In Brooklyn, New York, a Jewish Tesla Cybertruck owner, Avi Ben Hamo, confronted Michael Lewis, a fellow Jew and anti-Elon Musk activist, after witnessing Lewis draw a swastika on his vehicle.
The incident occurred on Washington Avenue in Prospect Heights, where Ben Hamo observed Lewis double-park his Subaru, exit, and trace the offensive symbol onto the driver’s side door of the Cybertruck.
Ben Hamo, shocked and angered, blocked Lewis’s attempted escape and questioned his actions. Lewis abandoned his vehicle and fled but returned 90 minutes later to retrieve it, only to be arrested by police officers present at the scene.
Lewis’s attorney, Mark Luccarelli, stated that no damage was done to the vehicle, as the symbol was traced in dust, and that Lewis deeply regretted his actions, attributing them to personal issues. Despite being charged with aggravated harassment, no further legal action was pursued.
Lewis’ attorney stated, “”Our client, who is also Jewish, deeply regrets touching the other man’s car and using a hate symbol in the message. He was dealing with a host of personal issues at the time and the action was out of character. As to the criminal case, he was released from custody without any charges because no damage was done to the vehicle and no crime was committed.”
This incident is part of a broader trend of attacks against Tesla vehicles and their owners, linked to disdain for CEO Elon Musk’s involvement with President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Recent acts include vandalism of Tesla dealerships and charging stations, highlighting escalating tensions surrounding Musk’s political affiliations.
