The Activists Who Occupied Tesla Store Saw Travel Ban Overturned By Court

The occupation of a Tesla Store in Milan’s Piazza Gae Aulenti by Extinction Rebellion activists on 7 March 2025 has led to legal consequences being partially overturned after a travel ban was declared unlawful.

The action involved dozens of activists entering and occupying the Tesla Store as part of a protest aimed at highlighting the role of billionaires in the climate crisis, increasing social inequalities, and Elon Musk’s influence in the international rise of far right political movements.

Following the incident, authorities recorded 22 people for participation in an unnotified demonstration. Ten participants were also accused of private violence linked to the protest.

In the weeks after the occupation, seven activists were issued preventive travel bans under Italy’s anti mafia legislation, which allows authorities to restrict movement of individuals considered socially dangerous and lacking significant ties to a municipality.

One of these measures targeted an activist with strong personal and family connections to Milan, despite living in a nearby town. The order described the person as having a persistent tendency to disturb public order and safety, although their role in the protest was reported as limited to distributing drinks and snacks.

Lower courts initially rejected requests to suspend the measure and referenced unrelated vandalism against Tesla vehicles occurring around the same period.

The Council of State later annulled the travel ban, ruling it violated proportionality, lacked concrete evidence of social dangerousness, and restricted freedom of movement. The court also ordered the Interior Ministry to pay legal costs.