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Fact check: Estimate of damage in LA due to protest
Checked on June 15, 2025
1. Summary of the results
The protests in Los Angeles resulted in significant property damage across multiple days, characterized by:
- Vandalism, graffiti, looting, and fires across downtown LA [1]
- 96 specific arrests related to property damage [2]
- Damage to the Theatre Jewelry Center and numerous businesses, many of which had to board up their storefronts [2]
- Destruction of Waymo self-driving vehicles through arson [3]
- Attacks on police vehicles using rocks and electric scooters [3]
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
Several crucial contextual elements were missing from the original query:
- The protests were triggered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in multiple LA districts, particularly in Latino-populated areas [1] [4]
- While there was significant damage in some areas, much of the protest activity was peaceful and confined to small areas of LA [4]
- Most of the property damage is likely covered by insurance [3]
- The total number of arrests was in the hundreds, suggesting a larger scale of unrest than initially indicated [5]
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original query about damage estimates could lead to several biased interpretations:
- Incomplete Picture: Focusing solely on property damage without acknowledging the underlying cause (ICE raids) and peaceful aspects of the protests could create a skewed narrative [4]
- Financial Context: While property damage occurred, the insurance coverage aspect is crucial for understanding the long-term economic impact [3]
- Political Implications: Multiple stakeholders have different interests in how this is portrayed:
- Law enforcement might emphasize damage to justify response measures [5]
- Local government, including Mayor Karen Bass, needs to balance acknowledging the damage while maintaining public order [1]
- Business owners and insurance companies have financial interests in how the damage is quantified and reported [2]
Want to dive deeper?
What was the total economic impact of recent protests in Los Angeles?
How do insurance companies assess damage claims from civil unrest in LA?
What methods do authorities use to calculate protest-related property damage?
How does LA protest damage compare to other major US cities?
What businesses were most affected by protest damage in Los Angeles?