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Recent days have seen a surge in anti-musk protests. With a particular wave of attacks at Tesla facilities worldwide. Several arrests have been made, including six demonstrators who were taken into custody at a Tesla showroom in Manhattan on Saturday, according to police.
According to NBC News, a series of targeted vandalism acts against Tesla have been reported across the U.S. In Loveland, Colorado, a 40-year-old woman, Lucy Grace Nelson, allegedly carried out multiple attacks on a Tesla dealership, starting on January 29. Police say she first threw a Molotov cocktail at a Cybertruck and later returned on at least four occasions, escalating her actions. She reportedly launched more Molotov cocktails, attempted to set the building on fire, and spray-painted “nazi cars” on the dealership before her eventual arrest. Meanwhile, in Massachusetts, authorities are investigating the deliberate arson of multiple Tesla charging stations near Boston. On the West Coast, another incident occurred in Tigard, Oregon, where a Tesla dealership was targeted in a shooting. Police reported at least seven gunshots that damaged three vehicles and shattered dealership windows.
Allegations
These attacks coincide with ongoing criticism of Tesla CEO Elon Musk. over his role in the heavy federal workforce retrenching. 62,000 federal jobs were cut by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a department the newly elected president, Donald Trump, tapped Musk to lead, and alleged antisemitic remarks. Elon Musk has faced increasing backlash over allegations of making a Nazi gesture during Donald Trump’s inauguration, an act that some viewed as a deliberate salute.
This incident has deepened divisions within the Tesla community, with some Tesla owners remaining loyal to the brand while distancing themselves from its controversial CEO. Additionally, Musk sparked outrage in January with comments made ahead of Holocaust Remembrance Day at an event hosted by a far-right German political party. He reportedly stated that “children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great-grandparents,” a remark that was widely condemned as dismissive of historical accountability.
While Musk has not directly addressed the recent wave of anti-Tesla vandalism, he has responded to footage of attacks on Tesla vehicles in Maryland. In a social media post, he denounced the acts as criminal, stating, “Damaging the property of others, aka vandalism, is not free speech!” He has also reportedly pointed fingers at unnamed groups, implying that certain individuals or organizations may be behind the attacks.
Overall, the attacks display outrage and displeasure, as most people see his involvement in politics as ill-intentioned and a seeming increase in control.
