Geriatrics get down for Tesla Takedown
Somewhere in Los Angeles, an elderly gentleman departed from his biweekly coffee shop meetup of fellow Tesla owners, zipped off in his Elon-Musk-branded automobile he bought used in 2017, and landed outside a Tesla Service Center in West L.A. A small crowd of sign-waving civilians were crammed on the edges of the sidewalk shouting “No more oligarchs!” and “Sell your Teslas!”
Key fob in hand, the Tesla owner proceeded to duck in and out of the thin protesting line, grinning widely and rattling his Tesla keys in people’s faces.
He didn’t mean to instigate. Rather, he said, he meant to show that rage against Musk has become unilateral across generations, socioeconomic classes, and politics.
“I stopped liking Elon in 2020. I started actively disliking him in 2022. I started hating him in 2024. I want to kill him now,” he said, giggling.
On this date, March 29, protesters gathered for Tesla Takedown’s Global Day of Action, intended to climax the month-long wave of pickets at Musk-owned facilities by demonstrating at 500 showrooms worldwide. At facilities in West L.A. and Santa Monica, attendees espoused a long list of grievances against President Donald Trump; Musk, Trump’s senior advisor; and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which was established on Jan. 20 with Executive Order 14158.
Protesters gather outside a Tesla service center on Santa Monica Blvd., in Los Angeles Calif., to protest Elon Musk for the Tesla Takedown Protest on Saturday, March 29, 2025. The protest called on Tesla owners to sell their cars and sell off Tesla stock to drop the stock prices to boycott Elon Musk’s companies for his role in the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)
This long list encapsulated both far-left and mainstream Democratic party concerns. Some protesters demonstrated them both at once; one sign read, “Free Mahmoud, Defend Ukraine, Trump & Musk Are Insane.”
Widespread Ukrainian solidarity was on full display with lapel pins and signs. Some people cited concern for the country as their reason for rallying, criticizing the United States’ newly passive role in funding Ukraine in their military efforts against Russia.
Last month, Senator Mark Kelly visited Ukraine and posted photos of Russian tanks on X with a caption about holding off on making war treaties with Russia unless Ukrainian security is guaranteed. Musk made a post in response that read, “You are a traitor.”
After witnessing the post exchanges, “that’s why I want to kill him,” said the Tesla owner, who spoke anonymously with the Corsair, fearing persecution by right-wing radicals.
“I don’t see a conflict between the interests of Ukraine and the interests of us,” he said.
A protester holds up a sign outside a Tesla dealership on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, Calif., during the Tesla Takedown Protest on Saturday, March 29, 2025. The protest called on Tesla owners to sell their cars and sell off Tesla stock to drop the stock prices to boycott Elon Musk’s companies for his role in the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)
Others focused their anger on Trump, notably his executive orders. Executive Order 14254, signed March 27, ordered the removal of “race-centered ideology” from public monuments and sites, including the Smithsonian research institute. The Smithsonian was established by Congress, but is not part of the three branches of government, and operates as an independent federal trust instrumentality.
A protester, who asked for her name to be withheld to protect her job, was “galvanized” to protest when Trump targeted the Smithsonian. She said the action resembled her father’s recollections of life under authoritarianism.
“My father escaped from a communist country that was fascist and authoritarian and targeted its own citizens, and they did exactly what the Trump administration is doing,” she said.
She added, “My dad fought to get here, and this would just have destroyed him, what’s happening to our people.”
Chris Vickers-Rynecki, who works in independent film, felt the call to action while keeping up with the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court race.
Musk, a billionaire, funneled $20 million to Brad Schimel, former Wisconsin attorney general who vied for a seat on the state’s supreme court. And on March 28, Musk said on X that he would “personally hand over two checks for a million dollars each” to Wisconsin voters “in appreciation for you taking the time to vote.”
On March 30, Musk presented at least two persons with giant bloated checks for $1 million; Musk said the people were paid to be spokespersons, not to vote. Still, the notion of “paying off voters, at this point, in Wisconsin” had Vickers-Rynecki “fucking fed up.”
And equally aggravating, he said, were Musk’s impacts on the federal level.
“I think that, you know, as Elon keeps his talons in the federal government, these are gonna keep getting bigger and bigger,” he said.
Schimel lost on Tuesday to liberal judge Susan Crawford, who takes office on Aug. 1.
Protesters gather outside a Tesla dealership on the Third Street promenade in Santa Monica, Calif., to protest Elon Musk for the Tesla Takedown Protest on Saturday, March 29, 2025. The protest called on Tesla owners to sell their cars and sell off Tesla stock to drop the stock prices to boycott Elon Musk’s companies for his role in the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)
Another linchpin of Tesla Takedown occurred outside the Tesla showroom on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, where an even larger group of protesters surrounded the intersection without entering or occupying it, and maintained about ten feet of distance from the store itself.
Frank Fodera (Left), a wrestling coach holds up a sign in support of Elon Musk while being confronted by Lynn Harvey (Right), an English second language instructor from Santa Monica College outside a Tesla dealership on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, Calif., during the Tesla Takedown Protest on Saturday, March 29, 2025. The protest called on Tesla owners to sell their cars and sell off Tesla stock to drop the stock prices to boycott Elon Musk’s companies for his role in the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)
Among these Promenade protesters was Santa Monica College (SMC) ESL instructor Lynn Harvey, who is so distraught by current world affairs that she is taking time off from SMC to work on politics.
Harvey and other Promenade protesters were also motivated out of anxiety for Ukraine. Harvey stated she was reminded of conflicts she’s observed in virtual breakout rooms between Ukrainian and Russian SMC students. And protester David Kong swung the flag of Ukraine on the outskirts of the rally to show “people still support it,” as he told the Corsair.
On March 24, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) launched a task force specifically to investigate acts of violence against Teslas and Tesla dealerships. Officials such as FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Trump have referred to acts of vandalism and violence involving Tesla as domestic terrorism, a term used by the 2001 Patriot Act to authorize larger-scale investigations into such acts.
As of March 29, the FBI reported “anti-Tesla” arson, gunfire and vandalism incidents occurring in at least nine states, and alleges they were conducted by “lone offenders” unaffiliated with Tesla Takedown.
Still, fears of domestic terrorism charges led many protesters to attend Global Day events with reticence, shield their faces with masks, and withhold their identities.
“I was afraid to come,” said the Smithsonian savvy. “I think bravery is facing your fear, right? And I think it’s important.”
“It’s a rogue administration. It’s attempting to force their way on the American people with fake charges and fake laws,” said another protester, who hid his face and name, fearing political persecution.
The Smithsonian advocate and others have pursued alternate forms of anti-administration advocacy they believe to be less risky, including volunteering with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), contributing to law firms suing Trump, and encouraging as many people as possible to sell their Teslas.
Vickers-Ryndecki corroborated this last stratagem, stating “the hope is maybe a lot of other people can actually tank the stock price of Tesla.” The car manufacturers’ stocks have plummeted over 40% since December 2024. In a sales report released April 2, the company revealed that global sales are down 13% in the first quarter compared to last year.
Protester Joel Mark also believes diminishing Tesla stock is the most effective way to threaten DOGE, and isn’t too fearful that domestic terrorism charges will affect or harm peaceful protesters.
“Trump and his team are doing everything they can to keep the stock price up… They have, ‘oh, Pam Bondi’s gonna arrest people protesting or arrest people as terrorists,’” Mark said. “Look (around), they’re not terrorists. They’re, like, randos.”
A protester holds up an upside-down American flag outside a Tesla dealership on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, Calif., during the Tesla Takedown Protest on Saturday, March 29, 2025. The protest called on Tesla owners to sell their cars and sell off Tesla stock to drop the stock prices to boycott Elon Musk’s companies for his role in the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)
Indeed, an assortment of differing ideologies was presented to Santa Monica Boulevard, even contrasting: upside-down American flags flew right beside the same flags with proper posture. A key demographic noted in both protester comments and outsider observations was the substantial population of elders.
“If you look at the ages of the people here, this is how we grew up. We fought against the Vietnam War, we marched for women’s rights, we fought for abortion rights,” said a protester, speaking anonymously to protect her job. “So this is in our heritage and it’s in our DNA. We come out, and we peacefully protest, and that’s how we make change.”
As a consequence of the demographic, issues affecting older Americans were top of mind for many. A Promenade protester, Amanda Verona, stated she was called to action by Musk’s involvement in reducing Social Security Administration (SSA) actionability, which primarily affects an estimated 40% of Americans aged 60 and older who rely on Social Security for income.
Trump and Musk have tasked federal agencies with reducing employment, in hopes of eventually achieving a smaller government. These agencies fired over 120,000 employees since Jan. 20, resulting in fewer functional outlets for the public to receive federal services. SSA is projected to reduce its workforce by 12%, or 7,000 employees.
Starting April 14, Social Security beneficiaries are banned from filing for almost all benefits over the phone, only excepting Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The process will require prior in-person or online verification, which California Health Advocates warns will prevent older adults, people with disabilities and people without reliable Internet from receiving benefits.
“I don’t know what his (Musk’s) motive is, but he’s being really evil and malevolent. So I’ve gotta do something with that anger,” Verona said.
In West L.A., pedestrians dashing by called to the protesters with supportive chants on the sidewalk, which was kept clear and regulated by a presence of Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers on the sidelines.
One man ran into the street to congratulate the protesters down the line one-by-one. The officers asked him to return to the sidewalk. When he refused, the officers handcuffed and ticketed him for jaywalking.
A man is detained by LAPD outside a Tesla service center on Santa Monica Blvd., in Los Angeles Calif., to protest Elon Musk during the Tesla Takedown Protest on Saturday, March 29, 2025. The protest called on Tesla owners to sell their cars and sell off Tesla stock to drop the stock prices to boycott Elon Musk’s companies for his role in the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency. The man before being detained walked up to the protest and started cheering them on while standing in the street on Santa Monica Blvd. which led the LAPD to request the man to stand on the sidewalk multiple times before they placed him in handcuffs. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)
Other supporters in passing cars leaned on their horns, frequently enough to obscure conversation.
“I especially love to hear from the truckers, because I feel like they represent real people, you know?” said the Smithsonian advocate. “It’s amazing to hear how many regular people are honking.”
Vickers-Ryndeick agreed. “A lot of people who are just, you know, driving around, are fed up with what’s going on too. They aren’t gonna take a part of this, but they’re seeing it, they’re supporting it,” he said.
Less affirmative drivers stuck out middle fingers and called “Fuck you!”. Many of the Takedowners responded by making the same gestures.
Other observers in disagreement sought engagement instead. On the Promenade, right-wing wrestling coach Frank Fodera magnetized a small, angry subset of the crowd when he brandished a sign reading, “I Give Elon Musk And Doge My Permission To Audit Anyone Receiving My Tax Dollars. Yours Truly, US Citizen.”
Fodera expected nothing less: “This is like the fourth (protest) I’ve been to. Keep bringing new signs every time.”
“People don’t like this one,” he said, holding up photographs of former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris raising their arms. He compared the images to Musk’s infamous inaugural gesture on Jan. 20 that was widely interpreted and denounced as a Nazi salute. “But I believe they were taking something out of context. So I’m taking something out of context.”
Though he amassed dissenters, Fodera said he was motivated to protest for the same reason the Tesla Takedowners were: to criticize and combat government misconduct. Fodera believes small government is the way to make it happen.
“Our government can’t pass an audit, it hasn’t passed an audit in years. And that’s bad… If I didn’t pass an audit, I would be arrested, right? So I don’t understand why the government is allowed to be like that. Doesn’t make any sense,” he said.
Several protesters approaching Fodera tried to incite verbal squareups. He said he ignored them and instead turned to a placid left-wing protester, Abe, for an hour-long, only slightly embittered discussion.
“It was awesome. It was a great conversation,” said Fodera, reflecting. “He definitely brought up a lot of great questions. Things that I was unaware of.”
Fodera said, “The funny thing is, I think we have the same hope.”