Following Elon Musk’s Nazi salute and establishment attempts to whitewash it, activists at Led By Donkeys have targeted the Musk’s Tesla Gigafactory in Berlin. “The world’s richest man”, the group warned, “is promoting the far right in Europe”.
The world’s richest man @elonmusk is promoting the far right in Europe. Don’t buy a @Tesla.
Location: Tesla Gigafactory, Berlin.
(In collaboration with @politicalbeauty) pic.twitter.com/xaacsX4Qw4— Led By Donkeys (@ByDonkeys) January 23, 2025
Musk’s efforts to mainstream the far right
Considering the way Musk has been spreading racist disinformation and backing fascists all around the world in recent months, few could be truly surprised by his Nazi salute. In Britain, for example, he’s funding the legal fight of British far-right agitator Tommy Robinson (Stephen Yaxley-Lennon). And in Germany, he’s supporting the AfD – the modern heirs of the Nazi project who are even too extreme for some other far-right parties in Europe.
Despite Musk’s support for the AfD, some groups which have previously criticised the German fascists have actively sought to defend Musk in the wake of his Nazi salute. The pro-Israel lobbyists at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), for example, has waged a battle against TikTok because it reflected the pro-Palestinian sentiment of its mostly younger users, but has shamelessly defended Musk. And this is probably because, like most other multi-billionaires, Musk supports Israel.
Led By Donkeys had previously targeted Tesla’s European HQ in Amsterdam in order to expose Musk’s dangerous behaviour:
How Musk broke Twitter and helped elect Trump
(Location: Tesla European HQ, Amsterdam) pic.twitter.com/eJG3Q8jCSW— Led By Donkeys (@ByDonkeys) November 9, 2024
Activism through art
In Britain, Led By Donkeys has shamed Keir Starmer over his genocide denialism and firm commitment to the country committing genocide (Israel) with an important message in Parliament Square:
"And once you come to this conclusion you cannot remain silent."
Location: Parliament Square, London (sound on) pic.twitter.com/rvskZgqgR3
— Led By Donkeys (@ByDonkeys) December 4, 2024
Some have called on the activists to call Starmer out further. But while the group has focused most of its efforts on exposing fascists, it has also called on Starmer’s Labour to “remember its roots and reinstate the right to peaceful protest” amid increasing state repression in the UK.
It’s time for Labour to remember its roots and reinstate the right to peaceful protest.
Thanks to @ChrisGPackham for the narration
Location: HMP Wormwood Scrubs pic.twitter.com/2PCiu8Oma1
— Led By Donkeys (@ByDonkeys) October 9, 2024
Featured image via screengrab
