Chaos Spreads to Santa Monica: Amazon Delivery Drivers Fear for Lives

Where are the local Santa Monica police who are supposed to be keeping law and order?

Instead, rioters and looters appear to be able to destroy the streets freely without fear of any consequences.

Amazon drivers from across the nation say that they are terrified of becoming a victim of the widespread looting.

Bloomberg confirms:

An Amazon.com Inc. delivery driver in Long Island, New York, was told to abandon his van and call 911 in the event of looting and avoid “high crime” areas. A driver in Chicago encountered a heavy police presence and road closures. In Washington, another driver canceled his shifts for the week after seeing video of an Amazon van in Santa Monica, California, being looted in broad daylight.

The thousands of drivers who deliver Amazon packages around the U.S. are adjusting to civil unrest that has prompted curfews and road closures aimed at quelling riots and looting. It’s the latest test of a decentralized delivery machine made up of companies that hire people to drive blue Amazon-branded vans and independent drivers who use their own vehicles. Already worried about avoiding exposure to Covid-19, many drivers must weigh the risks of navigating around the unrest.

“I usually get about $100 for a four-hour shift, and that’s just not worth getting my car trashed,” said one Amazon delivery driver in Chicago who uses his own car. “I feel like I have a target on my back.”

He carries a pocket knife for protection and has been trying to avoid routes in the city, but the unrest is spreading to the suburbs. Another Chicago driver said many of his colleagues are declining shifts due to safety concerns.

The unrest in urban areas is largely affecting grocery delivery, according to several people interviewed for this story. Many drivers in big cities shifted to delivering groceries due to a surge in demand tied to the pandemic. Amazon entices them with better pay to pick up different types of shifts in different areas to match delivery capacity with demand.

But the company has boarded up at least one Whole Foods store and is closing others earlier than usual to comply with curfews. Amazon offered some deliveries up until midnight, so the drivers willing to work are noticing fewer shifts due to curfews.

Amazon declined to say which cities are affected or how many Whole Foods locations it has shuttered. Deliveries in some urban areas continue after curfew when deemed safe, the company said in an emailed statement.

“Nothing is more important than the safety of our employees and partners” an Amazon spokeswoman said. “We are monitoring the situation closely and have adjusted routes or scaled back typical delivery operations in the affected areas to ensure the safety of our teams.”

No one in America should ever be afraid to make an honest living.

These drivers provide an incredible service to customers. They work these shifts to be able to put food on the table for their families and to keep the lights on.

They shouldn't have to risk their lives in order to make a living!

But in places where local and state governments are run by Democrats, it appears that the rioters and looters are able to get away with whatever they want.

Below are more scenes from the ground in Santa Monica:

Let's be honest: do these looters and rioters actually care about George Floyd?

What does robbing an Amazon truck have to do with fighting for the legacy of George Floyd? 

Does it somehow help improve racial tensions? Or does it perpetuate negative stereotypes?

These are serious questions that the looters should be asking themselves as they continue to go out day after day breaking the law.

The Daily Mail confirms that the Amazon truck was looted in broad daylight:

Footage taken Sunday shows as a group of people pull items from the back of the van, which was parked on residential street in the city.  

The shocking clip came amid a weekend of violence, vandalism and arson following  protests against the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.  

Curfews expired early Monday as cities in the state assessed widespread damage. Officials in Santa Monica confirmed the curfew would be back in place Monday afternoon.

Recording the footage journalist Kyli Singh said: 'My heart is breaking. This @amazon prime truck was broken into on 5th and Broadway in #SantaMonica.

'This is theft, NOT protesting.'

Singh told DailyMail.com: 'The driver came to the scene after looting occurred and spoke with police. He swept the glass off and had to drive the van away.'

Singh added: 'I don’t have any words right now. I’m in shock.'

Unrest in Santa Monica happened not far from a peaceful demonstration near the city's famous pier as thieves targeted shops near the popular Third Street Promenade.

As protesters gathered in Long Beach, thieves swarmed nearby stores and carried away armloads of clothing. Some stopped to change into stolen items.

More than 400 people were arrested Sunday, Santa Monica Police Chief Cynthia Renaud said.

She said: 'So what we can glean from intelligence online is that there are opportunists who are tracking where peaceful protests are occurring, and they are then going to that city, knowing that resources will be tied up in ensuring First Amendment rights to free speech.

'They take advantage of that. And they loot and they perform criminal activity.'

Santa Monica Mayor Kevin McKeown said: 'Much was lost on Sunday, including property and innocence.

We shouldn't be surprised that Democratic mayors and governors are letting lawlessness rule the streets.

After all, these are the same politicians that boldly fight to make their cities sanctuary cities.

But it's time for these leaders to restore law and order!

The American people are watching. President Trump is watching.