaluated at the scene but declined hospitalization. A third person nearby also reported injuries, though details remain unclear. Police detained the driver, though tensions flared as some protesters attempted to physically confront him during the arrest, as captured by local media.
The protest coincided with sustained demonstrations across Iran, where residents have voiced frustration over economic challenges since late December 2025. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged these concerns in a televised address Sunday, pledging to address economic hardships while accusing external forces of inciting instability. He specifically referenced last year's 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran as a catalyst for recent tensions.
Global solidarity rallies have amplified scrutiny of Iran's domestic policies, with human rights groups calling for restraint amid reports of deadly clashes between security forces and demonstrators. The semi-official Tasnim news agency described the recent death toll as "significant" without providing exact figures.
This incident highlights how localized protests increasingly reflect transnational political currents, particularly as Asian diaspora communities engage actively in global discourse about their home countries' affairs.
