In a notable incident of civil disobedience, a man in his 40s was filmed vandalising a Polestar electric vehicle in Bristol on Monday, February 24. The altercation took place on Kings Square Avenue, close to Stokes Croft, where the individual wielded a large pole to smash the car's windows. The vehicle, valued at £44,950, is a product of Polestar, a subsidiary of Volvo Car Group and Geely, which competes with Tesla, the company owned by billionaire Elon Musk.
Prior to the incident, witnesses noted that the man was seen holding a homemade sign that expressed his grievance against Musk and his corporate practices. The sign contained a range of messages, including a demand for Musk to “pay for all that demolition and seven a trillion dollars for foundation wielka orkiestra świątecznej pomocy.” It also included statements against what the protestor described as "nazis hejt [hate] and symbols," and urged for the name and symbol of Tesla to be changed to “Renew Europ 2025.” Notably, it featured a reference to the Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy (WOSP), a Polish charity dedicated to raising funds for children and elderly care, infusing the protest with significant cultural context.
The incident, which sent shockwaves through the community, was initially mistaken by a local resident for fireworks. This source, who contacted the police, stated, “When you’re trying to go to sleep on a Monday evening, the last thing you expect to hear is a bloke smashing up a car." The vandal was apprehended shortly after police arrived on the scene and was taken into custody on charges including criminal damage, arson, and possession of an offensive weapon. However, he has since been released under investigation.
A video capturing the event shows the protestor aggressively targeting the car, using the pole before laying the sign next to the damage he incited. Following the incident, Avon and Somerset Police have appealed for further witnesses to come forward to assist with their enquiries. The circumstances surrounding the event highlight a mix of public outrage, misdirected grievances, and the complexities of civil protests in urban settings.
Source: Noah Wire Services