Protesters rallied against Elon Musk's Tesla and his role in government at several Tesla locations, reflecting a growing movement that has been simmering for months. According to Click2Houston, demonstrations took place in the Houston area, where participants voiced their concerns over Tesla’s operations and Musk's involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Protesters like Janette Sexton worry about the impact on essential programs such as Social Security, which Musk has criticized. "I’m 75 years old, and I’m on Social Security. I’m very concerned that this man says Social Security is a Ponzi scheme," Sexton told Click2Houston.
Alongside the local gatherings, the initiative, dubbed "Tesla Takedown," attempted to surround all 277 Tesla showrooms and service centers across the U.S. CBS News reported crowds varying in size across various states with protesters carrying signs with phrases like "Honk if you hate Elon" and "Fight the billionaire broligarchy." The movement has aimed to directly engage Tesla's business by encouraging owners to trade in their vehicles and has apparently begun to significantly impact trade-in numbers.
This broad displeasure comes in the wake of Musk's actions at DOGE, where he has reportedly gained access to sensitive data and initiated the closure of agencies to slash government spending. A manager at a Houston-area Tesla dealership underscored the peaceful nature of the protests, affirming, "We are strictly peaceful and non-violent. All we were doing was exercising our 1st Amendment rights," according to comments made to Click2Houston.
While most demonstrations have remained peaceful, some individuals have taken to more extreme measures, with vandalism at Tesla dealerships across the U.S. and a fire that destroyed seven Tesla vehicles in Germany. Tesla Takedown supporters have been quick to stress the importance for protests to maintain their peaceful nature. Despite incidents of violence, Musk conveyed an optimistic outlook during a company meeting on March 20, expecting the Model Y to be "the best-selling car on Earth again this year," and anticipated the company selling more than 10 million cars by next year, as CBS News outlined.
The backlash against Musk has turned into a pressing concern for Tesla's public image and stock value. As the protests continue, the long-term effects on Tesla's market and Musk's governmental role yet remain to unfold. Protest organizers assert their intention to maintain the pressure, with the goal of removing Musk from his government position. "We will continue until Musk is out of government," they declared to Click2Houston, hinting at the enduring nature of the discontent and the likelihood of more protests on the horizon.
