Protests over immigration raids in downtown Los Angeles escalated into rioting, leading to significant damage and theft at the Apple Tower Theatre. Rioters broke into the historic venue, which had been transformed into an Apple Store in 2021, smashing windows and stealing multiple devices, including iPhones and MacBook Pros.
The protests began on June 6, 2025, following aggressive immigration enforcement actions taken by the Trump administration, drawing public outrage. Footage shared online depicted numerous looters rushing through the Apple Store as sirens blared in the background.
Following the incident, reports indicated that the stolen iPhones displayed a message instructing individuals to return them, stating that the devices had been disabled and were being tracked by authorities. During subsequent nights, similar unrest occurred across downtown LA, affecting other businesses as well.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass addressed the unrest, emphasizing her belief that the ICE raids were unwarranted and unjustified. She recounted that, prior to the raids, the community had been calm, questioning the rationale behind targeting individuals at their workplaces instead of focusing on violent criminals.
The protests quickly escalated, prompting the LAPD to label them as “unlawful assembly,” leading to increased military presence, including the deployment of approximately 4,000 National Guard members. As the situation unfolded, the mayor voiced her concerns about the impact of ICE’s actions, which she argued had transitioned from targeting severe offenders to disrupting the lives of ordinary working individuals.
Currently, Apple has not issued a statement regarding the damages sustained by the store, which has since been boarded up as repairs are underway.
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