About a dozen people gathered outside the Tesla showroom in Dartmouth, N.S., Saturday as part of an international protest.
Hundreds of protests were expected to take place around the world. The event, dubbed the Tesla Takedown’s Global Day of Action, is the latest demonstration by those who object to the role Tesla CEO Elon Musk has played in the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
“With events like this, I’m just hoping to give people the opportunity to stand up against what they might be seeing in the U.S. and against what Elon Musk is doing in the U.S.,” said Dartmouth organizer Scott Pasko.
Musk heads the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency and has been tied to controversies that include publicly voicing support for the far-right Alternative for Germany party and laying off thousands of federal workers.
The protesters in Dartmouth held signs reading “Boycott Musk!” and “Stop Musk!” as cars drove by honking horns. Pasko said this was a peaceful protest, and one that opposes violence, vandalism and destruction of property.
“We’re just hoping to get out and show that we’re concerned about what’s happening in the U.S. and we’re here to use our voices and protest.”
As for why these protests are taking place outside of the United States, Pasko said it’s simple.
“What worries me is you’re already seeing the impact of Elon Musk and the U.S. government on Canada through their tariffs and through this rhetoric around Canada being the 51st state. That’s deeply concerning to me,” said Pasko. “I think we have to stand up as quickly as possible and participate in protests like this and show that we don’t want this in Canada, and we have to use our voices to be heard.”
Tesla is one of the world’s largest electric vehicle companies, but Pasko said he has nothing against EVs.
“This is a protest against Elon Musk, and if protesting Tesla will directly impact Elon, and that’s the point, and if Tesla goes down, then I don’t think that’s going to impact the electric vehicle movement itself. There are a lot more brands out there making reliable electric vehicles, and I don’t think Tesla has to be at the forefront of that.”
Recently, Tesla was removed from the electric vehicle rebate programs in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
With files from The Canadian Press
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