Waymo has responded after several of its vehicles were set on fire by protestors during the Los Angeles ICE riots.
The self-driving car company told Newsweek that they are "in touch with law enforcement", after footage of the riots showed several Waymo vehicles on fire near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles.
The Context
Clashes between protesters and government forces have intensified in Los Angeles as at least 2,000 National Guard troops arrived over the weekend to counter demonstrations against President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement policies. The protests have drawn national attention, with images of burning Waymo robotaxis in the city becoming one of the defining images of the clash.
What To Know
A spokesperson for Waymo told Newsweek that "we are in touch with law enforcement", after several of their vehicles were caught in the vicinity of protestors in downtown Los Angeles.
Waymo said that it did not have any reason to believe that the protests, which began on Friday, were related to their vehicles specifically.
Multiple autonomous Waymo cars were near Pershing Square when protestors began breaking the windows of nearby cars and spray painting messages on the side. In some images, the cars can be seen with the tag "F*ck ICE" from the protestors.
Demonstrations began Friday, June 6, following a series of federal immigration raids targeting workplaces, notably an apparel manufacturer in Los Angeles' Fashion District.
Initial protests were concentrated near the Los Angeles Federal Building and the Metropolitan Detention Center.
Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles, overriding Governor Gavin Newsom's objections. Typically, control over state National Guard troops rests with the governor, but Trump used Title 10 authority to federalize part of the Guard and direct them to support ICE operations, rather than direct law enforcement.
Amid the protests, reports of looting emerged, particularly in the downtown area around 6th Street and Broadway. Social media footage depicted groups breaking into stores, and the Los Angeles Police Department urged business owners to document vandalism before cleanup.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: "If Governor Gavin Newsom, of California, and Mayor Karen Bass, of Los Angeles, can't do their jobs, which everyone knows they can't, then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!"
Governor Gavin Newsom posted on X: "The federal government is moving to take over the California National Guard and deploy 2,000 soldiers. That move is purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions. L.A. authorities are able to access law enforcement assistance at a moment's notice. We are in close coordination with the city and county, and there is currently no unmet need."
Mayor Karen Bass wrote on X: "We will always protect the constitutional right for Angelenos to peacefully protest. However, violence, destruction and vandalism will not be tolerated in our City and those responsible will be held fully accountable."
What Happens Next
Waymo has said that it will suspend robotaxi service in protest-affected areas until safety is restored.