What to know
- More than 200 protests are scheduled to take place today in what organizers are calling a global day of action, part of a campaign called “Tesla Takedown.”
- Protesters targeted Tesla because they believe its CEO Elon Musk is using the wealth the company has brought him to fund political actions they view as a threat to democracy.
- Musk’s role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency has raised anger and concern. For weeks, he has implemented aggressive cost cutting measures, including massive staff reductions to federal agencies like USAID, without authority or oversight.
- Lawsuits have challenged these actions as unconstitutional, claiming they violate the separation of powers and the fund cancellations are unauthorized. A federal judge recently ruled that Musk’s involvement in DOGE might be unconstitutional.
- The organizers’ goal today is to disrupt Tesla’s financial standing by urging people to sell their Teslas, dump its stock and join protests at Tesla dealerships in a bid to reduce Musk’s influence.
Dozens protest outside Tesla dealerships in Southlake, Texas
Dozens of protesters gathered outside a Tesla dealership in Southlake, Texas, a suburb northwest of Dallas, according to images and videos shared on Facebook.
The posts show picketers holding signs that read "go steal data on Mars," "Americans against oligarchy," "the rule of law matters," among other pointed messages.
Two protesters struck by pickup's mirrors at Watertown demonstration
Police in Watertown, Massachusetts, are investigating an incident in which the side mirror of a pickup struck two protesters outside a Tesla service center today.
The Watertown Police Department said in a statement officers were already at the scene and assisted the two, who refused further medical treatment.
"Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported," the department said in a statement.
It wasn't clear if the incident was intentional or an accident. Police said they have identified the pickup's driver.
The department asked that anyone with information on the incident to speak to investigators.
Chicago protest wraps up peacefully
A crowd of more than 150 people protested for about two hours, blocking sidewalks, holding signs and chanting outside of the Tesla showroom in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood Saturday afternoon.
The business remained open and at least 10 people walked inside the doors, which were guarded by multiple Chicago police officers, during the protest.
“We’re encouraging people to boycott Tesla and to hurt him [Elon Musk] so that he stops hurting us,” said Joe Allen, 63, who says he has been demonstrating every Saturday for several weeks, adding that this is the biggest turnout he’s seen so far.
“We want to decrease his stock price, encourage people to sell the stock, and encourage people not to buy his cars,” said Steva Stowell-Hardcastle, a 61-year-old Chicago resident. “Because Elon Musk is an unelected fascist that has joined Trump in trying to dismantle our government.”
One man who appeared to support Musk approached the crowd giving a thumbs up to the dealership, while police officers hovered near him. A member of the crowd shouted “you’re outnumbered.”
A white Tesla drove in front of the crowd prompting some in the crowd to chant, “Sell your car!”
Later a Cybertruck rolled in front of the protest, with the windows down and people inside it pumping their fists, which drew boos from the crowd.
Counterprotesters show up at a Tesla dealership in Austin, Texas
Several counterprotesters could be observed at the event in Austin, Texas.
London protesters descend on Tesla dealership
About two dozen protesters held signs lambasting Musk outside a Tesla dealership in London as passing cars and trucks tooted horns in support.
One of the signs displayed at the London protest showed a photo of Musk next to an image of Adolf Hitler making the Nazi salute — a gesture that Musk has been accused of reprising shortly after Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration. A person in a tyrannosaurus rex costume held another sign with a picture of Musk’s straight-arm gesture that said, “You thought the Nazis were extinct. Don’t buy a Swasticar.”
“We just want to get loud, make noise, make people aware of the problems that we’re facing,” said Cam Whitten, an American who showed up at the London protest.
Protesters demonstrate against Tesla across the U.S.
Protesters have railed against Tesla and Elon Musk across the country today in largely peaceful protests.
Judge denied states’ bid to curtail DOGE’s powers
A federal judge last month denied an effort by 14 states to immediately block Elon Musk and his advisory Department of Government Efficiency from accessing data systems or making personnel decisions at seven federal agencies.
The suit, filed by Democratic attorneys general from states like Arizona, Michigan and Rhode Island, takes aim at the magnitude and scale of Musk’s power, noting that DOGE has led the Trump administration’s efforts to dramatically reduce the size of the federal workforce, dismantle entire agencies and access sensitive data.
DOGE supporters gather at Tesla dealership in Warminster, Pennsylvania
A group of counterprotesters carrying American flags and DOGE banners gathered at a Tesla dealership in Warminster, Pennsylvania.
A video posted to X showed a truck with an American flag and a "Trump 2024" banner drive by the protesters.
Scenes from protests in Scotland and Germany
Demonstrators showed up at Tesla centers in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Berlin, Germany, today.
Judge ruled that Elon Musk and DOGE efforts to close USAID likely unconstitutional
A federal judge ordered the government to reinstate U.S. Agency for International Development systems earlier this month, ruling that the accelerated shutdown of the agency led by Elon Musk “likely violated the United States Constitution in multiple ways.”
U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang ordered Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to reinstate access to email, payment, security notification and other electronic systems for all USAID employees and contractors. He also ordered the department to provide written confirmation of compliance to the court within seven days.
