By Pat Bryant | Nearly every Tesla dealership in the United States and the world had peaceful protestors out front Saturday March 29th and Ajcksonvilles local dealership was among them. Elon Musk’s electric car company earned a six-week sales slump as stock values dropped by half and large stock holders sold out. Telsa’s destruction is Elon Musk’s payback for his role in firing hundreds of thousands of federal workers and dismantling federal programs without Congress approval. Nationally, citizens have organized “empty chair” town halls where Republican Congress persons have refused to show.
Since Musk’s controversial alignment with the Trump administration, Tesla has transformed from an innovative car brand to a symbol of injustice and a prime target for escalating acts of vandalism and violence.
During the protest, Musk/Tesla protesters dealt with angry car riders coming close to demonstrators and yelling curse words. Julie Spellman carried a sign that read “Tax the Rich, Musk and Trump = Putin’s Puppets Follow the $$$ Julie”. Of Trump she said “he wants to destroy our country so his oligarch friends can keep their tax relief and takeover our country as a corporatocracy.” Spellman is a descendant of the founders of Spellman College in Atlanta.
DOGE, led by the appointed Musk, has not slowed down in its sweeping efforts to dismantle or overhaul federal agencies. This week alone, the department attempted to shut down the United States Institute of Peace, an independent non-profit agency and CNN reported on March 13 that DOGE had proposed cutting 20% of the staff at the Internal Revenue Service by May 15.
Though some are more aggressive, Tesla Takedown organizers have stressed that the demonstrations are intended to remain strictly nonviolent.
Tesla peaceful protests continue world-wide Saturday April 5th noon to 2 pm.
*Pat Bryant is a long-time journalist, human rights organizer in the southern United States. He may be reached at pat46bryant@gmail.com.
Be the first to comment