Protest Against 'Fascist' Elon Musk Sparks in Belfast
A protest at a car dealership in Belfast this weekend aims to 'hit' the Tesla owner and world's richest man Elon Musk 'where it hurts', a Northern Ireland political group has said. The protest has been organized by the group Progressive Politics NI who describe themselves as 'a group dedicated to changing Northern Ireland for the better, seeking an end to establishment and sectarian politics, working towards a more inclusive, forward-thinking NI, and fighting for equality, social justice, human rights, transparency, and a fair quality of life for all'.
Progressive Politics NI's Call to Action
The group, in a statement, said the Belfast demonstration will take place 'alongside hundreds of similar demonstrations across the world as a part of the 'Tesla Takedown', organized against Elon Musk, with a similar demonstration set to take place in Dublin (not organized by PPNI).'
Opposition to Elon Musk
Tesla owner Elon Musk has attracted a wave of opposition across Europe after becoming closely aligned with US President Donald Trump, and appearing to make a fascist salute at a political event in Washington. A spokesperson for Progressive Politics NI said: 'PPNI is asking all interested individuals and parties to attend and stand in solidarity against the Fascism and Capitalism Elon Musk perpetuates.' The protest is due to take place at noon on Saturday.
Rally Against Billionaire Influence
Organizer George McElhinney said: 'This demonstration has been called due to Elon Musk's recent outsized influence on politics, billionaires should not have the power to buy presidents, unilaterally enact massive job cuts and austerity, all while causing international incidents with tweets all day.' He continued: 'We want to see a world where billionaires don't control the levers of power, whether that's Elon, Trump, Bezos, or any of them, capitalism and the state have always gone hand in hand, defending each other to the last, and there's no better proof of this than the despicable fascist policies Elon, Trump, and their cronies have been enacting.'
Taking a Stand
The protest organizer added: 'Fascists like Musk will tell you that demonstrating against them only gives them more attention, but this isn't primary school, you can't beat a bully by ignoring them, and you can't beat fascism the same way, it's vital that we hit these people where it hurts, their wallets, and in Musk's case, his fragile ego.'