TESLA Takedown
How a protest in Innisfil became part of the global fight for democracy
"The revolution starts now when you rise above your fear. In your own hometown. In your own backyard. What are you doing just standing around?" – Steve Earle
A protest is scheduled at a Tesla dealership this Saturday morning in Woodbridge, Ontario. If you are familiar with the massive suburban belt around Toronto, you know that protests aren't the kind of thing that happens in Woodbridge.
But that was before Trump and Musk.
Thanks to the abusive rhetoric coming from Washington, Canadians are taking unprecedented public action because they are not about to let our country be taken over by fascism.
Tesla protests are happening everywhere. People are holding community town halls and Elbows Up rallies. There are protests outside the American consulates.
In a recent radio news broadcast on the protest at the Consulate in Toronto, I was identified as the Canadian organizer of the Elbows Up rallies.
As if.
This movement is not being led by any kind of central organization. This is ordinary people stepping up. Every day Canadians who aren't waiting for politicians.
The Woodbridge Rally
Natasha Weese contacted me to explain how she transformed into an activist for Canada. Like so many Canadians, she is upset with threats being made against our country. And she is disgusted by the hateful boasting of Elon Musk.
Unsure of what else to do, she decided to see if her neighbours in the town of Barrie would be willing to come together in a show of solidarity. The plan was to hold a protest outside the local Tesla dealership in Innisfil. Natasha had no idea what to expect. When the day of the protest arrived, people just showed up—people she didn't even know.
Two men in Teslas drove up.
At first, Natasha worried that there would be a confrontation. But the men politely asked if they could join her. They had purchased their vehicles before Musk had taken his turn down the dark road of fascist salutes.
They wanted to do their part.
Natasha was invigorated by the sense of solidarity. A small resistance chapter was born. Now, this resistance cell is moving on to Woodbridge to help build more teams.
I am hearing stories like this every day.
Like the woman who told me she was so frightened by the doom-scrolling that she decided to knock on her neighbours' doors to see if anyone else felt the urge to do something. She was timid at first but was astounded by the incredible welcome and relief she found in her neighbourhood.
Canada, Wide Awake
We are living with a level of anxiety we never expected. But it is important to take a moment and recognize that something incredible is happening in our country, to be celebrated and marveled over.
In no way do I want to downplay the immense risk that our democracy faces, but I would much rather face the threat of Trump with a determined and inspired nation than be in the position that we were in before.
Coming out of COVID, we were isolated, unsure, and disconnected. The MAGA Maple crowd were beating the relentless drum that Canada was broken. They played on the politics of cynicism and snark.
Conspiracy and rage haters were swamping public conversation. And it seemed as if Canadians were stumbling down the same MAGA rage road that has swamped our cousins south of the border.
Then came the disastrous election of November 5. We were more disoriented than ever. It was a dark time.
But when Trump turned his threats to Canada, something happened.
The spirit of resistance began to sprout across the country, not in any organized fashion, but out of a wellspring of profound feelings of collective indignation. There was simply no way Canadians were going to be pushed around by the convicted felon from Mar-a-Lago.
This is how the resistance began to grow.
Canadians went from political somnambulism to being fully wide awake.
Let's not waste this incredible opportunity to reshape the future.
If you feel unsure or concerned that no voices are leading the way around you, your voice needs to fill the void. You don't have to have a loud voice; you just need to speak up. Others are waiting to hear from you.
And all over the world, resistance to the Trump/Musk fascist vision is taking form.
Trump is threatening Americans who protest at Tesla plants with hints of 20-year jail sentences and deportation to prison camps in El Salvador.
Let me repeat that: the president of the United States is threatening to deport Americans to foreign prison camps for protesting a car company.
Yet, American citizens are stepping up and continuing the protests.
We can do our part on this side of the border because we are still a free and democratic nation. Let's drive down Tesla and send a message that we will never go along with fascism.
Canadians Against Musk Rally
Tesla Dealership, 2 Chrislea Road, Woodbridge, ON
Saturday, March 29, at 11 AM
Keep kicking at the darkness until it bleeds daylight.
Thank you, Canadians, from Northwest Arkansas, one of the reddest of the red states.
Elbows up.
Love my country (USA) and Canada, having grown up in Detroit and accomplished many trips to Windsor for Canadian beer while in college. Drove to bridge or tunnel and answered the question where were you born, no passport etc. and that was it, each way.
Now, look at the Signal issue. We have valueless and pathological liars in leadership. The world should be protesting. Thank you Canada, taking down Elon is actionable.
Hopefully the 60 - 70 percent of rational Americans can gain some semblance of control as the actions of leadership exceed what I could have ever imagined.