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Tesla Takedown Misfire: Why Attacking Owners Hurts the Cause [1]

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Date: 2025-04-14

In the sun-soaked streets of Los Angeles, Tesla’s electric vehicles are as common as palm trees, and in California overall over 50% of all Teslas made are registered. The states love affair with the brand is no accident: an estimated 90% of Tesla owners here lean liberal, identifying as Democrats who snapped up their Model S, X, or 3 to fight climate change and champion sustainable energy. These are the folks who recycle religiously, vote blue, and worry about melting ice caps. So why are some of them getting flipped off, harassed, or even seeing their cars vandalized by protesters who claim to share their values? It’s time to call out this friendly fire for what it is: a misguided attack that’s hurting the cause more than helping it.

Let’s be clear—protesting can be powerful. Showing up at a Tesla showroom (they don’t do dealerships) or outside SpaceX’s gates to voice concerns about Elon Musk’s latest controversial move? That’s fair game, although shouting at their employees and calling them, Nazis not only makes you look like a moron, it's pretty damn counterproductive. Musk’s influence, from his tweets to his political stances, invites scrutiny, and public demonstrations can spark real conversation. But when the anger spills over to targeting Tesla owners—yelling “sell your car!” as they pull into a service center or, worse, keying their cars—it’s not just wrong; it’s counterproductive, it can lead to serious consequences. The person behind the wheel is far more likely to agree with the protesters’ broader point than to be some Musk-worshipping adversary. Attacking them isn’t activism; it’s alienation.

Take the “sell your car” chant, which some journalists have bizarrely cheered as a clever jab. What exactly does selling a Tesla accomplish? It doesn’t hit Tesla’s bottom line. The company’s profits—benefiting a wide range of shareholders, including pension funds for teachers, firefighters, and police—were locked in when the car was bought new. Musk himself, as a shareholder, isn’t pocketing cash from your used car sale. All you’re doing is passing the vehicle to another driver, who might then face the same harassment. It’s a pointless cycle that changes nothing except the mood of someone who probably already shares your concerns about Musk’s recent antics. Why burn bridges with allies when the real fight lies elsewhere?

This isn’t just about bad optics; it’s about strategy. The climate crisis demands unity, not infighting. Tesla owners, by and large, aren’t the enemy—they’re the ones who put their money where their values are, choosing electric over gas to cut emissions. Many bought their cars long before Musk’s more divisive moments, back when Tesla was synonymous with green hope. Harassing them now risks pushing away people who could be marching alongside you for bolder climate policies or corporate accountability. Instead of flipping them off, why not invite them into the conversation? Focus the megaphone on Musk’s decisions or Tesla’s corporate moves, not the guy charging his Model Y who’s just trying to do his part.

The next time a crowd gathers to protest, let’s keep the aim sharp. Musk’s empire is big, but it’s not the same as the people driving his cars. Yelling at Tesla owners or trashing their property doesn’t weaken his influence—it just fractures the coalition we need to tackle bigger problems. Let’s stop the friendly fire and start building bridges. After all, the planet’s too hot for us to be fighting each other.

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