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Topics: Tesla, Technology, Elon Musk
Emma Rosemurgey
Topics: Tesla, Technology, Elon Musk
Elon Musk has officially opened the doors to his retrofuturistic Tesla Diner in Los Angeles, and the protestors are coming.
The diner, which features food served in Cybertruck-shaped containers and Optimus robots serving popcorn, welcomed visitors for the first time on 21 July, but anti-Musk campaigners are already planning to take action against the establishment.
A group, which call themselves the Tesla Takedown movement, are planning a demonstration outside the new diner on 26 July according to details on the Action Network website.
Action against the richest man in the world gathered pace in February of this year during his time working within the Trump administration.
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Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) slashed more than 280,000 jobs, as well as dismantling USAID which halted life-saving programmes in Haiti, South Africa and other parts of the world.
The Action Network website reads: “Elon Musk wants to celebrate his reign of terror in OUR CITY, Occupied Los Angeles, with a cheesy Tesla-branded diner exclusively for his legion of conmen stock-pumpers and MLM influencer tryhards? WE SAY HELL NO.”
The group accuse Musk of 'aiding and abetting the effective dismantling of American democracy,' and 'unilaterally killing hundreds of thousands of US-allied innocents around the world.'
They also called out road accidents involving Teslas in which full self-driving mode was engaged.
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For his part, Musk has told Automotive News: "If something goes wrong with Autopilot, it's because someone is misusing it and using it directly contrary to how we've said it should be used."
Musk is also accused of 'stoking hate against vulnerable groups and boosting conspiracy theories on his right wing extremist propaganda site.'
Since his time in DOGE, protestors have targeted Tesla, picketing outside showrooms and even going as far as damaging Tesla vehicles with anti-Musk slogans.
One organiser of the Tesla Diner protest told The Verge he's expecting people to turn up in large numbers, insisting the tech mogul is not popular in West Hollywood.
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"It’s in West Hollywood. I think it’s safe to say that Elon Musk is not a popular figure in West Hollywood. So I don’t think it’s going to be hard to protest it," Joel Lava told the publication.
"We've already built a community, people will show up."
He continued: "I think our simple message is Tesla funds fascism. You’re going into this cafe, and you’re giving a $300 billion man your own money to help destroy the fabric of our country.
"That’s why we don’t want you buying Tesla. And that’s why you shouldn’t go into this cafe."
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Despite the group's complaints, Tesla fans turned up in their droves to visit the venue on its opening night.