At a Glance
- A U-Haul truck sped through a Westwood rally backing Iranian protesters Sunday
- Driver Calor Madanescht, 48, was arrested on suspicion of reckless driving
- His anti-regime signs sparked clashes before he steered toward police and crowd
- Why it matters: Violence at local protests raises safety concerns as global tensions over Iran’s crackdown intensify
Tensions erupted in Westwood Sunday when a U-Haul truck tore through a demonstration supporting Iranian protesters, leaving the driver under arrest and the crowd shaken.
The Arrest
Calor Madanescht, 48, was booked for reckless driving after the midday incident near the Federal Building at Veteran and Ohio avenues, the Los Angeles Police Department announced. Jail records show no initial court date has been set.
The Scene
The neighborhood, home to the largest Iranian diaspora outside Iran, was packed with demonstrators waving the pre-1979 Iranian flag. As the large box truck rolled in, people scattered.
Signs on the cargo area read:
- “No Shah. No Regime”
- “USA: Don’t Repeat 1953. No Mullah”
Protesters interpreted the messages as hostile, tore them off, and attacked the driver, according to police.
The Confrontation
“Officers stopped the truck and directed the driver to turn around, as he was approaching a large crowd of protesters,” the LAPD stated. “Demonstrators tore the signs off the truck, and attacked the driver, who drove toward a group of LAPD officers. Individuals from the crowd jumped out of the truck’s path of travel to avoid being struck. Officers formed a skirmish line between the box truck and the crowd and took the driver into custody.”
Investigators say Madanescht wanted to broadcast a message but “became overwhelmed by the situation.”
Witness Account
“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,” demonstrator Ariel Rofeim told News Of Philadelphia. “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 recalled.
Aftermath
The truck’s windows and side mirrors were shattered. Police stopped it several blocks away, searched it, and impounded it, finding nothing significant. Officers issued a dispersal order; by 5 p.m. the crowd had left.
Broader Context
Activists report more than 530 people have been killed in Iran’s latest crackdown. The protests began Dec. 28 after the currency collapse and evolved into direct challenges to Iran’s theocracy. Rallies flared again Sunday in Tehran and Mashhad.
Key Takeaways
- No serious injuries were reported
- The incident underscores rising local tensions amid Iran’s unrest
- LAPD continues to investigate
