Arlington Virginia—On week five of the Tesla Takedown protests one could be led to believe a block party was in full swing outside the Tesla dealership in Arlington, Virginia. Many went with their signs and banners but some brought sound systems with playlists and boomed the line with resistance dance music. And the music was in the right key of freedom to dance. Someone even brought a case of Budweiser nonalcoholic energy drinks in the classic aluminum cans.
The community got a large share of favorability ratings from passersby honking their support and thumbs up for the block long protest line. The protesters were near capacity on the sidewalk outside the dealership. One woman dressed as the Statue of Liberty. A man wore a brown shirt and pants with Elon Musk references symbolizing Hitler’s Nazi Germany. See video.
The grassroots leaderless Tesla Takedown action is in its fifth week with no signs of slowing. And the community is feeling good about what they are doing although they are not happy about why they’re doing it. Elon Musk’s car company is the target but ironically protesters target it by ignoring it altogether and concentrate on encouraging the public towards a national boycott of his electric vehicles. And it’s working.
Sales have plummeted in the U.S. as well as internationally. Prominent figures have announced they are selling their Teslas. The latest high profile online promise to sell their Tesla was Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), who said in a self-recorded online post, “Elon Musk kind of turned out to be an asshole and I don’t want to be driving a car built and designed by an asshole.” Cheryl Crowe announced online she too was getting rid of her Tesla and watched as it was towed away. She contributed to sale proceeds to National Public Radio.
Tesla cars have become politically taboo because Elon Musk has become politically toxic.
There were scores more this week at all the Tesla Takedown actions outside area dealerships than in all the previous actions last month. In Rockville MD and at Tyson’s Corner, Virginia as well as Washington DC, record crowds showed up for the Tesla Takedown protests. They were attended by good spirted participants and there were no incidents involving any kind of property damage.
Just before the action in Arlington a group of protesters met to discuss safety and security protocols. Someone read a list of behaviors that would be acceptable and everyone there signified with a thumbs up of their agreement with the informal code of behaviors. A certified medic joined them as well as designated safety marshals and police liaisons.
The Tesla Takedown actions are becoming so popular that more boundaries for group safety and security are needed. A core group of activists has stepped up to define what constitutes a safe environment for those wishing to participate. And it will become more useful as growing numbers join in the Tesla actions.
But since the beginning of the Tesla Takedown actions in early February, the safety and security protocols have been a natural part of the community understanding and practice of those showing up. There has been no one going onto the lot or harassing customers or employees. There has been no vandalism reported either.
On Friday, in response to an incident of vandalism on Inauguration day, nearly 2-months ago, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi warned protesters if they engaged in property vandalism they would be punished under anti-terrorism laws. “[I]f you’re going to touch a Tesla, go to a dealership, do anything, you better watch out, because we’re coming after you,” she said. Bondi’s comments were designed to have a chilling effect on the growing number of protesters by threatening First Amendment rights with arrests.
Bondi also threatened so-called funding of protesters, without offering any evidence whatsoever that the grassroots protests were funded. Bondi said, “[I]f you’re funding this, we’re coming after you. We’re going to find out who you are.” There were two other reports of isolated reports of vandalism. These did not occur during any of the Tesla Takedown protests.
On Tuesday Trump said he would consider labeling anyone “domestic terrorists” who used violence against Tesla owners or dealerships, according to a published report.
But the protesters are showing up and their numbers continue to grow. The actions are becoming increasingly popular and the community is drawn to them for resistance as well as an outlet for the stress of seeing their government dismantled by Elon Musk.
The Tesla Takedown actions are likely to grow as the weather warms and the Trump-Musk duo continue to unravel the Federal government agencies, disregard U.S. Federal Court orders, and exceed the constitutional limits of their power over the Legislature and the Judiciary.
The Tesla Takedown actions are only one part of a broader resistance movement bubbling towards a boil against the executive branch in this post-constitutional era and Tesla Takedown protests are not likely to fade away anytime soon.
