Idaho man hit pro-Tesla protester with his car
Protests outside Tesla dealerships intensified last weekend, and in one case things got violent. A 70-year-old man from Idaho hit a pro-Tesla counter-protester with his car in front of a dealership. Reports described the victim’s injuries as non-life-threatening.
What was the “Tesla Takedown” protest?
Protesters have set up outside many Tesla dealerships. Some protesters object to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s political involvement (he’s donated nearly $300 million to President Trump’s campaign). Others are protesting his government downsizing push in his presidential advisory role in the new Department of Government Efficiency. During the final Saturday in March, groups organized a “Tesla Takedown” which was a serious of simultaneous protests across the country.
Meridian, Idaho is a 100k person city near the Oregon border. Thirty protesters showed up at its Tesla dealership on March 29th. Over 200 counter-protesters arrived to support Elon Musk and/or the Trump Administration.
A 49-year-old man arrived for the counter-protest. Meridian Police said, “Reports indicate the victim had been driving a truck with pro-Trump flags and had just parked and exited his vehicle.”
Meanwhile, 70-year-old Christopher Talbot was driving by. He “made an obscene gesture” at the counter-protester. Then, ” Talbot struck him with his car.”
Talbot drove away. The crash injured the victim, but he was able to drive himself to the hospital. He called the police to report the hit-and-run and gave them Talbot’s license plate number. Police arrested Talbot at his home and charged him with felony aggravated battery.
Why did Talbot hit a counter-protester?
The Meridian Police Department did not share any motive in its release. Talbot could have been acting out of road rage, or had some other history with the man he hit. Or, his crime could have been politically motivated. Sadly, that wouldn’t be unprecedented.
Tesla protests have devolved into violence before. On March 22nd, a man in Tampa Bay drove his car through a crowd of protesters outside a Tesla dealership. All the protesters were able to get out of his way and no one was hurt.
The Meridian Police Department said this in its release: “The Meridian Police Department reminds people to respect everyone’s right to protest and express their 1st Amendment Rights without resorting to violence.” See the latest coverage of this crime in the video embedded below:
