Fact check: What was the total property damage from recent LA protests compared to 2020 demonstrations?

1. Summary of the results

While exact total property damage figures are not available for either period, we can piece together the scope of recent damage:

• 23 businesses were confirmed looted in a single night according to Mayor Bass ^[1]
• Significant infrastructure damage occurred, including:
• Five Waymo vehicles burned
• Vandalism of the LAPD Metropolitan Detention Center and Federal Building
• Damage to cultural institutions like the Chinese American Museum and Italian American Museum ^[2]
• Downtown businesses suffered broken windows, shattered display cases, and widespread looting, forcing many to board up and close temporarily ^[3]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are worth noting:

• The current protests resulted in over 500 arrests in just one week ^[4], with 96 arrests in a single incident including 14 for looting ^[3]
• Historical context shows varying scales of unrest in LA:
• 1965 riots: $40 million in damage
• 1992 riots: $1 billion in damage
• 2020 protests: Described as "muted" compared to other cities ^[1]
• The current situation involves significant tension between protesters and law enforcement, with protesters throwing objects and police responding with rubber bullets and flash-bangs ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself contains potential pitfalls:

• It assumes comparable data exists for both periods, when in fact precise damage figures are not available for either timeframe
• It oversimplifies complex events by reducing them to property damage metrics
• Different stakeholders might frame the damage differently:
• Law enforcement might emphasize damage to justify stronger responses
• Protest organizers might focus on peaceful aspects
• Business owners and insurance companies have financial interests in damage assessment
• Local government officials might downplay or emphasize damage depending on political considerations

The comparison itself might be misleading as these events, while both involving protests, occurred under different social and political circumstances.