Tesla, the electric vehicle giant, has become the epicenter of rising protests and acts of vandalism since Elon Musk became a prominent figure in Donald Trump's administration. The "Tesla Takedown" protests have gained momentum with demonstrators across several cities, including Ottawa and Vancouver, denouncing Musk's influence and calling for a boycott of Tesla vehicles. These protests aim to curb Musk's wealth by discouraging purchases of Teslas, and also to push back against what some perceive as creeping fascism in Canada.
The protests have not been limited to Canadian soil. In the United States, tensions escalated when gunshots were fired at a Tesla dealership in Oregon earlier this month. Furthermore, four Tesla Cybertrucks were destroyed in a fire in Seattle, though investigators have yet to determine whether the incident was intentional. Amidst these events, Canadians have shown their solidarity through demonstrations outside Tesla dealerships in Ottawa and Vancouver.
Jen Gagnon, a dual Canadian-American citizen, played a pivotal role in organizing the "Tesla Takedown" events.
"It’s just every time I think it can’t get worse, they find the bottom and keep digging," she expressed, reflecting her dismay over U.S. political developments since Trump's election.
In Vancouver, about two dozen residents gathered outside a Tesla dealership in Surrey, B.C., holding signs with messages like "elbows up," "Elon be-gone," and "democracy dies in apathy." Andrew Balakshin, one of the attendees, voiced his concerns about the influence of billionaires on political systems.
He stated, "I believe billionaires are interfering with politics in North America and Europe in ways they shouldn't be."
The timing of these protests coincides with a significant policy change by British Columbia's Crown utility, BC Hydro. The utility recently announced that it would remove Tesla products from its electric vehicle rebate program. This move is part of B.C.'s broader strategy to prioritize Canadian goods and exclude American products from rebates whenever feasible amid ongoing trade disputes between Canada and the United States.
Elon Musk, who identifies as a "free speech absolutist," has faced criticism from various hate-speech watchdogs. He has been accused of allowing extremist and antisemitic comments to proliferate on X, a platform previously known as Twitter. Despite the growing protests and controversies surrounding Musk and Tesla, the company's media team has not yet provided any comments regarding the demonstrations.
