‘You need to sell your car. This is a Nazi car’.

In an alarming episode of intolerance and ideological bigotry, a woman named Lee was attacked by a stranger in Lynnwood, Washington, simply because of the car she was driving. Lee, who was on her way to a doctor's appointment, reported that a white SUV followed her, cut her off and stopped in the middle of the road, blocking her path.

The assailant, a man dressed in a camouflage jacket and ski mask, approached her vehicle and began to berate her. When Lee, puzzled, rolled down her window slightly to ask what was going on, the man snapped at her: ‘You need to sell your car. This is a Nazi car you're driving.’

Lee has driven a Tesla for the past two years without incident, but she never imagined that her choice of vehicle would make her the target of an ideological attack. ‘It's really sad. This is what's happening to people. Honestly, it doesn't affect how I believe or what I believe; it's just the car I drive,’ the victim said.

This event reflects a growing climate of intolerance in which the radical left, self-proclaimed champions of tolerance and diversity, do not hesitate to resort to aggression to impose their worldview. It is ironic that those who constantly accuse their political opponents of ‘fascism’ and ‘authoritarianism’ are the first to resort to bullying tactics to censor and punish those who do not align with their ideology.

Tesla, a US company at the forefront of automotive technology, has been targeted by the left because of its CEO, Elon Musk, who has become an influential figure for his stance in favour of free speech and his rejection of progressive censorship. In this context, it is not surprising that extremists see Tesla vehicles as a symbol of dissent that should be punished.

Such incidents should alarm all Americans, regardless of their political affiliation. Bigotry and violence cannot be justified under any circumstances, and it is essential to defend freedom of choice without fear of reprisal. If someone can be attacked in the middle of a public street because of the make of their car, what next?

The attack on Lee is not only a reminder of the growing radicalisation of certain sectors of society, but also of the urgent need to restore respect for diversity of thought and personal choice. This is not just about a Tesla; it is about the right of every citizen to live without fear of being attacked for their choices. And in a society that is supposed to be free, that should be unacceptable to everyone.