Following a string of allegedly violated assembly rules, German police on Tuesday started emptying a protest camp next to Tesla's (TSLA, Financial) Gigafactory in Grueneheide, on Berlin's outskirts. A police spokesman said authorities cited a lack of security and opposition to law enforcement as justification for the operation.
Organized by the group Disrupt Tesla, the demonstrators objected to the intention of the EV manufacturer to quadruple the size of the plant. They contend that the growth would damage the surroundings, especially with reference to nearby woods and water supplies.
Accusing Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk of causing environmental damage, the organization called for widespread rallies against the company's policies on Monday. It has not yet spoken on the police's actions to demolish the site. With around 12,000 employees at its single European manufacturing location, Grueneheide, Tesla has not answered inquiries for comments.
The demonstration is the most recent in a string of activities aimed at the factory. Activists collided with police in May trying to storm the building. Previous disturbances have included squatting on railway rails to stop service in the area and blocking surrounding roadways. With growing environmental scrutiny in Germany, Tesla's suggested development fits perfectly.
