Protests occurred outside Tesla stores across the US on Saturday against CEO Elon Musk and his collaboration with President Trump to cut government spending. Organized by liberal groups, the demonstrations aimed to discourage Tesla purchases and mobilize Democrats disillusioned after Trump’s win. Protesters chanted and displayed signs mocking Musk, with some calling for economic boycotts. Over 50 protests were planned across the US and abroad, highlighting opposition to Musk’s influence in government. During the demonstrations, incidents of vandalism against Tesla vehicles were reported, raising concerns about rising antisemitism. Tesla’s stock has dropped nearly a third since Trump took office.
Boston:
Protesters congregated outside Tesla locations nationwide on Saturday to voice their opposition against the automaker’s billionaire CEO, Elon Musk, and his advocacy for significant reductions in government expenditure on behalf of President Donald Trump.
The protests are part of a rising backlash in North America and Europe against Musk’s controversial influence in Washington.
Opponents of Trump and Musk aim to dissuade and shame consumers from buying Tesla vehicles, the electric car manufacturer that holds the title of the world’s most valuable automaker. For weeks, progressive groups have coordinated anti-Tesla demonstrations in hopes of mobilizing resistance against Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency and revitalizing Democrats still disheartened by Trump’s victory in November.
“We can hit Elon where it hurts,” stated Nathan Phillips, a 58-year-old ecologist from Newton, Massachusetts, who joined the protest in Boston on Saturday. “We can create direct economic impact on Tesla by showing up at showrooms everywhere, boycotting Tesla, and encouraging others to divest, sell your stocks, and get rid of your Teslas.”
Musk is reportedly taking cues from Trump to cut federal spending and significantly shrink the workforce, contending that Trump’s victory provided a mandate for both of them to revamp the US government. DOGE officials have quickly accessed sensitive databases, overseen thousands of federal layoffs, terminated contracts, and closed parts of the government, including the US Agency for International Development.
Critics argue that Musk’s actions undermine Congress’s authority over the US budget and present numerous opportunities for him to enrich himself. In addition to Tesla, Musk oversees several other companies, most notably SpaceX, which conducts launches for NASA and the intelligence community, along with the social media platform X.
Neither Tesla nor the White House responded to requests for comment sent via email on Saturday.
More than 50 protests were listed on the Tesla Takedown website for Saturday, with additional demonstrations scheduled later in March across the United States and in England, Spain, and Portugal. Recent news reports highlighted protests in US cities, including Tucson, Arizona; St. Louis; New York City; Dayton, Ohio; Charlotte; and Palo Alto, California.
Some Tesla owners have reported instances of their vehicles being vandalized with spray-painted swastikas, amidst rising concerns of antisemitism expressed by Jewish organizations and observers.
Federal prosecutors filed charges against a woman linked to a series of vandalism incidents at a Colorado Tesla dealership, which included Molotov cocktails thrown at vehicles and the phrase “Nazi cars” spray-painted on the building.
The demonstration in Boston on Saturday had an upbeat vibe, with a brass band performing as protesters waved signs and chanted slogans. Several signs ridiculed Musk and DOGE, including one that read: “Stop Elon and his despicable Muskrats.”
“This administration led by Trump and Musk has gone completely off the rails, and we are here to put a stop to it,” remarked Carina Campovasso, a retired federal employee. “I hope they hear us.”
Approximately 300 demonstrators gathered outside a Tesla dealership in New York City on Saturday. The police reported that nine individuals were taken into custody but did not provide details on the charges.
Tesla’s stock price has decreased by nearly one-third since Trump assumed office, although it remains higher than it was a year ago. Musk’s estimated net worth is $359 billion, according to Forbes, which projected his net worth for 2024 at $195 billion.
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