U-Haul Incident at Iranian Protest in Los Angeles: A Misunderstanding or Reckless Act?
“I had no intention to hurt anybody,” stated Calor Ma Da Nescht, the driver at the center of a controversial incident that unfolded last Sunday in Los Angeles. The incident involved a U-Haul truck driven into the midst of an anti-Iranian regime protest at the Westwood federal building.
In an exclusive interview with Eyewitness News, Ma Da Nescht characterized the event as a significant misunderstanding. “The people who supported me with LAPD, they tried to open a clear path. I came to deliver the Iranian voices from inside Iran. Not what American people see on the TVs,” he explained. The incident has sparked debate and raised questions about intent and safety at public demonstrations.
Dramatic Arrest and Conflicting Accounts
AIR7 captured exclusive footage of police extracting Ma Da Nescht from the U-Haul. He was subsequently arrested on charges of reckless driving, a misdemeanor offense. The scene was chaotic, with protesters attempting to halt the truck’s progress.
Ma Da Nescht maintains that the majority of demonstrators were supportive of his presence. “The small minority of a pro-shah group were the only ones that attacked me and they did not agree,” he claimed. However, video evidence paints a different picture, leading many protesters to believe Ma Da Nescht deliberately targeted them based on the political messages displayed on his U-Haul, including a banner reading “No shah.”
Protester Reactions and Concerns
“He did a terrible decision by coming with an unlicensed truck into the crowd and smashing people,” said Sean Zarrabi, a protest attendee. “You have something to say, hold something in your hand, and come do your protest, your opposition. Come make your argument, but running people down with your truck is a terrible thing to do. It’s a terrorist act and doesn’t help anything.”
Context: Ongoing Protests in Iran
The incident occurs against the backdrop of nearly three weeks of ongoing protests against the Iranian regime. These demonstrations were initially triggered by rising inflation and the devaluation of the Iranian currency. The situation within Iran is dire, with reports of a severe crackdown on dissent.
According to the United States-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 3,000 people have been killed and over 18,000 arrested in connection with the protests. The Iranian government reports 153 fatalities among security forces. ABC News has not been able to independently verify these numbers.
“People are helpless inside Iran, under pressure, economically,” Zarrabi stated. “No freedom. Nobody can get their voice out, and we’re trying to be their voice here living outside the country and let the whole world know what’s going on on the inside.” The Los Angeles protest, and the subsequent U-Haul incident, represent a localized expression of the broader struggle for freedom and human rights in Iran.
This incident highlights the complexities and potential dangers surrounding political demonstrations, and the importance of peaceful expression. The investigation into the U-Haul incident is ongoing.
