As protests continue to erupt in opposition to U.S. president Donald Trump and figures close to the Trump administration like Elon Musk, a sociology professor at the University of British Columbia wonders if the traditional effect of mass protest will have the intended effect upon their targets. 

Dr. David Tindall is concerned Trump may in fact welcome protest, especially if it descends into vandalism or property damage. 

“These types of events could be used as an excuse for just a major crackdown,” Tindall said. “This might lead to the Trump administration to do something pretty dramatic, such as to declare state of emergency.” 

The effect of movements like Tesla Takedown upon Musk, Tindall offered, may also be difficult to predict. 

“Musk has already done a lot of things that are really against his economic self-interest, so in a certain sense to me, he seems to be kind of somewhat of an irrational actor, 

“It's not entirely clear how things like boycotts and protests would affect his decision making. 

“But on the other hand, if enough people just decide simply to not buy Tesla [vehicles] again,” Tindall speculated, “maybe that leads to the company going bankrupt.” 

Many people at the Tesla Takedown protest on March 22 at the dealership along Langley Bypass shared a similar sentiment, including organizer Pat McCutcheon. 

“What it boils down to is, Elon Musk derives a lot of his power from his wealth, so if we can collapse his wealth by drying up his Tesla sales, he’ll back off.” McCutcheon said. 

“People like Elon Musk are doing everything they can to collapse democracy. It’s not just a threat anymore, it’s a reality. You look at what they’re doing down in the U.S., 

“This is all about protecting democracy,” said McCutcheon. 

This episode was recorded and produced on March 27 while Dr. Tindall was interviewed on March 25.

(00:00) - introduction

(02:00) - Dr. David Tindall interview

(38:46) - Tesla Takedown Protest in Langley