Fact check: What was the extent of property damage during the Los Angeles civil unrest in June 2025?

1. Summary of the results

The Los Angeles civil unrest of June 2025 resulted in documented property damage, primarily concentrated in Downtown Los Angeles. Specific damage included:

• Five WAYMO self-driving vehicles destroyed by fire ^[1]
• Vandalism of cultural institutions including the Chinese American Museum and Italian American Museum ^[1]
• Damage to at least 23 businesses, with losses estimated in the millions ^[2]
• Multiple retail locations targeted, including Apple Store, Adidas, T-Mobile, and jewelry stores ^{[3] [4]}
• Infrastructure damage including destroyed street planters and removed public benches ^[4]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements need to be considered:

• The current unrest caused significantly less damage compared to historical Los Angeles riots - the 1965 riots caused $40 million in damage, while the 1992 riots resulted in up to $1 billion in damages ^[5]
• Most of Los Angeles continued to function normally, with damage limited to specific areas ^[5]
• Law enforcement response resulted in approximately 60 arrests during the unrest ^[6]
• The damage was primarily concentrated in a five-block stretch of Downtown Los Angeles, not citywide ^[2]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

Several sources indicate potential manipulation of the narrative:

• Social media platforms and partisan accounts have been spreading sensationalized or fake content about the extent of destruction ^[7]
• The extent of destruction is being exaggerated in some reports, with sources describing the damage as "minimal" despite specific documented instances ^[5]

Different stakeholders benefit from different narratives:

• Law enforcement agencies might benefit from emphasizing the damage to justify increased policing measures
• Social media platforms benefit from engagement driven by sensationalized content
• Local businesses and insurance companies have financial interests in accurate damage assessments
• Political actors might benefit from either maximizing or minimizing the perceived extent of damage depending on their agenda