A wave of anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protests in Los Angeles has prompted nightly curfews and significant federal troop deployments. Over 4,000 National Guard and 700 Marines are in place, with more than 400 arrests amid clashes, crowd control tactics and local backlash.
In the above context, a video is being widely shared on social media in which some people are seen burning a car. A social media user shared the video with a caption suggesting that the video is of a Los Angeles protest.
A social media user shared the video with a caption, “CHAOS! Los Angeles now looking like a collapsing third world country under Mayor Bass and Governor Newscum’s lack of leadership. Absolute MADNESS. (sic)”
SouthCheck found that the claim is false. We found that the video is old and shows protests after George Floyd’s death.
On a Google reverse image search, we found that the longer version of the video was shared by Sky News on May 31, 2020. The video is shared with a title that reads, ‘George Floyd death: US shops looted, cars set alight, tear gas fired.’
We found Daily Mail UK had also shared a screenshot of the video with a caption that reads, “Los Angeles erupted in violence Saturday as cops in riot gear clashed with protesters and the City of Angels went up in flames.” The incident was reported on May 31, 2020.
On searching with relevant keywords, we found a report published by News 5 Cleveland on March 31, 2020. According to the report, after George Floyd’s murder, protests erupted nationwide. In many cities, shops were looted, cars and police vehicles set ablaze, and tear gas was used extensively as clashes intensified, curfews were imposed, and National Guard troops mobilised.
Hence, we can ascertain that the viral claim is false.
