After two weeks of showing up at various Tesla showrooms throughout Vancouver, protesters came out in full force to reiterate their stance against the car manufacturer’s CEO Elon Musk for the movement’s international “Global Day of Action” Saturday afternoon.
Protesters in their dozens rallied outside the Kitsilano branch, loudly cheering and waving flags and banners bearing slogans including “Stop toxic Musk-ulinity” and “Tesla funds fascists.”
The event joined countless others taking place in cities across the country.
Protester Lucinda Ferdon said she felt compelled to join the group after feeling “pretty anxious” about the events that were unfolding while simultaneously feeling as though there wasn’t much opportunity to take action.
The protests, she said, were a “grassroots movement” that made her feel as though she was doing something to help, rather than “just feeling hopeless.”
Ferdon said the ‘Tesla Takedown’ movement rallying outside dealerships across the country is working to hit Musk where it is going to make a difference - where his money is.
“This feels like an actionable opportunity. I think you go where it hurts people’s pockets, and I mean, there’s been results in the stock market. The stocks are down,” she said.
“I know friends who have Teslas who are getting stickers that say ‘I bought this before the crazy. I think this is having an effect.”
On Friday, the Vancouver Police Department said it would deploy “dozens” of additional officers to handle the protests set to unfold across the city.
It comes after they announced that, since Jan. 20, they have investigated 28 incidents that “appear politically motivated and in opposition to the Tesla CEO’s affiliation with the United States government.” Nineteen of those reported incidents targeted Tesla dealerships and charging stations, say police.
In a statement Saturday, Vancouver police spokesperson Sgt. Steve Addison said there were “several dozen protesters” outside the Kitsilano dealership Saturday afternoon that were “peaceful and lawful in expressing themselves.”
“Which we commend them for,” he added.
Ferdon described the violent protests against Musk to be “problematic,” and not like the one in force at the Kitsilano dealership Saturday afternoon.
“Violence, that’s not okay. Nobody is condoning property damage. This is a peaceful protest, and we have the right to do that,” she said.
“I do not support property destruction. I’m out here holding a sign, that’s what I’m doing,” added Eric Johnson, an American who has lived in Vancouver for 15 years.
Not everyone at the event disagreed with Trump’s actions, however.
A man wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat, who would not give his name, said he supported Trump and was in favour of Canada becoming the 51st state.
“I think everyone here would have much lower taxes, better health care, more safety. But ultimately we need to support America as far as their geopolitical goals, their military goals, and also there’s more freedom there than there is here,” he said.
With files from The Canadian Press
