As part of the “Tesla Takedown” movement, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Tesla showroom in Manhattan’s meat packing district today.
For weeks, the protests have been organized by a group that includes Action Network, People Beyond Profits, and a disruption project to condemn Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Many protesters said they were targeting businesses that made masks the wealthiest man in the world. Forbes estimates his net worth is just under $200 billion.
“If we can go ahead and continue to protest Tesla as hard as possible, then let the world know that it’s a toxic brand that fuels him, then it says that when you control his money, when you control him, you’re a protester who doesn’t want to share his full name out of fear for his safety.
Karin Scholl brought chalk to the protests and wrote “Stop Eron and Doge,” the acronym for Musk’s government efficiency, using the word “stop” already painted on asphalt.
“We’re here and Elon Musk is now an unelected person in DC, so the movement is growing. He has no office and no email so he can’t go there to express his issues and concerns, so he has to show up at his business point.
Tesla did not immediately respond to Saturday’s request for comment.
The push against electric car companies appears to have had real results. The company’s shares closed at $248.71 on Friday, compared to a 52-week high of $488.54 in December, but are valued more than most of 2024.
Musk spoke at this week’s Tesla All Hands meeting and told his employees there was a better day. “Sticking to your inventory,” he urged the staff.
Aside from peaceful protests across the country, reports of at least 80 vandalism or arson cases of Tesla vehicles have been made headlines in the US and Canada.
The FBI issued a statement addressing the surge in crimes that led to three people facing federal accusations, saying “criminal cases appear to have been committed by only criminals.”
Still, agents encourage the public to “execute vigilance and look for suspicious activities” near and around Tesla dealers.
Several Tesla owners say they have been targeted since Musk supported Donald Trump for the president and are facing harassment, violence or threats from the public. Others removed the vehicle.
Dr. Kumite Jaroe, who owns the two Teslas, said Saturday that the “peak of harassment” was a death threat he and his family.
He said someone sent him a comment saying, “Someone will cut me off, pull the gun up and shoot me and my family.”
Jaroger said he had to move his car from his Massachusetts home because he feared the safety of his family.
“Elon Musk saves the government, cuts waste, and I think that’s a good thing. That’s a good thing,” he said.
“I don’t agree with everything he does, but you know, but at the end of the day, I bought a truck before, and that’s a personal choice,” Jarroger said.
Winsome Pendergrass, a protester for Planet over Profit on Saturday, said he believes that all Americans are at risk of losing important funds and resources thanks to Musk’s efforts.
“We’re not going to be silent. We’re not going to sit down and allow him to run over us. We’re going to stand up. We’re going to fight,” Pendergrass said.
“The Americans have done it before. … They closed the Montgomery Bass Company, so we can close it again, shut down all this stupidity they’re continuing to do, and we can rebuild America for all of us inclusive Americans,” she said.
