What is a Waymo and why are LA demonstrators targeting them in ICE protests?
California has been coping with civil unrest, as swarms of protesters have taken to the streets following a series of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids targeting workplaces in Los Angeles County.
During these protests, some Waymo cars were vandalized and set on fire. According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, demonstrators apparently used the vehicles to get to protest sites. Once there, the cars were torn apart by the angry crowd.
This is not the first time Waymo cars have been target of vandalism in California amid concerns about the risk these driver-less cars might posses to public safety. Throughout 2024, at least 19 Waymo cars were vandalized in three separate incidents across California, Los Angeles Times reported.
It remains unclear whether there is any connection between anti-Waymo sentiments and the ongoing protests unfolding in the Golden State.
A subsidiary of Google, Waymo is a fleet of autonomous vehicles with self-driving capabilities. The company is an alternative to taxis and ride services like Uber.
In Dec. 2018, the company became the world's first commercial autonomous ride-hailing service when it launched its services in Phoenix.
Today, the company has partnered with Uber in some of the cities where the autonomous cars are available. In Phoenix, for instance, Waymo cars can only be requested via de Uber app, says the company's website.
The company's website lists Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Austin as the places where they operate. Soon, Waymo cars will be available in Atlanta and Miami, the company announced.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: What is a Waymo and why are LA ICE protestors burning them?
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