HOUSTON – Protesters gathered at three different Houston-area Tesla locations today, taking part in what they called a “peaceful protest” against decisions and gestures made by Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, founder of SpaceX, and current Director of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The protest is part of the growing “Take Down Tesla” movement, which has seen demonstrations across the globe. At least 200 protests were planned for today, across the United States, with three of them taking place in the Houston area. These protests were held at Tesla dealerships in League City, The Woodlands, and a location near Highway 290.
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Discontent over Musk’s role in government
Protesters voiced their frustrations not only with Tesla’s operations but also with Musk’s involvement in government through his position at DOGE, which he was appointed to by President Donald Trump.
John Cobarruvias, one of the demonstrators, explained his opinion on the current situation, “No one elected this guy.” Musk’s appointment to DOGE has become a point of contention for many. While the DOGE website touts its successes, including saving $130 billion for the federal government and $807 per taxpayer, critics argue that the staff reductions and cuts to federal benefits resulting from the department’s actions have been damaging.
Janette Sexton, a 75-year-old protest organizer, expressed concern over Musk’s impact on essential government programs. “I’m 75 years old, and I’m on Social Security. I’m very concerned that this man says Social Security is a Ponzi scheme,” she said. Many others shared similar concerns, with protestors expressing frustration over Musk’s role in government decisions that they feel affect their livelihoods. A manager at the dealership that Sexton and Cobarruvias demonstrated at declined to speak on camera, but says the protests were peaceful and he respects the protestors using their freedom-of-speech rights.
Tensions escalate over Tesla and Musk’s leadership
The protests come amid rising tension over Tesla and Musk’s political involvement. For months, people have expressed dissatisfaction with Tesla, with some protesters going as far as vandalizing Tesla cars and dealerships. In some incidents, vehicles were set on fire, and videos of confrontations between Tesla drivers and protesters have gone viral. One video, in particular, showed a man seemingly screaming at and showing an object to a Cybertruck driver on the Southwest Freeway, was later reposted by President Trump.
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Despite these incidents, protest organizers, including Sexton, have stressed the peaceful nature of the demonstrations. “We are strictly peaceful and non-violent. All we were doing was exercising our 1st Amendment rights,” Sexton said, strongly condemning any violent behavior linked to the protests.
A growing movement and its impact
The protests are having an impact on Tesla’s trade-in numbers. According to recent data from Edmunds, Tesla cars from model year 2017 or newer made up 1.4% of all vehicles traded in through mid-March, more than triple the rate from the same time last year. This reflects the growing discontent with both Musk’s leadership and Tesla’s operations.
For now, the protestors say they will continue their demonstrations, demanding Musk be removed from his position in government. “We will continue until Musk is out of government,” they assert.
As the “Take Down Tesla” movement gains momentum, it’s clear that the protests are far from over. Whether these actions will lead to significant changes in Musk’s role in government remains to be seen.
