Hundreds of protesters opposing the expansion of a Tesla plant in Grünheide, near Berlin, clashed with police on Friday as some attempted to storm the electric vehicle manufacturing facility.
Opposition to Tesla's Gigafactory
The organizing group Disrupt Tesla reported that around 800 people participated in the protest, which alleges that the expansion would harm the environment. Tesla has faced significant criticism since opening the factory in March 2022 and subsequently announcing plans to expand into a nearby forest to boost production capacity.
To facilitate expansion, Tesla purportedly planned to clear 250 acres of forest near a nature preserve to construct a freight rail depot and storage facility. The company asserts the project will reduce dependence on external suppliers and mitigate delays in part production.
Despite locals voting against the proposed expansion in February in a nonbinding vote, Tesla and local officials opted to proceed with the plan. Since then, demonstrators have been stationed in an encampment nearby in protest. The facility was closed in March for a week due to suspected arson, which turned off its power. A different protest group, known as the Volcano Group, claimed responsibility for the fire, advocating for the complete destruction of the gigafactory.
Disrupt Tesla's Environmental Protest
A group of activists attempted to trespass on Tesla's property. At the same time, sit-in blockades disrupted vehicle road access, leading to scuffles between police and protesters, with some demonstrators attempting to escape the situation.
In a video depicted by Reuters, dozens of individuals wearing blue caps and masks emerged from a nearby wooded area. They tried to breach the company's premises, with police intervening through force. At least one protester was detained.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk questioned on his social media platform X on why the police were lenient to let the left-wing protestors off easily, noting that they failed to breach the premises.
The video also depicted medical personnel assisting injured individuals. Disrupt Tesla spokesperson Ole Becker informed Reuters that they were there to raise awareness about the environmental damage caused by the Tesla factory in Grunheide. The group also aims to bring attention to environmental devastation in countries such as Argentina or Bolivia caused by lithium mining, emphasizing that lithium is a crucial resource for electric vehicle batteries.
Brandenburg police spokesperson Mario Heinemann emphasized that while they respect the freedom of assembly, they also prioritize maintaining public order and safety and, therefore, would intervene when necessary.
Heinemann confirmed that the protesters attempted to enter the plant's premises but were stopped, resulting in several individuals being taken into custody and reportedly receiving reports of few injuries and that some demonstrators had damaged a few Tesla cars using pyrotechnics and paint at a nearby car storage site.
Earlier this week, Tesla said it would shut the factory for one day on Friday without specifying a reason.
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