Tesla Takedown: Protesters Plot Global Disruption!
The Tesla Takedown organizers called for the biggest global action today, encouraging thousands to protest outside Tesla showrooms, dealerships, and even charging stations in peaceful dissent of the alleged government spending cuts perpetrated by Elon Musk.
The backlash is spreading as the Tesla protests spread. Street activists wielding placards have become confused with masked vandals throwing Molotov cocktails. The distinction on social media and in Washington is fast disappearing.
Protests against Tesla have been called “domestic terrorism” by President Donald Trump, and he threatened to send “terrorist thugs” to El Salvador prisons. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has vowed to prosecute “those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes,” even though evidence points toward attacks being carried out by “lone offenders.” Not to mention that Musk’s interpreted accusations against at least one peaceful protester of having “committed crimes” on X furthered the public discourse equating protest with vandalism and vandalism with terrorism.
That would mean if the government or law enforcement were to view any anti-Tesla activity as illegitimate, then most of the peaceful demonstrators would be brought up on charges designed for real terrorists.
“‘Terrorism’ is a problematic concept in law enforcement because it is by definition differentiated from other violence by its political nature” said Mike German, a former FBI special agent and fellow at the Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Program, who explained this further to TechCrunch. “That’s why we’ve seen counterterrorism measures so often result in problematic outcomes targeting the civil rights of people engaged in First Amendment-protected activity, rather than the people who are committing acts of violence.”
Nonviolence has always been emphasized by the Tesla Takedown protesters in protests and on their website. The stated aim of the movement is to persuade people to do the opposite of injuring Tesla or Musk; stop buying new Teslas, sell their Teslas, and sell their stock.
“The reason that [Musk] is in the position that he is in is because of his wealth, and we feel that if we can continue to drive that Tesla stock price down, we will hit him in the spot that it matters,” Natasha Purdum, an organizer of the protest against Tesla based in New Jersey, told TechCrunch. “Ultimately, we see that as a key to taking down some of the major destruction that is happening in our federal government, courtesy of DOGE and Elon Musk.”
Mostly because of Tesla stocks, Musk is now the richest person in the world. He owns approximately 13 percent of Tesla, whose current market capitalization is roughly $829 billion, meaning his stake amounts to about $107.8 billion. Such wealth has enabled Musk to buy Twitter for $44 billion, the main platform he uses to reach his 219 million followers. Musk also used his own funds to donate more than $260 million to the America PAC that helped Trump win his election.
German, who served 16 years as an FBI special agent working mainly on domestic terrorism matters, says he would not be surprised if local police worked closely with the terrorism task forces set up — like the one just formed by the FBI — to monitor Tesla Takedown protests. According to the Attorney General’s Guidelines, there is no requirement that the FBI have any actual basis to suspect a person of engaging in terrorism before it begins physical surveillance that could entail photographing people, cars, and license plates, utilizing informants to infiltrate groups, tapping into private databases, and more.
“It’s also worth keeping in mind that the law enforcement system in America is basically meant to protect rich people’s property,” said German. “U.S. corporations hold great political authority and can always make elected representatives and top law enforcement representatives work on their behalf. When there is resistance to their interests, especially in the form of protest, they want to turn that into a law enforcement issue rather than an issue of legitimate public concern over their corporate activities.”
A TechCrunch inquiry as to whether the FBI takes any other special security measures this weekend received no reply from the agency. The NYPD counterterrorism unit was present at a protest taking place Saturday in New York City. Upon TechCrunch’s inquiry as to their intent, one officer stated that they were there to guarantee that nothing turned violent, just like arson.
In the buildup to March 29 — the date set for perhaps 213 demonstrations against Tesla marking the whole range from Colorado and Kentucky to Germany, Minnesota, France, and Texas — Musk has intensified rhetoric together with the Trump administration.
On Thursday, Musk appeared on Fox News’ “Special Report” to say that he and Trump are going to “go after…the ones providing the money, the ones pushing the lies and propaganda.”
Trump suggested that these attacks on Tesla property were coordinated to intimidate Musk, though internal assessments concluded otherwise. Without providing evidence, Musk has claimed that some of the organizers of the Tesla Takedown were funded by ActBlue, which raises money for progressive causes and Democratic candidates.
And regarding Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Bondi accused Crockett of “calling for further insurrection” after saying that Musk needed to be “taken down” at a virtual Tesla Takedown rally last week. While Crockett shrouded the statement with calls for nonviolence and peaceful demonstration, Bondi stated that Crockett needed to “tread very carefully.”
German states that this rhetoric is, again, an old government trick to try to discredit and repress protest movements by calling “[a] handful of acts of violence are an outcome of ill ideas, radical ideas.”
Purdum, one of the Tesla organizers, urged the protesters to prioritize their well-being. “Leave if you unsafe, adhere to your local protest regulations, do not trespass, follow police orders, and know a lawyer’s number in your back pocket,” she said.
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