The backlash against Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, has reached the streets, where recent reports from Chicago and other cities across the United States indicate a spike in vandalism targeting the electric car company's vehicles and properties. According to WGN News, Tesla owner Ed Campbell was dismayed to find his car defaced on Lake Shore Drive, spray-painted with derogatory remarks aimed at Musk, an incident among several others that suggest an alarming new trend of Tesla-targeted aggression.
Ed Campbell, less than a year into owning his Tesla, commented on his experiences, saying, “It’s not a great way to make a statement,” expressing his initial shock at the vandalism. This sentiment is seemingly echoed by others, where a body shop handling Tesla vehicle repairs has seen a few cases that are part of an unsettling pattern, with one customer's car being rammed and damaged, according to Eddie Zipperstein, owner of Richard’s Body Shop in Albany Park who told of the incident that officials believe could be linked to Musk's political notoriety. According to CNN, the unrest has seen Tesla showrooms and charging stations across the country beset by vandalism, including fires and gunfire.
Vigorous demonstrations in response to actions by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency have spurred not only slogans and picket signs but also actions that step significantly over the bounds of peaceful protest. These have included Molotov cocktails hurled at a Colorado dealership by one Lucy Grace Nelson, now facing severe legal repercussions, and even Tesla vehicles at regions across the nation that have sustained damage ranging from graffiti to physical attacks.
In the face of the growing incidents of vandalism, Tesla vehicle owners are taking precautions; Campbell encourages fellow Tesla enthusiasts to utilize the car's sentry mode to capture any nefarious activity and he seems to be holding on to his eco-conscious choice despite the hostility with Campbell telling WGN News, “Hop on social media. Be active in your community. Don’t hurt an innocent bystander you don’t know,” speaking out against the counterproductive aggression, meanwhile the economic repercussions for Tesla are yet to be fully recognized with reports of sales declines.
