Latest news with #TeslaTakedown
The Verge
2 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
Anti-Elon Musk protesters are coming for Tesla's new diner
Tesla just opened a retro diner in Los Angeles, so it was only a matter of time before anti-Elon Musk protesters caught wind. The long-awaited retrofuturistic diner, complete with giant outdoor screens for drive-in movies, dozens of Supercharger stalls, and an Optimus robot serving popcorn, opened to huge lines in West Hollywood on July 21st. Protesters are planning on demonstrating outside the newly opened diner on July 26th, according to the Action Network website, which has served as a repository for the so-called Tesla Takedown movement. '[Elon Musk] wants to celebrate his reign of terror in OUR CITY, Occupied Los Angeles, with a cheesy Tesla-branded diner exclusively for his legion of conmen stock-pumpers and MLM influencer tryhards?' the website reads. 'WE SAY HELL NO.' '[Elon Musk] wants to celebrate his reign of terror in OUR CITY, Occupied Los Angeles, with a cheesy Tesla-branded diner exclusively for his legion of conmen stock-pumpers and MLM influencer tryhards?' Since early February of this year, Tesla has been the target of protesters opposed to Musk's involvement with the Trump administration. As Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) sought to eliminate humanitarian aid programs and fire tens of thousands of government workers, demonstrators have expressed their rage by picketing outside Tesla showrooms and demanding Tesla owners sell their vehicles. Others have taken things further, defacing Tesla vehicles with anti-Musk slogans, smashing windows, and even setting some Tesla property on fire. Musk's allies in the Trump administration are threatening to prosecute anyone caught defacing Tesla vehicles by classifying the acts as 'domestic terrorism.' Musk officially stepped back from DOGE in May, although he claims that he will remain involved with the group in some capacity. The following month, Musk and President Donald Trump had a public falling out, with the two engaged in a war of words. Trump has threatened to deport Musk, while Musk has accused the president of being on Jeffrey Epstein's alleged client list. Despite all the drama, anti-Musk protesters are trying to keep up the energy. Joel Lava, who has been helping lead the Tesla Takedown protests in Los Angeles, said he expects a large crowd outside the diner this Saturday. 'It's in West Hollywood,' Lava told The Verge. 'I think it's safe to say that Elon Musk is not a popular figure in West Hollywood. So I don't think it's going to be hard to protest it.' 'I think it's safe to say that Elon Musk is not a popular figure in West Hollywood.' While the weekly crowds may have diminished slightly from their peak in the spring, and while Musk may have distanced himself from the Trump administration, the Tesla Takedown movement hasn't given up. Lava said that dozens of people still show up every week to protest outside of Tesla locations in LA, buoyed by news of Tesla's worsening earnings statement and falling sales. He also cited recent reports of food that was supposed to ship out with USAID being left to rot in warehouses thanks to DOGE's funding cuts. And the news that Musk may start his own political party has further motivated the activists to keep up their presence, Lava said. 'Yes, our numbers have dwindled, but they have stayed strong,' he said. 'We've already built a community, [and] people will show up.' Lava said the tactics will be similar to those used in protests outside of Tesla dealerships and charging stations: raising awareness about Musk's efforts to decimate humanitarian aid and destroy the federal government. 'I think our simple message is Tesla funds fascism,' Lava said. 'You're going into this cafe, and you're giving a $300 billion man your own money to help destroy the fabric of our country. That's why we don't want you buying Tesla. And that's why you shouldn't go into this cafe.' Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Andrew J. Hawkins Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Electric Cars Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Policy Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Politics Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tesla Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Transportation
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Insider
Tesla sales are nosediving in California, and it's dragging the state's entire EV market down
Tesla's new retro-futuristic diner has Californians queuing around the block — but they are less keen on the company's cars. The automaker's registrations in the West Coast state fell more than 20% in the second quarter compared to the previous year, according to data from the California New Car Dealers Association released on Tuesday. It's Tesla's seventh consecutive quarterly decline in the US's largest EV market, and comes despite California's new car sales growing in the first half of the year. The California Dealers Association warned that Tesla's woes were dragging the rest of the state's EV market down. Zero-emission vehicles accounted for 18.2% of new cars sold in California in the second quarter of 2025, compared to 22% in 2024, the association's data showed. Tesla has been struggling with lacklustre sales this year. The electric vehicle giant is battling consumer backlash over CEO Elon Musk's high-profile interventions into US politics. The sales data suggest that the brand damage has been acute in California, which leans liberal and was the birthplace of the Tesla Takedown protest movement. Tesla is set to report second-quarter earnings after the market closes on Wednesday. Earlier this month, the carmaker reported that its deliveries for the second quarter had fallen by around 13.5% compared to last year, its second consecutive decline in global sales. In addition to the brand damage caused by Musk's work on DOGE and his support for the Trump administration — which seemingly ended with a high-profile public spat last month — Tesla is also facing fierce competition and a dearth of new products. A refreshed version of Tesla's best-selling Model Y, launched earlier this year, has failed to boost sales. The automaker has not rolled out a new model since the Cybertruck in 2023. The polarizing pickup has sold only 11,000 units so far this year, according to data from Cox Automotive. Tesla faces additional challenges from recently passed legislation that is set to end the $7,500 tax credit for new US-made electric cars in September. The company recently introduced a wave of new incentives and offers, including free supercharging for some Model 3 purchases and free Full Self-Driving transfers, as it looks to drive sales before the end of the tax credit. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment sent outside normal working hours.
Axios
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
What to know about "Good Trouble Lives On" protests in Indiana
Hoosiers will be among the tens of thousands of people expected to protest the Trump administration again on Thursday, the fifth anniversary of the death of civil rights leader and former congressman John Lewis. Why it matters: Lewis was one of the most vocal critics of President Trump during his first administration. He skipped Trump's 2017 inauguration — only the second Lewis missed during his three-decade tenure in Congress including former President George Bush's inauguration in 2001. By the numbers: 56,000 people RSVP'd for more than 1,500 events across the country as of Friday, organizers said. What they're saying: "Good Trouble Lives On is a national day of action to respond to the attacks on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration," the protest website said. "Together, we'll remind them that in America, the power lies with the people." The other side: "Nearly 80 million Americans gave President Trump a historic mandate to Make America Great Again and he is delivering on that promise in record time," White House spokesperson Liz Huston said in a statement. Context: Lewis, the son of sharecroppers, grew up in rural Alabama. The civil rights leader was arrested more than 40 times and injured repeatedly but remained an advocate for nonviolent protest, per the Library of Congress. "Rosa Parks inspired us to get in trouble," he said in 2019. "And I've been getting in trouble ever since. She inspired us to find a way, to get in the way, to get in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble." State of play: Anti-Trump protests since January have retained their momentum, including Tesla Takedown in March, Hands Off! and 50501 in April, May Day, No Kings in June, and Free America on Independence Day. Indivisible, a leading protest organization group, launched a project ahead of the protest to train a million people in non-cooperation, community organizing and campaign design. Zoom out: In March 1965, Lewis led more than 600 peaceful protesters across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. What was meant to be a push for voting rights became known as "Bloody Sunday" after state troopers attacked the marchers. He was elected to the U.S. House in 1986, representing most of Atlanta, and served until he died in 2020.
Axios
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
"Good Trouble Lives On" rallies planned in Chicago
Tens of thousands of people are expected to protest the Trump administration again on Thursday, the fifth anniversary of the death of civil rights leader and former congressman John Lewis. Why it matters: Lewis was one of the most vocal critics of President Trump during his first administration. Trump's 2017 inauguration was the first that Lewis missed during his three-decade tenure in Congress. By the numbers: 56,000 people RSVP'd for more than 1,500 events across the country as of Friday, organizers said. Zoom in: Local organizers are hosting a rally at 5:30pm Thursday at Daley Plaza, and events are scheduled for suburban areas as well. What they're saying: "'Good Trouble Lives On ' is a national day of action to respond to the attacks on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration," the protest website said. "Together, we'll remind them that in America, the power lies with the people." The other side: "Nearly 80 million Americans gave President Trump a historic mandate to Make America Great Again and he is delivering on that promise in record time," White House spokesperson Liz Huston said in a statement. Context: Lewis, the son of sharecroppers, grew up in rural Alabama. The civil rights leader was arrested more than 40 times and injured repeatedly but remained an advocate for nonviolent protest, per the Library of Congress. "Rosa Parks inspired us to get in trouble," he said in 2019. "And I've been getting in trouble ever since. She inspired us to find a way, to get in the way, to get in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble." State of play: Anti-Trump protests since January have retained their momentum, including Tesla Takedown in March, Hands Off! and 50501 in April, May Day, No Kings in June, and Free America on Independence Day. Indivisible, a leading protest organization group, launched a project ahead of the protest to train a million people in non-cooperation, community organizing and campaign design. Zoom out: In March 1965, Lewis led more than 600 peaceful protesters across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. What was meant to be a push for voting rights became known as "Bloody Sunday" after state troopers attacked the marchers.
Axios
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Resistance 2.0 protests get louder and more organized
Protests against the Trump administration's policies have built up to a focused, organized movement. Why it matters: After a quiet stretch in the months following President Trump's election victory, the streets are buzzing again. Demonstrations are growing in size, in frequency, and in coordination. "The idea of protest as an effective tool regained its footing," says Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Protests against Trump administration policies and allies have attracted millions in the last few months: Tesla Takedown in March, Hands Off! and 50501 in April, May Day, No Kings in June, and Free America on Independence Day. Protests also broke out in Los Angeles last month in response to the administration's immigration enforcement, inspiring others across the country. "Good Trouble Lives On" protests are scheduled on July 17, commemorating the fifth anniversary of the death of civil rights leader and former Rep. John Lewis. More than 56,000 people RSVP'd to 1,500 events as of Friday. The other side: "Nearly 80 million Americans gave President Trump a historic mandate to Make America Great Again and he is delivering on that promise in record time," White House spokesperson Liz Huston said in a statement. Flashback: Historically, U.S. protest movements have been focused on a specific issue, says William Hall, an adjunct professor of political science at Webster University, Washington University and Maryville University. In recent years, those included the Women's March, March for Our Lives and Black Lives Matter movements. The protests of the past several months, however, reflect broader opposition to Trump-era policies and the MAGA movement. Zoom out: Protests last year came to a fever pitch over widespread opposition to Israel's war in Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack. "It took the imagination again of young people and others to say this is the way," said Browne-Marshall, who published a book this year on U.S. protest history. Zoom in: The Indivisible Project, a leading organizer group, describes its mission: "We will not yield to fascism. We will stand together and we'll fight back in defense of our rights, our communities and our values." "There's extraordinary damage being sustained across every front that we care about, and because of that, I think the way in which people are processing individual outrages or specific moments has shifted a little bit," says Leah Greenberg, Indivisible co-founder and co-director. On July 16, Indivisible is launching "One Million Rising," a national project to train a million people in the basics of community organizing and campaign design. The intrigue: Effective protesting often starts with an emotional response to policy or an event, swiftly followed by strategy, per Browne-Marshall. The current movement is reaching that second stage, she said. "That outrage is still there, but now it's going to be funneled and channeled into strategies and tactics on how we actually make change in the government," she said. " As more and more protests happen," Browne-Marshall added, "local, state and federal elected officials will feel uncomfortable maintaining the stance they have."
