Protesters Rally Against Musk at Belfast A group of protesters gathered outside the Tesla dealership on Boucher Road in Belfast on Saturday, braving heavy rain to voice their opposition to the company’s owner, Elon Musk.
Organised by Progressive Politics NI, the demonstration was part of a wider UK-wide campaign known as the Tesla Takedown, with similar protests taking place in London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol, and Glasgow.
The organisers accused Musk of fuelling the climate crisis, attacking trans rights, and undermining workers’ protections. Participants held placards criticising him and his influence, with some signs likening his actions to far-right ideologies.
Across multiple demonstrations, protesters used imagery referencing Nazi symbols, further intensifying the controversy.
The protest followed an incident two weeks earlier when 20 Tesla vehicles at the same dealership were vandalised, with wing mirrors broken and windows smashed. However, police have confirmed that the attack was unrelated to Saturday’s demonstration.
Elon Musk has denied any ties to extremist movements and dismissed claims that he supports far-right ideologies.
Images of him making a gesture similar to the Nazi salute at a Trump rally have circulated widely, adding to the criticism. Addressing the accusations on X, he stated that claims comparing him to Hitler were exaggerated and baseless.
Despite the backlash, Tesla remains a dominant player in the electric vehicle market. However, its connection to Musk has led to increasing scrutiny and protests worldwide.
