PALO ALTO — A group of demonstrators gathered outside Tesla’s Palo Alto showroom on Wednesday, March 5, as part of the growing Tesla Takedown movement, calling for a boycott of the electric vehicle company and denouncing CEO Elon Musk’s political influence.Tesla was headquartered in Palo Alto, California, from 2009 until 2021, when Musk moved the company’s corporate headquarters to Austin, Texas.
The protest took place a day after President Donald Trump’s March 4 address to Congress, where he praised his administration’s policies and criticized Democrats. Organizers say the movement, which began earlier this month, urges Tesla owners to sell their vehicles and investors to divest.
“There’s a lot of community programs being shut down, people who need food stamps, immigrant rights, people getting deported, discrimination and pressure and prejudice against trans and non-binary children and folks,” said Alicia, the protest organizer who did not provide Peninsula press with a last name.
Demonstrators cited broader social and economic issues, including budget cuts and civil rights protections. One protester described the movement as opposition to what they see as authoritarian policies.
“People are waking up and fighting back,” the demonstrator said.
The protest also comes as Tesla faces financial setbacks, with shares declining 45% since the start of 2025. On Monday, the stock fell more than 15%, closing at $222.15, marking its lowest point since late October, according to AP News.With protests spreading to multiple cities, the long-term impact of theTesla Takedown movement remains to be seen.Demonstrators, however, say they intend to sustain pressure in the weeks ahead.
