Activists rally outside Tesla's German factory in protest

As part of the Disrupt Tesla Action Days, a coalition of anti-capitalist groups organized a protest outside Tesla's factory near Berlin on Friday. According to the group, as many as 800 activists gathered on the site to voice their opposition to the company's expansion plans. During the protest, some activists clashed with police as they tried to break into the plant.

According to Reuters, a few protesters tried to enter the factory. One protester was taken into custody, as reported by Reuters.

Ole Becker, who is a spokesperson for Disrupt, shared with CNN: “Activists had a successful day. Unfortunately, there was a lot of police violence,” he mentioned. “I witnessed many individuals getting hurt... Today, I witnessed things that I haven't seen in a long time.”

Tesla's factory in Grünheide, Brandenburg seen in April 2024.

Tesla's factory in Grünheide, Brandenburg seen in April 2024.

Patrick Pleul/picture alliance/Getty Images

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Tesla has instructed its factory workers in Germany to stay home amidst looming protests. Neither Tesla nor the police in the state of Brandenburg, where the plant is located, have responded to a CNN request for comment.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, mentioned in a post on X Friday that the protesters were unable to breach the fence line surrounding the factory. He also noted that there are still two intact fence lines protecting the perimeter of the factory.

Disrupt, a group opposing Elon Musk's proposal to increase the production capacity of Tesla's only European factory by more than double, argues that this expansion would have a negative impact on the local environment.

The group is concerned that the expansion project will involve clearing large areas of the nearby forest and putting additional pressure on the local water supply. They have organized four days of protests, beginning on Wednesday.

Police officers stand in front of activists protesting against the expansion of the Tesla factory near Berlin, Germany on May 10, 2024.

Police officers stand in front of activists protesting against the expansion of the Tesla factory near Berlin, Germany on May 10, 2024.

Christian Mang/Reuters

Tesla decided to close the factory on Friday to all employees due to the expected protests against the planned expansion.

It was reported by CNN affiliate RTL earlier this week that the plant's production lines would be stopped this Friday as announced back in January, according to a Tesla spokesperson. However, in light of the upcoming protests, the electric vehicle maker has made the decision for all other workers at the factory to also stay at home, as per RTL.

In early March, Tesla had to shut down its plant for a week due to a fire at a high-voltage electricity pylon that supplied power to the factory. The incident was caused by a group of far-left activists who claimed responsibility for the arson attack.

A police officer tries to push back protesters running toward the Tesla factory near Berlin on May 10, 2024.

A police officer tries to push back protesters running toward the Tesla factory near Berlin on May 10, 2024.

Christian Mang/Reuters

Police in Brandenburg have announced that they are ready for "extensive" operations, with support from federal police and other state police forces.

In a statement, they mentioned that there may be disruptive protests and criminal activities during the gathering. They assured that the police are prepared for both peaceful and non-peaceful situations, and will take firm action if any crimes occur.

Editor's P/S:

The protests against Tesla's expansion plans highlight the growing tension between industry and environmental concerns. Activists argue that the expansion will harm the local environment, while Tesla maintains that it will create jobs and boost the economy. The clash between protesters and police during the demonstration underscores the need for dialogue and compromise between these opposing interests.