Tesla protest movement comes to Canada

Article content

Carrying signs saying “Don’t buy a swasticar,” “Honk if you’re not driving a Tesla,” and “Elbows up Canada” Ottawa protesters joined a growing movement against Tesla CEO and Trump-appointed U.S. government cost-cutter Elon Musk.

About 50 people held up signs outside a Tesla dealership at Carling Avenue near Dow’s Lake on Saturday as dozens of passing drivers honked and cheered.

Article content

The protest was the first of its kind in Canada, organizer Andrea Still said. She said there would be more such “Tesla Takedown” protests in Ottawa and other parts of Canada as well as in the United States.

The goal, Still said, is to encourage people “not to support a company owned by somebody who is a racist and using his wealth to influence politics in the United States as well as around the world. We are just making the message clear that we shouldn’t support such a company for a variety of reasons. Just don’t buy a Tesla, and, if you have one, turn it in.”

Nancy Wasserman carried a sign depicting an image of Musk doing a salute associated with Nazis and the words “Nobody elected Musk.”

Wasserman, who has both U.S. and Canadian citizenship, said she was “appalled by everything that is going on in my country of origin.” She said it was important that more people pushed back.

From Vermont, Wasserman said she also thought Americans didn’t fully understand the impact on Canadians of U.S. President Donald Trump’s persistent 51st state musings.

“Americans sort of say, ‘We are sorry, Canada,’ but they don’t really get it.”

Article content

Wasserman said she had been telling her friends that Trump’s comments were similar to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s views on Ukraine.

“A lot of people are saying, ‘Oh, it’s a joke.’ It’s not a joke. It is appalling.”

The electric vehicle maker’s stock has taken a hit since Musk began overseeing the U.S. government slashing entity known as DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), with sales of Teslas dropping around the world.

Earlier in March, Trump brought a Tesla to the front of the White House in Washington, saying he was buying it to support Musk.

Trump has called the Tesla boycott illegal and his administration has said it is increasing penalties for vandalism to the vehicles.

Our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark our homepage and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed.

Share this article in your social network