A nationwide protest movement challenging Tesla CEO Elon Musk and the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) took to the streets this past weekend. Demonstrators gathered at Tesla showrooms across the country, holding signs with messages such as “Stop the broligarchy,” “Burn a Tesla, save democracy,” and “DOGE is a criminal enterprise,” urging potential Tesla buyers to consider alternatives.
Dubbed the #TeslaTakeover, these protests saw participation from various activist groups, resulting in over 50 planned events across the U.S. and even Canada. The movement highlighted a spectrum of demonstrations, from intimate gatherings to larger crowds echoing the sentiments that Musk’s actions are fundamentally detrimental. Messaging from the protests emphasized, “Sell your Teslas, dump your stock, join the picket lines. Hurting Tesla is stopping Musk. Stopping Musk will help save lives and our democracy.” Scheduled for February 15, these events drew attention to the growing discontent surrounding Tesla’s leadership.
One protester articulated, “This isn’t just about voicing our anger at Elon Musk’s unelected takeover; it’s about informing our communities that buying or owning a Tesla supports him. We believe that reducing Tesla’s sales and stock price is crucial in our fight.” This sentiment resonated widely among participants who shared similar frustrations online.
Internationally, backlash against Musk’s increasing political prominence is gaining momentum, fueled by accusations of his affiliations with far-right figures. Protests recently erupted at the German Die Welt Economic Summit, coinciding with suspicions about Musk’s support for extremist political factions.
In the United States, legal challenges against Musk have escalated, with multiple state attorney generals filing a lawsuit on February 13. This legal action targets DOGE’s controversial operations, questioning Musk’s authority over governmental bodies and his access to confidential federal resources. Additionally, a coalition of cybersecurity organizations has accused DOGE of coercing government agencies into compromising sensitive personal information, labeling it the “largest data breach in U.S. history.” These developments signal a mounting struggle over Musk’s influence in both corporate and governmental arenas.
