Activists Protest Elon Musk with Controversial Projection at Tesla Factory in Germany

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A provocative protest took place on January 23, 2025, outside the Tesla Gigafactory in Grunheide, near Berlin, where activists projected an image of CEO Elon Musk making a Nazi-style salute, accompanied by the word "Heil." The protest was organized by the German group Center for Political Beauty and the British activist group Led by Donkeys. This demonstration aimed to draw attention to Musk's controversial support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and the implications of his gestures during a political climate marked by elections in Germany.

Musk's gesture, compared to a Hitler salute by his critics, came on the same day as the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump. During the protest, images were shared showing "Heil Tesla" projected in the font of Tesla's logo, evoking the Nazi greeting associated with Adolf Hitler. Musk has dismissed the comparisons as "dirty tricks" and “propaganda,” while escalating tensions with German political leaders through his criticisms on social media.

The protest follows a trend of activism against the Tesla factory, which has faced environmental protests in the past. Despite the AfD's rise in polls ahead of the February 23 election, other German parties are unwilling to form a coalition with them due to their far-right affiliations, as designated by domestic intelligence.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz highlighted the importance of free speech in Germany but condemned any support for extreme right positions, reflecting the sensitive nature of the ongoing political discourse within the country.

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