Suspended on Bluesky for OPPOSING Terrorism
Peter Coffin, co-director of the Center for Political Innovation (CPI), was recently suspended from Bluesky after criticizing the wave of vandalism targeting Tesla vehicles across the United States. The incident highlights CPI’s concerns about violence as a political tool and raises questions about free speech in an era where profit-driven platforms often prioritize control over open dialogue.
This year, Teslas and Cybertrucks have been attacked in multiple cities—from Molotov cocktails setting vehicles ablaze in Las Vegas to gunfire at a dealership in Oregon. Mainstream media, across the political spectrum, has used these incidents to stoke fear and division, while the state has leveraged them to justify crackdowns on dissent. For example, the FBI recently launched a task force to address the Tesla attacks, a move that could easily extend to broader suppression of dissident thought (CNN, March 25, 2025).
In a recent YouTube video, Coffin argued that such terroristic violence is counterproductive, failing to impact Tesla or its stock (which, although it has dropped, is in line with market trends) while fostering division, fear, and the potential for state overreach.
Coffin shared this perspective on Bluesky, posting the video alongside a statement to the effect of “blowing up Teslas doesn’t accomplish anything.” Shortly after, Coffin was suspended, with Bluesky citing “impersonation” and “misleading information” as reasons—despite Coffin violating no platform rules. The suspension followed hostile user responses, including reported death wishes directed at him.
This critique aligns with CPI’s and draws on historical parallels to the Years of Lead, a period of orchestrated chaos in Italy meant to stoke division, fear, and to justify the suppression of dissent. This concept is explored in depth by CPI co-director Caleb Maupin in his book, The Danger of an American Years of Lead, which warns of a similar risk in the U.S., where violence and unrest can be exploited to stifle political movements and justify authoritarian measures.
Both Coffin and Maupin argue that such chaos—whether physical violence or online suppression—divides people and undermines the working-class power needed for systemic change. Readers can explore these ideas further in Coffin’s video or Maupin’s book. Bluesky markets itself as a platform for open dialogue, but Coffin’s suspension calls into question its ability to support genuine debate in a polarized online environment. This episode underscores the need to reject violence and suppression in favor of building meaningful political movements.
