Latest news with #EveryoneHatesElon
Forbes
11-04-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Tesla Protests And Vandalism Surge: U.K. Protest Group Takes Sledgehammer To Tesla In Public Demonstration
The ongoing spate of vandalism against Tesla vehicles continues to rage both in the United States and globally, as a U.K. protest group, Everyone Hates Elon, destroyed a Tesla to protest company CEO and Department of Government Efficiency chief Elon Musk, while protesters defaced a 12-foot-tall bust of Musk in Texas. Tesla protests—including instances of arson and vandalism—have taken place nationwide. (Photo by ... More) April 10A U.K.-based, anti-Musk group, Everyone Hates Elon, smashed up a 2014 Tesla car in London with sledgehammers, spray-painting phrases like 'Billionaires suck' and 'Tax the rich,' stating the car will be auctioned and the proceeds will go to food bank charities. April 9Police arrested and charged an alleged Tesla vandal on 11 counts of defacing property and one count of disorderly conduct, accusing the individual of pouring paint on Tesla vehicles at a dealership in Peabody, Massachusetts, causing an estimated $500,000 in damage, the Boston Globe reported. April 8The FBI told Reuters it is investigating damage to a Tesla supercharger station in Washington, after police said in a Facebook post they had responded to a 'malicious mischief' after a loud noise was reported by the charging station. April 7A man in Henderson, Nevada, was arrested after carving the word 'NAZI' and a swastika onto a Tesla Cybertruck that was parked in a parking lot. April 5A 12-foot-tall bust of Musk's head was vandalized in Texas with what appears to be knife marks by the bust's eyes, chin and back, ABC News reported. April 5A former federal worker, Justin Fisher, and his wife, Emily Fisher, a clean energy nonprofit executive, were arrested by Washington, D.C. police and charged with defacing property for allegedly vandalizing Tesla vehicles with anti-Musk messages. March 31The New York City Police Department told CBS News it is investigating at least five incidents of vandalism across the city that occurred in March, including one incident in which two men allegedly spray-painted swastikas and the word 'Nazis' onto a Cybertruck in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. March 24Austin, Texas police said multiple 'incendiary devices' were discovered at a Tesla showroom, which police said they are investigating. March 23Police in Bucks County, Pennsylvania reportedly said they are investigating an incident in which a group of people, who appeared to be juveniles, made crude gestures at a Tesla vehicle and dragged an object against it, leaving a mark, while the vehicle's owner ate inside a nearby restaurant. March 20More than 80 Tesla vehicles were damaged with 'deep scratches and punctured tires' at a dealership in Ontario, Canada, among the largest instances of Tesla vandalism in recent weeks, prompting a police investigation. March 18At least five Teslas were damaged in Las Vegas after an individual set cars on fire and fired at least three rounds of gunshots in a 'targeted attack' on a Tesla facility, where the suspect also painted the word 'RESIST' on the storefront's windows, Las Vegas police said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon. March 17Two Tesla Cybertrucks caught fire at a Kansas City dealership in an incident police suspect may be arson, the Kansas City Star reported. March 13More than a dozen shots were fired at a Tesla dealership in Tigard, Oregon, the second such incident at that location in one week, causing damage to cars and store windows, police said. March 12Protesters from Just Stop Oil, a British environmentalist group, poured orange liquid latex over a Tesla Optimus robot at a company store in London as a form of protest against Musk, whom organizers said in a statement is 'throwing hundreds of thousands of people out of work, jeopardising climate science and denying healthcare to vulnerable people.' March 11Three Tesla vehicles at a Dedham, Massachusetts, Tesla dealership were vandalized, police said, with all four wheels on each vehicle damaged and two others defaced with spray paint. March 9Four Tesla Cybertrucks were damaged in a fire in Seattle, fire officials told the Associated Press, though the origin of the fire is unclear and under investigation. March 7A man unintentionally set his clothes on fire while also setting fire to three Tesla charging stations with Molotov cocktails in a North Charleston, South Carolina parking lot, while wearing a shirt that said 'F— Trump, long live Ukraine,' multiple local outlets reported. March 6At least seven shots were fired at a Tigard, Oregon, Tesla dealership, police said, which caused damage to three cars and the store's windows. March 3Police said seven Tesla charging stations in Littleton, Massachusetts, sustained heavy damage in fires that appeared to be intentionally set. March 2Baltimore County Police said graffiti was found at a Tesla dealership in Owings Mills, Maryland, which said 'No Musk' alongside what appeared to resemble a swastika. Feb. 2442-year-old Colorado resident Lucy Grace Nelson was confronted by police and charged with malicious destruction of property for numerous alleged instances of vandalism at a Tesla dealership in Loveland, Colorado, with police finding a 'container of gasoline plus a box of bottles and wick material' in her car, according to the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado. Feb. 19Windows at a Salem, Oregon, Tesla dealership were damaged by a man firing bullets from an AR-style rifle—the second incident connected to the Salem man, who faces a federal weapons charge, and who police say previously vandalized the dealership in January. Feb. 11Nelson allegedly sprayed graffiti using an expletive on the front windows of the Loveland Tesla dealership, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, leading to a confrontation with a security guard. Feb. 7Nelson was accused of using red graffiti on a wall of the Loveland Tesla dealership and a possible arson, with police finding 'multiple broken bottles consistent with incendiary devices,' according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Feb. 2Police accused Nelson of spray-painting the word 'Nazi' on the Loveland Tesla dealership sign. Jan. 29Nelson allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail aimed at a Cybertruck on display at the Loveland Tesla dealership, causing a fire, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Jan. 20The Salem man reportedly threw Molotov cocktails at Tesla vehicles, causing a fire impacting one vehicle, police said. Attorney General Pam Bondi said at a cabinet meeting Thursday four individuals have been charged in connection with instances of Tesla vandalism, all of whom she says will face up to 20 years in prison 'with no negotiation.' Bondi said the Justice Department would announce another 'huge arrest' within the next day. Bondi announced charges against three individuals suspected to have vandalized Tesla vehicles on March 20, relating to instances of vandalism in Loveland, Colorado, Salem, Oregon, and Charleston, South Carolina. The Justice Department announced on March 27 it had arrested and charged a fourth individual on one count of possession of an unregistered firearm and one count of arson, accusing the individual of using Molotov cocktails and an AR-style firearm to 'damage and destroy five Tesla vehicles' in Las Vegas. In an interview with Newsmax host Greg Kelly, Kelly asked Trump: 'The Tesla violence. Have you heard anything about billionaires on the left, whether it's Soros or somebody else? Have you heard anything about planning, coordination, funding for these attacks?' In response, Trump said: 'I believe that that is part of it, yeah. There are some of them that were involved with my trials that were, I think, probably involved with that also,' without providing evidence Soros or any other billionaires have been involved. Kelly's question echoes a theory Musk promoted on X earlier this month. Musk posted, citing an unnamed 'investigation' and offering no further evidence, billionaires including George Soros and Reid Hoffman, as well as other Democratic-affiliated organizations, are 'responsible for Tesla 'protests.'' Musk's post, despite containing no evidence, has been viewed more than 55 million times. The FBI said in a public service announcement instances of Tesla vandalism appear to have been conducted by 'lone offenders,' and that their tactics involve 'little planning,' such as 'improvised incendiary devices and firearms.' The announcement contrasts with Musk's claims—which he made without evidence—that billionaires including George Soros and Reid Hoffman, as well as ActBlue and other Democratic organizations, orchestrated the protests. The FBI's announcement described the attacks as involving 'arson, gunfire, and vandalism, including graffiti expressing grievances against those the perpetrators perceive to be racists, fascists, or political opponents.' The FBI's assistant director for public affairs, Ben Williamson, confirmed on X Monday the FBI created a task force to investigate and 'crack down' on attacks targeting Tesla. FBI Director Kash Patel also said Monday the FBI is actively investigating these incidents and established the task force to 'crack down and coordinate our response,' labeling the attacks 'domestic terrorism.' Dan Bongino, the FBI's deputy director, said in a post on X last week he is 'actively working on the Tesla incidents' in one of his first official posts in office. Spencer Evans, who leads the FBI's Las Vegas field office, said at a press conference last week the FBI is investigating the incident that targeted a Las Vegas facility and left five vehicles damaged earlier this week. 'To those who might think that something like this is justifiable or potentially even admirable, we want you to know this is a federal crime,' Evans said. In a Truth Social post, Trump said 'sick terrorist thugs' who have vandalized Tesla vehicles should serve 20-year sentences, suggesting: 'Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions!' Nayib Bukele, President of El Salvador, accepted hundreds of migrants deported from the United States last week, and transferred them to the country's infamous Terrorism Confinement Center. The prison, among others in El Salvador, has been accused of human rights abuses by organizations including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, as incarceration has dramatically increased under Bukele's presidency. In a statement on March 20 announcing charges against three individuals, Bondi said, 'Let this be a warning: if you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars.' In a previous statement Tuesday, Bondi said the instances of vandalism are 'nothing short of domestic terrorism' and said the Justice Department has already charged several demonstrators, some of whom face mandatory five-year sentences. Bondi threatened 'severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes.' Bondi previously said in a Fox Business interview Friday morning she has directed an investigation be opened into the Tesla protests to prosecute perpetrators and to find anyone who may be funding these protests. 'If you're going to touch a Tesla, go to a dealership, do anything, you better watch out because we're coming after you,' Bondi said. Tesla owners are trading in their vehicles in record numbers, according to data from car shopping website Edmunds. Edmunds said March has had 'the highest ever share' of Tesla trade-ins, CNBC reported. Musk told Fox News' Sean Hannity he believes there are 'larger forces at work' that are 'funding' and 'coordinating' the Tesla protests, echoing earlier unfounded claims he made blaming billionaires and Democratic-affiliated organizations for the vandalism. In a post Tuesday on X, Musk slammed the Tesla vehicles being set on fire in Las Vegas as 'terrorism.' He said the 'level of violence is insane and deeply wrong,' adding Tesla 'just makes electric cars and has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks.' Musk dubiously pointed fingers at various billionaires, including George Soros and Reid Hoffman, though he hasn't provided evidence to back up his claims that they're behind the protests. In a post on X last week, he claimed an 'investigation'—without naming a specific investigation—found Soros, Hoffman, the ActBlue Democratic fundraising conduit and various left-wing groups to be responsible for the protests. He also posted a 'heartfelt thanks to everyone supporting @Tesla, despite many attacks against our stores and offices.' Yes. During a demonstration at the White House, in which five Tesla vehicles were lined up with Musk in attendance, right-wing Real America's Voice reporter Brian Glenn suggested to Trump that 'some say they should be labeled domestic terrorists.' Trump responded: 'I will do that. I'll do it. I'm going to stop them,' adding, 'You do it to Tesla and you do it to any company, we're going to catch you and you're going to go through hell.' Glenn has tweeted critically of the Tesla protests, urging the government to 'shut it down immediately' in a post on X, which he made in response to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who posted a letter she and other representatives sent to the Department of Justice and FBI urging them to prosecute Tesla vandals for domestic terrorism. A day prior to Trump's Tesla demonstration, he said on Truth Social he would purchase a Tesla as a show of support for Musk, slamming the 'Radical Left Lunatics' for protesting the car company, which Trump claimed is 'illegal.' There is no federal charge for domestic terrorism, so individuals suspected to have committed acts of domestic terrorism must instead be charged with other crimes. The United States federal criminal code defines domestic terrorism as 'acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State' that are intended to coerce either the civilian population or government policy, or to impact the government through 'mass destruction, assassination or kidnapping.' Twelve Tesla vehicles were set on fire in Toulouse, France, on March 2 in an incident prosecutors say was 'not at all accidental.' A Tesla factory near Berlin was set on fire March 5, causing a power outage. A far-left group, Volcano Group, claimed responsibility for the apparent arson in Berlin. Some peaceful protests against Tesla dealerships in cities across the United States have been linked to 'Tesla Takedown,' an organization that urges people to 'sell your Teslas, dump your stock, join the picket lines,' according to its website. Actor Alex Winter is a key figure behind the protests, which he began organizing in February. He posted on BlueSky on Tuesday that Tesla Takedown is a 'peaceful, grassroots protest movement formed by many thousands of concerned citizens,' hitting back at Trump's claim the Tesla protests are 'illegal.' Musk has held onto the reins of his various companies, including Tesla, SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter), while working as the Department of Government Efficiency's leader—but Musk told Fox Business on Monday he is juggling his business and political ventures 'with great difficulty.' Trump Gets Behind The Wheel Of A Tesla To Support Elon Musk As Company Stock Falls (Forbes) Elon Musk Dubiously Blames Billionaires George Soros, Reid Hoffman Over Tesla Protests—Citing Unnamed 'Investigation' (Forbes)
The Independent
11-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Tesla smashed to pieces in London protest against Elon Musk
A Tesla was destroyed in London by protesters targeting billionaire Elon Musk and his ties to Donald Trump on Thursday, 10 April. The second-hand car, originally destined for the scrapheap, was smashed as part of a 'public art piece' according to the group Everyone Hates Elon, who organised the stunt. The group says it offers people a way to 'safely and legally' destroy a Tesla. The installation will be auctioned to raise money for local food banks. "There are more billionaires than ever before and there are more food banks than ever before. These things are obviously connected" an Everyone Hates Elon spokesperson said.
The Guardian
10-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Guardian
Sledgehammer-wielding Musk critics smash up Tesla in London art project
Protective helmets were donned and sledgehammers wielded as Elon Musk critics vented their frustration at the Tesla boss and billionaire by smashing up a disused Tesla bound for the scrap heap. The public art project was organised by the social media campaign group Everyone Hates Elon. A 2014 Tesla Model S was provided by an anonymous donor 'to create a debate about wealth inequality', a spokesperson for the group said. The participants gathered at Hardess studios in south London on Thursday to take it in turns to swing at the car with sledgehammers and baseball bats. The destroyed electric vehicle, which retails for about £14,000, will be auctioned in the next few weeks, with all proceeds going to food bank charities. 'We're giving Londoners a chance to stand up to far-right hatred and billionaires and express how they feel about the current state of the world,' said the group. 'Therapy is expensive, but this is free.' Talia Denisenko, a 32-year-old writer, wore a Ukrainian flag as she took a hammer to the car's bonnet as Britney Spears's Hit Me Baby One More Time blared from a speaker. 'My family is Ukrainian and Elon Musk wants to keep us occupied,' she said. 'Things feel very disempowering at the moment. This is a little bit of therapy.' Alice Rogers, a 24-year-old University of Cambridge researcher from Illinois, said: 'Musk is acting in ways which violates our constitution. I'm very concerned by what I'm seeing – he's gutting agencies and cutting USAID. This felt really cathartic. I'm not normally a smasher, but that felt really good.' Everyone Hates Elon, which garnered attention this year for distributing stickers with the slogan 'Don't buy a Swasticar', said it had made clear that the stunt, called London vs Musk, should not be replicated outside the event. 'This is a private event with a used Tesla that was destined for the scrapyard – it's a supervised, controlled art piece and there are proper safety measures in place,' said a spokesperson. 'We urge people not to damage other Teslas or any other cars.' The battery of the scrap car had been removed and recycled. 'I'm just aghast at what I see going on in America at the moment,' said Lee Woods, a 45-year-old university lecturer who had travelled two hours from Hampshire for the event. 'I think Musk is using his obscene wealth to promote the far right.' Musk, the world's richest person, leads the Trump administration's 'department of government efficiency' (Doge), which the president tasked with drastically reducing US government jobs and cutting national debt. Tesla's shares dropped 13% in the first three months of 2025 – an indication of buyer backlash as a result of Musk's rightwing politics. Protests calling for a boycott of the electric vehicle company have been taking place on both sides of the Atlantic in recent months, including a global day of action where hundreds of Tesla branches were targeted by protesters from the US group Tesla Takedown. 'My opinion [on Musk] has changed hugely,' said Giles Pearson, 32, who dealt the first blow on Thursday. 'Since buying Twitter he's become seriously rightwing and alienated a lot of people by doing so. I would never normally do something like this … but I've always wanted to smash a car.' Tesla was approached for comment.
Euronews
27-02-2025
- Automotive
- Euronews
‘Don't buy a Swasticar': Anti-Elon Musk Tesla advert goes viral
An anti-Elon Musk poster is going viral online, depicting a Tesla renamed as the 'Swasticar', with an image of the tech billionaire doing his infamous Nazi-like salute from Donald Trump's inauguration rally in January. The poster, which popped up in Bethnal Green, London, urges people not to buy the Tesla cars for which Musk is the CEO and reads: 'Goes from 0 to 1939 in 3 seconds'. The UK-based campaigning group called Everyone Hates Elon appears to have taken credit for the poster, sharing a photo of the banner being installed on the bus stop. 'Be a shame if these popped up around the world,' they wrote on Instagram, before sharing a link to a GoFundMe campaign, promising to send a PDF of the poster to anyone who wants one. The poster comes as Tesla sales have almost halved in Europe in January amid Musk's work for Donald Trump and his social media attacks on Europe's top politicians. Voir cette publication sur Instagram Une publication partagée par Everyone Hates Elon (@everyonehateselon_) Musk was named by Trump as the head of the new Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and has spent much of the year showing support for right wing European politicians – specifically Germany's AfD - on X, which he also owns. Everyone Hates Elon's fundraiser page includes the statement: 'Not happy with fuelling the far-right in the USA, Elon Musk is now doing the same in Europe. We can't let the richest man in the world poison our politics. While nurses use food banks, his wealth grew by $200 billion last year.' The poster going viral adds itself to a disturbing AI-generated video doing the rounds at the moment, which depicts Trump kissing and sucking Musk's toes. Warning: you can't unsee this. Emblazoned with the message 'Long Live the Real King,' the video appeared on monitors at the Washington D.C. headquarters of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The deep fake video appeared two days after Musk, appointed by Trump to make cuts across the federal government, ordered federal workers to respond to an email demanding they summarize their accomplishments during the past workweek. He threatened that failure to reply to the mail with a five bullet-point description would be construed as a resignation. The source of the video remains unknown, but it appears to have been a coordinated stunt in response to Musk's threats.
Express Tribune
27-02-2025
- Automotive
- Express Tribune
Elon Musk mocked in fake Tesla 'Swasticar' ad featuring Nazi salute
A new anti-Tesla campaign led by the activist group Everyone Hates Elon has gone viral, generating over 5.2 million views on TikTok. The campaign, aimed at Elon Musk, features a provocative bus stop ad in London that has caused a stir online. The advert displays an edited black-and-white image of Musk performing a Nazi salute, with the tagline, 'Goes From 0 to 1939 In 3 Seconds.' The ad also rebrands Tesla as 'The Swasticar,' a clear play on the controversial gesture and its historical association. @everyonehateselon 🚨Elon Musk just helped the far-right in 🇩🇪 win their best result since WW2 then called them to say congrats. So don't buy his f*ing cars, yeah? #dontbuyaswasticar #elonmusk ♬ original sound - user32781551767 This stunt is part of a larger anti-Tesla effort from Everyone Hates Elon, a group that has previously staged actions against Musk's political views. The viral video, which shows the replacement of the original ad with the provocative image, ignited a divisive debate. Some online users criticized it as extreme, while others defended it as a necessary stand against Musk's political influence. The group has also targeted Musk's backing of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has attracted significant criticism over the past several months. The controversial ad isn't the only campaign from Everyone Hates Elon. The group staged an activation at a Tesla showroom, further drawing attention to Musk's political affiliations and the growing concerns over his influence on democracy. This latest protest is part of a broader movement that aims to challenge the tech mogul's increasing involvement in political matters. In response to the claims of a Nazi salute, Musk dismissed the criticism as tired and reiterated his view that such accusations are overused. Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The 'everyone is Hitler' attack is sooo tired 😴 — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2025 This ongoing debate continues to highlight the polarizing nature of Musk's political stances.
