Vancouver police to deploy dozens of extra officers for Tesla protests

Vancouver police say they are deploying dozens of additional officers ahead of more "Tesla Takedown" protests expected this weekend.

The Vancouver Police Department says it will deploy dozens of additional officers to protect Tesla properties in anticipation of the third straight weekend of protests targeting the U.S. auto manufacturer.

A statement from the department says the extra officers will be deployed to maintain order and protect property in response to what it described as a dramatic increase in crimes targeting Tesla products and properties.

Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk, who is also a senior advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, have drawn the ire of many Canadians after the U.S. imposed broad tariffs on Canadian goods crossing the border.

“While everyone is entitled to express themselves lawfully and peacefully, nobody has the right to use violence, damage property, or intimidate others,” Vancouver police spokesperson Const. Tania Visintin said in the statement Friday.

“There are a number of protests planned this weekend against Tesla, and we’re deploying a heavy police presence to make sure these protests remain lawful,” Visintin added.

One such protest is expected at a Tesla dealership in the city’s Kitsilano neighbourhood on Saturday, while another is planned for a public park adjacent to the site of a future Tesla dealership currently under construction in East Vancouver.

In a statement Friday, organizers of the #TeslaTakedown protests decried a social media post by Musk ridiculing Canada as “not a real country,” with the organizers saying that Canada’s “very sovereignty is on the line” due to the threats of annexation by the U.S. government.

Vancouver police say they are investigating 28 incidents that “appear politically motivated and in opposition to the Tesla CEO’s affiliation with the United States government” since Jan. 20, when Trump was inaugurated.

Nineteen of those reported incidents targeted Tesla dealerships and charging stations, according to police.

“They include hateful words and symbols spray-painted on buildings, eggs thrown at cars, and windshields smashed,” the statement said. “By comparison, there were no reports of mischiefs to Tesla dealerships or charging stations at all in 2024.”

The department went on to say its investigators have linked nine reports of mischief targeting personal Tesla vehicles with opposition to U.S. government policy. “These incidents include rocks and liquid being thrown at cars, wipers being damaged, and racist symbols being written on vehicles,” according to police.

The department says the planned protests are among more than a dozen demonstrations and other special events expected to draw large crowds in Vancouver over the weekend. More than 130 additional officers will be on the streets to police the events, the department said.

“We understand many people are distressed by world events and are looking for ways to vent their frustration, but damaging private property is not the answer,” the Vancouver police spokesperson added.

“We encourage people to express themselves peacefully, lawfully, and with respect for others. Anyone who breaks the law will face arrest and charges.”