Rioters in downtown Los Angeles turned their rage on Waymo’s driverless taxis, setting three ablaze in a fiery display of chaos. On Sunday, protesters didn’t just disrupt traffic—they targeted cutting-edge technology with vandalism and flames. The scene was a stark reminder that innovation can become a lightning rod for unrest.
Protesters swarmed the Civic Center area, spilling onto the 101 Freeway by 3:30 p.m., halting traffic for hours as they clashed with California Highway Patrol officers. A group then zeroed in on five Waymo autonomous vehicles parked on Los Angeles Street, slashing tires, smashing windows, and spray-painting anti-ICE slogans, according to Breitbart. The attack escalated when three taxis were torched, sending plumes of black smoke skyward.
Waymo, a Google subsidiary, has been navigating Los Angeles streets with its electric, self-driving taxis since November. The vehicles, also operating in San Francisco and Phoenix, are designed to revolutionize transport, but now face a new hurdle: public backlash. This incident underscores the growing pains of integrating autonomous tech into volatile urban landscapes.
Protesters wielded skateboards to shatter windows and makeshift flamethrowers to ignite the taxis’ interiors. Some even tossed Lime electric scooters into the burning vehicles, amplifying the destruction. The Waymo taxis, honking helplessly, became symbols of a broader discontent.
“There is no emergency,” leftists reportedly claimed, as noted by the Los Angeles Times, defending the rioters’ actions. Such dismissals ring hollow when flames and toxic gases from burning lithium-ion batteries force police warnings to avoid the area. Actions, it seems, speak louder than rhetoric.
The Los Angeles Fire Department scrambled to douse the flames, while police helicopters buzzed overhead, amplifying the cacophony of chanting rioters. The Los Angeles Police Department urged residents to steer clear, citing health risks from the toxic fumes. The scene was less a protest than a pyrotechnic tantrum against progress.
Waymo’s troubles aren’t confined to Los Angeles. In San Francisco, passengers—mostly women—have reported unsettling incidents, like being followed or harassed by individuals trying to enter the driverless vehicles. One tech worker, Stephanie, endured young men tailing her Waymo ride, shouting inappropriate comments.
Stephanie dialed 911, only to be told police couldn’t pursue a moving vehicle. Other San Francisco riders have faced pedestrians blocking their paths or attempting to open car doors at red lights. Waymo insists these incidents are rare, but rarity offers little comfort to those trapped in the moment.
The Los Angeles attack, however, marks a new low. Waymo is now liaising with law enforcement to address the vandalism, but the damage is done—both to their vehicles and public trust. Driverless cars, once hailed as the future, now face a present fraught with hostility.
The Civic Center chaos wasn’t just about Waymo; it was a microcosm of a society grappling with rapid change. Autonomous vehicles promise efficiency and safety, yet they’re scapegoated for broader frustrations, from immigration policies to economic unease. Spray-painting anti-ICE messages on taxis won’t solve those issues, but it sure grabs headlines.
California Highway Patrol officers detained several rioters, pushing back the crowd as tensions simmered. The freeway closure disrupted countless lives, proving that protests often punish the innocent more than the intended targets. It’s a classic case of cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Waymo’s driverless taxis are engineered to navigate complex roads, but no algorithm can dodge a Molotov cocktail. The company’s expansion into major cities was bold, but Sunday’s inferno suggests they underestimated the human factor. Progress, it turns out, needs more than just code—it needs buy-in.
The Los Angeles Fire Department’s swift response contained the fires, but the toxic fallout lingers. Burning lithium-ion batteries don’t just harm the environment—they signal a deeper societal friction. Waymo’s vision of a driverless future just hit a major roadblock.
Police warnings about toxic gases kept residents at bay, a prudent move in a city already on edge. The rioters’ chants, drowned out by sirens and helicopter blades, failed to articulate a coherent grievance. Destruction, it seems, is easier than dialogue.
Sunday’s rampage in Los Angeles wasn’t just an attack on Waymo—it was a flare-up of distrust in institutions, from tech giants to government. As Waymo rebuilds, the real challenge isn’t repairing vehicles; it’s restoring faith in a future where innovation doesn’t ignite chaos. Actions have consequences, and these flames will burn in the public’s memory.
