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Fact check: Were there any injuries or property damage during the LA weekend protests?
Checked on June 13, 2025
1. Summary of the results
The LA weekend protests resulted in both significant property damage and multiple injuries. The damage included:
- Vandalized businesses along Broadway, including athletic footwear stores and T-Mobile [1]
- Destruction of five Waymo autonomous vehicles by fire [2]
- Damage to government buildings including LAPD Headquarters, U.S. Courthouse, and Chinese American Museum [2]
- Theatre Jewelry Center suffered broken windows and damaged display cases [3]
Regarding injuries:
- At least 31 journalists were attacked, including several shot with rubber bullets [4]
- Multiple police officers were injured, with some requiring hospitalization [4]
- Two police officers were specifically confirmed injured [3]
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
Several important contextual elements were omitted from the original question:
- Law enforcement response: 96 people were arrested, including 14 for looting [3]
- Impact on city operations: Some downtown areas had to temporarily close, with businesses advising staff to work from home [5]
- National Guard deployment was necessary in response to the unrest [6]
- The protests specifically targeted immigration enforcement, with graffiti focusing on ICE [2]
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original question's neutral framing potentially understates the scale and significance of the events:
- Simply asking about "injuries or property damage" doesn't capture the systematic nature of the destruction, including targeted attacks on government buildings and autonomous vehicles
- The question doesn't acknowledge the broader context of why the protests occurred and their connection to immigration enforcement [2]
- Multiple sources confirm there was misinformation surrounding the protests [6], suggesting the events were subject to various narratives and interpretations
- Different stakeholders might benefit from different narratives:
Law enforcement might emphasize property damage to justify stronger responses
Protest organizers might focus on peaceful aspects
- Media outlets might benefit from emphasizing more dramatic elements of the unrest
Want to dive deeper?
What were the causes and organizers behind the recent LA weekend protests?
How did law enforcement respond to the LA weekend protests?
What was the estimated attendance and duration of the LA weekend protests?
How do recent LA protest damages compare to previous demonstrations in the city?
What cleanup and recovery efforts followed the LA weekend protests?