Fact check: How many instances of violence are documented in Los Angeles and who initiated the violence (the protesters or the government)?

1. Summary of the results

The violence in Los Angeles was documented on both sides, with specific incidents attributed to both protesters and law enforcement:

*Law Enforcement Actions:

Protester Actions:*

• Setting vehicles (including self-driving cars) on fire and vandalizing buildings ^{[4] [5]}
• Pelting rocks at California Highway Patrol vehicles ^[6]
• 338 arrests made since Friday for various offenses including looting and vandalism ^[3]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual elements were missing from the original question:

• The protests were specifically in response to ICE immigration raids ^[7]
• The deployment of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines occurred without state leaders' consent, leading to a lawsuit by Governor Newsom ^[6]
• While violence occurred, most of LA remained normal with minimal destruction ^[7]
• Importantly, no fatalities were reported during these protests ^{[4] [7]}

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question's framing suggests a binary choice between protesters or government initiating violence, which oversimplifies a complex situation:

• Media coverage might be biased toward emphasizing law enforcement violence against journalists, as evidenced by detailed documentation of these incidents ^{[1] [2]}
• Law enforcement narratives might emphasize protester violence to justify their response ^[6]
• Different stakeholders frame the events differently:
• Law enforcement emphasizes criminal actions and necessity of response ^[6]
• Protest supporters emphasize community defense against ICE raids ^[7]
• Media outlets focus on press freedom violations ^{[1] [2]}