Latest news with #1stAmendmentRights
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Idaho man hits pro-Tesla demonstrator with car after he exited his truck that had Trump flags: police
A 70-year-old Idaho man was arrested for allegedly striking a pro-Tesla demonstrator with his car just after the victim exited a truck adorned with "pro-Trump flags," police say. Christopher Talbot of Meridian is now facing an aggravated battery charge following the incident Saturday outside of Boise. "At the time of the incident, a protest was taking place at [a] Tesla dealership, with approximately 30 protesters and an estimated 200 counter-protesters in attendance. The victim was identified as a counter-protester at the event," the Meridian Police Department said in a statement. "The preliminary investigation determined that 70-year-old Christopher Talbot of Meridian made an obscene gesture toward a 49-year-old victim before hitting him with his car. Reports indicate the victim had been driving a truck with pro-Trump flags and had just parked and exited his vehicle when Talbot stuck him with his car," police added. Feds On Alert For Tesla 'Global Day Of Action' After Nationwide Violence Leads To Arrests Investigators said the victim managed to drive himself to a local hospital where he received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. Read On The Fox News App Talbot reportedly was arrested after the victim provided police with his license plate, which led officers to Talbot's home in Meridian. "The Meridian Police Department reminds people to respect everyone's right to protest and express their 1st Amendment Rights without resorting to violence," it said. Tesla Hypocrisy: Democrats Continue Investing In Elon Musk Company Despite Painting Him As A Villain Demonstrators around the U.S. held protests at Tesla dealerships on Saturday in what was billed as a "Tesla Takedown Global Day of Action." From Oregon to Massachusetts, Tesla cars and facilities have been vandalized in at least 10 locations this year. What began as protests against Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have escalated into violent incidents against the Trump ally's company, including shots fired at a building, destroyed dealership windows and charging stations set on fire. Fox News' Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report. Original article source: Idaho man hits pro-Tesla demonstrator with car after he exited his truck that had Trump flags: police
Fox News
31-03-2025
- Fox News
Idaho man hits pro-Tesla demonstrator with car after he exited his truck that had Trump flags: police
A 70-year-old Idaho man was arrested for allegedly striking a pro-Tesla demonstrator with his car just after the victim exited a truck adorned with "pro-Trump flags," police say. Christopher Talbot of Meridian is now facing an aggravated battery charge following the incident Saturday outside of Boise. "At the time of the incident, a protest was taking place at [a] Tesla dealership, with approximately 30 protesters and an estimated 200 counter-protesters in attendance. The victim was identified as a counter-protester at the event," the Meridian Police Department said in a statement. "The preliminary investigation determined that 70-year-old Christopher Talbot of Meridian made an obscene gesture toward a 49-year-old victim before hitting him with his car. Reports indicate the victim had been driving a truck with pro-Trump flags and had just parked and exited his vehicle when Talbot stuck him with his car," police added. Investigators said the victim managed to drive himself to a local hospital where he received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. Talbot reportedly was arrested after the victim provided police with his license plate, which led officers to Talbot's home in Meridian. "The Meridian Police Department reminds people to respect everyone's right to protest and express their 1st Amendment Rights without resorting to violence," it said. Demonstrators around the U.S. held protests at Tesla dealerships on Saturday in what was billed as a "Tesla Takedown Global Day of Action." From Oregon to Massachusetts, Tesla cars and facilities have been vandalized in at least 10 locations this year. What began as protests against Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have escalated into violent incidents against the Trump ally's company, including shots fired at a building, destroyed dealership windows and charging stations set on fire.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Anti-Elon Musk protester charged, accused of hitting pro-Musk counterprotester with car
Meridian police arrested an anti-Tesla protester for allegedly hitting a counterprotester with a vehicle on Saturday. A preliminary law enforcement investigation found that 70-year-old Christopher Talbot, of Meridian, 'made an obscene gesture toward a 49-year-old victim before hitting him with his car' at about 1 p.m., the Meridian Police Department said in a news release. The two men were both attending a protest at the Tesla dealership at 2554 W. Franklin Road in Meridian. Police said about 30 people attended to protest Tesla CEO Elon Musk, but were outnumbered by about 200 counterprotesters. 'Reports indicate the victim had been driving a truck with pro-Trump flags and had just parked and exited his vehicle when Talbot struck him with his car,' police said. 'The victim drove himself to a local hospital, where he was treated and released for non-life-threatening injuries.' Officers arrested Talbot at his home after the victim provided police with Talbot's license plate number, according to the release. Talbot was booked on a felony charge for aggravated battery with use of a deadly weapon or instrument. The event was one of many 'Tesla Takedown' protests organized by groups Troublemakers and The Disruption Project as part of a 'global day of action' against Elon Musk, according to the event's web page on Action Network. Action Network describes itself on its website as an 'open platform that empowers individuals and groups to organize for progressive causes.' The billionaire businessman, who has been embroiled in numerous controversies over the years, has received increased criticism for his role as head of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). DOGE has spearheaded mass layoffs and funding cuts at federal departments across the country, including in Idaho. 'Elon Musk is destroying our democracy, and he's using the fortune he built at Tesla to do it,' the event page said. 'We are taking action at Tesla to stop Musk's illegal coup.' The far-right group Idaho Liberty Dogs posted about the event on its Facebook page, saying that 'patriots from across Idaho' planned to gather 'peacefully in front of the Tesla dealership in Meridian to stand against any vandalism/destruction.' Police reported no vandalism at the Meridian event. The Tesla Takedown page said its protests are 'peaceful' and 'oppose violence, vandalism and destruction of property.' 'The Meridian Police Department reminds people to respect everyone's right to protest and express their 1st Amendment Rights without resorting to violence,' the department said in its news release. Police asked anyone with information that may help with their investigation to call Ada County Dispatch at 208-377-6790.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Idaho man arrested after striking Tesla counterprotester with car, police say
An Idaho man was arrested after allegedly striking a counterprotester with his car during a protest at a Tesla dealership Saturday, according to the Meridian Police Department. Christopher Talbot, 70, allegedly made 'an obscene gesture' at a 49-year-old victim and struck him with his car, according to police. The incident happened during a protest at a Tesla dealership on Franklin Road in western Idaho, where about 30 protesters and 200 counterprotesters were gathered. Hundreds of protesters have also gathered at Tesla dealerships in recent weeks, including in New York, Maryland and Arizona just this weekend. 'Reports indicate the victim had been driving a truck with pro-Trump flags and had just parked and exited his vehicle when Talbot struck him with his car,' police said in a news release. 'The victim drove himself to a local hospital, where he was treated and released (with) non-life-threatening injuries.' Police did not identify the victim, who they said was a counterprotester. Talbot was arrested without incident and charged with aggravated battery on Saturday. He was booked into the Ada County Jail. It is not clear at this time if Talbot has an attorney. 'The Meridian Police Department reminds people to respect everyone's right to protest and express their 1st Amendment Rights without resorting to violence,' police said. The incident is still under investigation, and police are asking anyone with information to get in touch. Tesla cars, dealerships and charging stations across the country have been targeted in dozens of acts of vandalism over the past several weeks. The attacks have come after Elon Musk joined President Donald Trump's tumultuous second administration and began leading a sweeping effort to cut large swaths of the federal government. In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Musk blamed the 'far left' for the vandalism happening at dealerships across the country, calling them 'the real villains here.' 'And the president's made it clear, we're going to go after them,' Musk said in the interview. 'The ones providing the money, the ones pushing the lies and propaganda, we're going after them.' Protesters told NBC News they were demonstrating against Musk's federal cuts. 'We have a crazy person who's blowing through our democratic processes with no qualifications, he was not elected, he has no idea what he's doing,' J.F. Garcia, a protester in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan, said Saturday. 'I think his phrase is move fast and break things? That's not how you bring about positive change.' This article was originally published on
NBC News
30-03-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Idaho man arrested after striking Tesla counterprotester with car, police say
An Idaho man was arrested after allegedly striking a counterprotester with his car during a protest at a Tesla dealership Saturday, according to the Meridian Police Department. Christopher Talbot, 70, allegedly made 'an obscene gesture' at a 49-year-old victim and struck him with his car, according to police. The incident happened during a protest at a Tesla dealership on Franklin Road in western Idaho, where about 30 protesters and around 200 counterprotesters were gathered. Hundreds of protesters have also gathered at Tesla dealerships in recent weeks, including in New York, Maryland and Arizona just this weekend. 'Reports indicate the victim had been driving a truck with pro-Trump flags and had just parked and exited his vehicle when Talbot struck him with his car,' police said in a news release. 'The victim drove himself to a local hospital, where he was treated and released (with) non-life-threatening injuries.' Police did not identify the victim, who they said was a counterprotester. Talbot was arrested without incident and charged with aggravated battery on Saturday. He was booked into the Ada County Jail. It is not clear at this time if Talbot has an attorney. 'The Meridian Police Department reminds people to respect everyone's right to protest and express their 1st Amendment Rights without resorting to violence,' police said. The incident is still under investigation, and police are asking anyone with information to get in touch. Tesla cars, dealerships and charging stations across the country have been targeted in dozens of acts of vandalism over the past several weeks. The attacks have come after Elon Musk joined President Donald Trump's tumultuous second administration and began leading a sweeping effort to cut large swaths of the federal government. In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Musk blamed the 'far left' for the vandalism happening at dealerships across the country, calling them 'the real villains here.' 'And the president's made it clear, we're going to go after them,' Musk said in the interview. 'The ones providing the money, the ones pushing the lies and propaganda, we're going after them.' Protesters told NBC News they were demonstrating against Musk's federal cuts. 'We have a crazy person who's blowing through our democratic processes with no qualifications, he was not elected, he has no idea what he's doing,' J.F. Garcia, a protester in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan, said Saturday. 'I think his phrase is move fast and break things? That's not how you bring about positive change.'
