Man who drove U-Haul truck into Westwood protest speaks out – NBC Los Angeles

The man who was arrested after driving a U-Haul truck through a protest against the Iranian regime in Westwood said Thursday that his intention was misunderstood as he wanted to join the crowd of demonstrators.

The incident unfolded Sunday afternoon in Westwood, a neighborhood home to the largest Iranian community outside of Iran, near the Federal Building at Veteran Avenue and Ohio Avenue.

Demonstrators, some waving the Iranian flag from before the Islamic Revolution, scrambled out of the way as the U-Haul truck entered the area, leading to a confrontation between members of the crowd and the driver.

Calor Madaneschtalor told NBC Los Angeles that his initial plan was to park his truck and get out of the car to join the protesters in solidarity with the people of Iran.

“As I parked, the prop-Sha group attacked me,” Madaneschtalor said. “(They) violently started hitting me. Broken windows, shattered inside. Coming inside, punching me.”

The large box truck, which Madaneschtalor was driving, had messages on the sides of its cargo area. And it continued down the street as demonstrators scrambled out of the way.

Madaneschtalor, who insisted that he had a peaceful message on the truck, said he had to drive away to save his life.

Despite criticism that Madaneschtalor’s sign contained the rhetoric of a known terrorist group called the Mojahedin, he maintained that he has no relation to the group.

“I’m a freedom fighter. I’m a human rights activist,” said Madaneschtalor, adding that he does not support the current Khomeini regime nor the Shah’s regime, the rule of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, the last monarch of Iran.

When asked whether he thought the messages on the truck compelled the protesters to take action, Madaneschtalor said he’s repeating the messages from the Iranian people.

“My signs are call for freedom, dignity and equal rights for everyone,” he said.

While some protesters called for a terrorism charge against Madaneschtalor, the Los Angeles Police Department had arrested and booked him for reckless driving earlier this week.