In downtown Los Angeles, chaos erupted on June 8, 2025, as protests against immigration raids led to violent clashes between demonstrators and police. The unrest culminated in several Waymo autonomous taxis being vandalized and set on fire, creating a scene of destruction and smoke in the Civic Center area.
The protests began in the morning, fueled by anger over immigration enforcement actions by the Trump administration. As the day progressed, large groups of protesters gathered in downtown, spilling onto the 101 Freeway around 3:30 p.m. This led to the closure of the freeway for several hours as law enforcement attempted to manage the situation and detain some participants.
By 5 p.m., a group of protesters focused their attention on a line of five Waymo taxis parked on Los Angeles Street. They slashed tires, smashed windows, and spray-painted anti-ICE messages on the vehicles. Three of the taxis were ultimately set ablaze. Eyewitnesses reported that some individuals even used makeshift flamethrowers to ignite the cars, while others threw electric scooters into the flames.
As the fires raged, the sound of honking horns from the taxis mixed with the chants of protesters and the whirring of police helicopters overhead. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene as the acrid smell of burning vehicles filled the air. The police warned the public to stay away due to the dangers posed by the burning lithium-ion batteries, which can release toxic gases.
Waymo, the company behind the self-driving taxis, confirmed that they were in contact with law enforcement about the incident. The company has faced increasing vandalism against its fleet in recent months. Just this year, one of its taxis was vandalized in Beverly Grove, and another was set on fire in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
Waymo began operating in Los Angeles in November 2024 and quickly gained popularity, attracting a waitlist of around 300,000 people. Despite the growing acceptance of its autonomous taxis, the vehicles have become targets for those expressing their discontent with various social issues, including immigration policies.
As the situation unfolded, the protests reflected broader tensions in the community regarding immigration enforcement and the treatment of undocumented individuals. The violence and destruction of property during these protests have raised questions about the effectiveness of such actions in advocating for change.