New Delhi: On February 15, people across the U.S. and other countries will protest at Tesla dealerships in what’s being called the “Tesla Takeover.” This movement, which quickly spread on the social media site Bluesky, is fueled by frustration with Elon Musk and his growing influence.
Why Are People Protesting?
The idea started on Bluesky with disinformation researcher Joan Donovan. After seeing small protests against Musk before, she called for a bigger one. Filmmaker Alex Winter (from Bill & Ted) helped spread the word, and even the hacker group Anonymous has supported the movement.
People are protesting for different reasons. Some are unhappy about Musk buying Twitter (now called X) and how much power he has in politics. Others believe he is using government data in unfair ways and spreading false information. Some fear that Musk and his supporters are putting government workers, judges, and their families in danger.
One Tesla owner, Ralph Ballart, hopes that if enough people stop buying Teslas, Musk will be forced out as CEO. He wants someone like Tesla co-founder JB Straubel to take over instead.
What Do Protesters Want?
This protest is a grassroots movement, meaning it’s organized by everyday people, not big groups. Alex Winter has teamed up with The Disruption Project, a group that helps train activists. As of Friday, there were 42 planned protest events in cities like Austin, Seattle, New York, and Miami.
The main goal? Hurt Tesla’s stock price. Since most of Musk’s money comes from Tesla stock, a big enough drop could force him to sell shares or pay off debts. Protesters hope this will weaken his power. But more than that, they want to make people aware of his growing influence and encourage more pushback against him.
How Are They Protesting?
Protesters are asking people to sell their Teslas, sell Tesla stock, and join demonstrations at Tesla dealerships. They’re using the hashtag #TeslaTakeover to spread the word online.
What Else Is Happening?
Recently, some Tesla stores have been vandalized by people angry at Musk. But the organizers of Tesla Takeover say this protest is about peaceful, legal action, not breaking things.
It’s unclear how much of an impact this movement will have, but many are watching to see what happens next, including Musk himself.
