Protests erupt at Tesla dealerships across US over government job cuts

03 March 2025

Nationwide protests targeting Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk have escalated, with nine arrests reported at a New York City dealership. The demonstrations resulted from widespread anger over Musk's role in federal workforce reductions under the Trump administration's "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) initiative. Hundreds of protesters descended upon Tesla showrooms in multiple cities throughout the weekend.

The New York City protest drew about 300 participants, and a small group entered the Manhattan Tesla store, leading to disruptions and eventual closure. Police intervened, arresting nine individuals, with charges pending. Videos from the scene indicated some damage to glass doors and windows. Similar demonstrations took place in Jacksonville, Florida, Tucson, Arizona, and other major cities.

These "Tesla Takedown" protests, organized through platforms like actionnetwork.org and supported by figures like filmmaker Alex Winter, are a direct response to the significant job cuts within the federal government. Since President Trump took office on January 20th, an estimated 100,000 of the 2.3 million federal employees have either accepted buy-outs or been terminated.

Protest organizers are calling for a boycott of Tesla stock, aiming to exert financial pressure on Musk and the administration. They argue that severing Musk's connection with Tesla would strike a blow against the administration's financial and political power. The protests exceeded initial expectations of a small, localized movement. With apparently thousands of people participating, demonstrations have become a growing challenge for Elon Musk and his company.

Most of the protests were peaceful, but the incident in New York City could be a flashpoint for the growing tensions around the issue. Demonstrators want their voices heard; they see the whole situation as an overreach of the current administration. Unfortunately for Tesla, there are more protests planned in the coming weeks. Will they have any long-term impact on the company? We are about to find out.

Via