Tesla Takedown’s Day of Action Targets Musk’s Influence, With Demonstrations Across the US and Worldwide
On Saturday, thousands of protesters are expected to take to the streets in front of Tesla showrooms across the globe, marking the largest demonstration in the Tesla Takedown movement. Organisers have dubbed the event “Tesla Takedown’s Global Day of Action,” a coordinated protest spanning over 200 locations, including nearly 50 in California alone. These protests aim to criticise Elon Musk’s influence over the federal government and his corporate practices.
Vickie Mueller Olvera, a key organiser in the Bay Area, has been vocal about the movement’s goals. “We’re protesting Musk’s control over public services, his lay-offs of thousands, and his ties to the Trump administration,” she explained. “Nobody voted for him. He’s an unelected billionaire.”
The Tesla Takedown initiative began as a grassroots, decentralized movement, aimed at holding Musk accountable for his role in shaping US policy. Protesters argue that Musk, having amassed significant wealth from Tesla, is using that fortune to influence government decisions in ways that benefit his personal interests, often at the expense of public services and workers’ rights.
As protests have escalated since their inception in February, public sentiment has shifted against the billionaire entrepreneur. Organisers have urged people to refrain from buying Teslas, sell their Tesla stock, and join the ongoing demonstrations. According to Olvera, the goal is to put financial pressure on Musk’s empire: “We want to hit him where it hurts – his profits.”
While Musk has not responded to requests for comment, he has defended his role in the government, particularly in relation to his work with the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE). He claims his efforts are designed to streamline government operations, calling it “literally improving government efficiency.”
Despite Musk’s assertions, Tesla’s financial performance has been suffering. Since Donald Trump’s inauguration, the company’s stock has dropped more than 35%, and sales have plummeted. Musk’s personal fortune has also taken a significant hit, with his net worth decreasing by about $100 billion. In the face of these financial declines, some Tesla owners have sold their vehicles in protest of Musk’s controversial actions.
The protest movement has gained significant momentum. In major cities like New York and Chicago, weekly gatherings continue to grow in size, with participants displaying signs depicting Musk in a negative light, including one that reads “Diabolical Oligarchs Gaslighting Everyone.” Tesla owners, including those who have previously supported the company, are now joining in, expressing their dissatisfaction with Musk’s leadership.
Internationally, protests are expanding. Demonstrations are scheduled in countries such as Australia, Finland, and Germany, as part of the global push against Musk’s growing influence. Alex Winter, an actor-turned-activist, has helped amplify the movement’s reach, amassing tens of thousands of followers on social media platforms like Bluesky.
However, not all actions tied to the movement have been peaceful. Several Tesla showrooms have been targeted with vandalism, including molotov cocktails and graffiti. The FBI has launched a task force to investigate these incidents, calling them acts of “domestic terrorism.” The Tesla Takedown organisers have condemned these violent actions, reaffirming their commitment to non-violent protest.
Looking ahead to Saturday, organisers are anticipating the largest turnout yet, with rallies planned from Waterville, Maine, to Honolulu, Hawaii, as well as international locations. As the movement grows, its supporters continue to push back against Musk’s influence, urging the public to send a clear message against what they perceive as corporate overreach and authoritarianism.
“Let’s show them we won’t stand for it,” Olvera concluded, rallying the movement’s supporters. “This is bigger than just Tesla – it’s about standing up to the powerful few who want to control our government.”
