The new announcement is significant. Waymo, the Alphabet-owned robotaxi company, has officially opened in Phoenix. In reaction to the expected nationwide protests named “No Kings,” they are withdrawing their services. These protests are intended specifically to push back against President Donald Trump and his administration, especially policies targeting immigrants. This has been an enormous hurdle for Waymo’s operations in San Francisco, Austin, Atlanta and Phoenix. In Los Angeles, as well, the company has effectively withdrawn its operations.
That decision to reduce services comes on the heels of massive backlash in Los Angeles. Thousands took to the streets last weekend to protest the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrants. As a show of force, protesters burned five Waymo cars during the protests. They wrapped cars in graffiti calling to #AbolishICE. The event soon turned into violent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement officers over a two-day period. This violence prompted the city’s leaders to speak out against the deployment of the National Guard, which they opposed.
As highlighted in these operational changes from Waymo, the goal is to provide a safe ride for passengers and other roadway users. The company has made these adjustments in a handful of cities where tensions are especially palpable. One thing is for sure — in Los Angeles, the mood is electric. Nonprofit leaders, community organizers and civil rights advocates angrily rail against the Obama Administration’s immigration enforcement – including raids by federal immigration agents.
Unfortunately for Waymo, in true San Francisco style, the city’s fire chief took on the unfolding civil disobedience. He stated:
“In a period of civil unrest, we will not try to extinguish those fires unless they are up against a building.” – San Francisco Chronicle’s article quoting the city’s fire chief
While the protests draw attention to the struggles of the broader societal conflict over immigration policy, Waymo has implemented preventative measures to prevent future occurrences. In its own words, the company “understands the unpredictable climate that we all are navigating. It has a long-standing commitment to keep its riders safe and to protecting the integrity of its fleet.
As protests, riots, and demonstrations flare up around the nation, Waymo is clearly on the lookout and monitoring the situation closely. We can expect the new robotaxi service to pivot its deployment rapidly in response to ongoing, real-time evaluations of safety and public sentiment.
