Protest Details: Location, Time, and Purpose

The protest was taking place near the Wilshire Federal Building on Veteran Avenue, around 3:30 p.m. local time. Hundreds of people—many from Los Angeles’ large Iranian diaspora community—had assembled to voice support for the mass demonstrations back in Iran. These protests in Iran, which began in late December 2025 amid soaring inflation, economic collapse, and widespread discontent with the clerical regime, have escalated dramatically. Reports from human rights groups like the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency indicate over 500 deaths in the crackdown so far, with internet blackouts, mass arrests, and violent suppression marking the government’s response. The Los Angeles rally echoed calls for “Free Iran,” “End the regime,” and featured symbols like the Lion and Sun flag associated with opposition movements.

The Truck’s Political Message Adds Fuel to the Fire

What made the incident even more charged was the truck itself. A large banner taped to its side read: “NO SHAH. NO REGIME. USA: DON’T REPEAT 1953. NO MULLAH.” This slogan appeared to oppose both the restoration of the monarchy (Shah) and the current Islamic Republic regime, while warning against U.S. interference reminiscent of the 1953 CIA-backed coup that overthrew Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and reinstated the Shah— an event that many Iranians blame for decades of authoritarianism and repression.