Protesters Rally in Fremont Against Elon Musk’s Tesla Operations

Protesters gathered in Fremont to voice concerns over Elon Musk’s political roles and Tesla’s operations in Congo. Issues cited include accusations of child labor in cobalt mining and Musk’s commitment to address these concerns through audits. The protest reportedly halted production at Tesla’s factory.

On Saturday, a group of approximately 75 protesters gathered outside Tesla’s manufacturing plant in Fremont, California, expressing their discontent with billionaire Elon Musk’s political activities and Tesla’s operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The protesters’ demonstration drew a substantial police presence, resulting in some road closures in the area. Concerns among the group extended beyond Musk’s recent job cuts linked to his role in the Department of Government Efficiency.

Chris Christensen, one of the demonstrators, voiced strong criticism regarding Tesla’s procurement practices, particularly their sourcing of coltan in regions like Congo and Sudan for electric vehicle production. “The way that organization is going into Congo and Sudan to procure coltan and produce these cars,” he remarked, highlighting the ethical issues surrounding Tesla’s supply chain.

Child labor accusations have surfaced against Tesla over cobalt mining, a critical component used in lithium-ion batteries. In response to these allegations, Musk made a commitment earlier this year during a shareholders meeting to ensure that the company’s suppliers would no longer engage in child or forced labor practices in the DRC. Musk stated, “We will do a third-party audit,” and suggested implementing a webcam at the mines to monitor conditions.

Legal challenges have also affected Tesla; a 2024 federal appeals court dismissed a case accusing Tesla and four other major tech companies—Alphabet, Apple, Dell Technologies, and Microsoft—of indirectly supporting child labor in cobalt mining. The lawsuit highlighted the plight of children who were allegedly coerced into working under dire conditions of hunger and poverty.

Protesters claimed their actions on Saturday effectively halted production at the Fremont factory. Among the demonstrators, Nick urged consumers to take action, saying, “On a consumer level, boycott Tesla. Stop giving them money.” As of Saturday, Tesla had not responded to requests for comments from NBC Bay Area regarding the protest.

In summary, the protest in Fremont highlighted growing frustrations with Elon Musk’s political involvement and Tesla’s controversial operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Demonstrators condemned the ethical implications of cobalt sourcing, particularly the accusations of child labor. While Musk has made commitments towards transparency and accountability, dissenting voices remain adamant that consumer action, such as boycotting, might be necessary to drive change.

Original Source: www.nbcbayarea.com