A disturbing incident unfolded in New York City as 46-year-old therapist Natasha Cohen was caught on surveillance footage vandalizing a Tesla Cybertruck. Cohen, who has over two decades of experience in private practice, was apprehended after she placed a brick adorned with a swastika and the word "Nazi" onto the vehicle's windshield. Prosecutors have since charged her with a hate crime, yet she was released without bail pending her trial.
The act took place in a climate of increasing attacks on Tesla vehicles, which have gained notoriety since Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter. Cohen's rationale for her actions was peculiar and deeply personal; she blamed the Tesla CEO, stating, "Every time I see those cars, I see Elon Musk saluting the country as a Nazi." Her fear seems to stem from an overarching concern that the United States is sliding towards fascism, as she expressed, "I made a mistake because I’m basically living in terror every day that the country is turning into Nazi Germany."
Cohen's fear-driven actions reflect a broader anxiety among some individuals concerning the country's direction. "I’m truly terrified, because Elon was unelected and they’re deporting migrants without a trial," she claimed during her arrest. Despite her professional background in therapy, Cohen's social media presence reveals a staunch opposition to former President Donald Trump and conservative values. Her posts include a memorial candle lit after Trump's election victory and a snide remark about Presidents Day.
This incident is not isolated. Earlier this month, Kansas resident Johnathan F. Erhart faced charges for causing $17,000 worth of damage to a Tesla belonging to a family with a disabled daughter. In Florida, Yamaris Marrero was also arrested for felony vandalism after damaging a Tesla with chewing gum. These events underscore the targeting of Teslas, seemingly as proxies for dissent against Musk and what he represents to some critics.
Cohen's arrest raises important questions about the intersection of political beliefs, mental health, and criminal behavior. Her involvement in criminal justice reform and maternal mental health, contrasted with her recent vandalism, presents a complex picture of an individual acting out against perceived authoritarian symbols.
