More than 100 protesters gathered outside a Tesla showroom in the Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon as part of the nationwide “Tesla Takedown” movement, voicing outrage over Elon Musk’s growing influence on the federal government.
What started with about a dozen protesters outside the Tesla showroom, 901 N. Rush St., swelled into a group of at least 100 within an hour. The demonstrators filled the air with protest signs and chants like, “Fascists, KKK, Elon Musk — they’re all the same.”
“We are outraged and angry that the world’s richest man, who happens to show sympathy for Nazi politics, is playing a central role in the U.S. government,” said Joe Allen, the organizer of the Gold Coast protest.
Since President Donald Trump appointed Musk as head of the new Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, Musk has moved to slash the size of the federal government.
Musk’s support for far-right causes globally have also come under scrutiny. On the day of Trump’s second inauguration, Musk made a stiff-armed gesture that recalled the Nazi salute.
At the same time, Tesla’s stock market value and reputation have taken hits.
“If Musk thinks he can do these things without there being a cost, I think our campaign over the last month has shown him otherwise,” Allen said.
Tesla owners have reported vandalism and said they feel caught in the middle of the feud.
Saturday’s demonstration included public health advocates, former federal workers and longtime activists.
Jim Bloyd, a retired public health worker, emphasized Musk’s role in undermining government programs that support vulnerable populations.
“Musk and his ilk are targeting Social Security. They want to privatize Medicaid and Medicare, and they’re attacking communities that are already vulnerable,” Bloyd said.
Jonathan Bassett, who worked as a contract employee for the U.S. Department of Agriculture until recently, said he lost his job as part of federal cuts that he believes were influenced by Musk’s pressure to shrink government agencies.
“Elon took my job,” Bassett said. “My contract was terminated because I was considered a ‘non-essential’ employee. But this is part of a larger effort to dismantle the federal government and make it weaker.”
Many protesters also expressed frustration with Democratic leaders.
“The response of the Democrats has been pathetic,” Allen said. “It’s created a space for people to come out who normally don’t see themselves protesting. We need stronger leadership, but instead, we see inaction.”
Bassett echoed these concerns, criticizing prominent Democrats for failing to push back against Musk’s influence and government cuts.
“They need to be doing more,” Bassett said. “We’ve seen [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez], Bernie Sanders and a few others stepping up, but people like Chuck Schumer and even our own senator, Dick Durbin, have been disappointments. They’re not meeting the moment.”
The protest reflected a growing movement to hold Musk accountable for his political activities, and activists are urging consumers to reconsider supporting Tesla.
“Don’t buy Tesla and hit him where it hurts,” Bassett said.
Allen said he has protested outside the Tesla dealership every weekend for the last month, and its participation has grown every week.
Allen said the group is participating in an international day of action on March 29 when Tesla Takedown activists hope to stage actions outside at least 500 Tesla locations across the world.
“People are energized to come out and protest Musk’s role in these really dangerous decisions of the Trump administration,” Allen said.
Tesla Takedown protests were also planned Saturday in Northbrook and Lisle, where hundreds protested outside the west suburban dealership Tuesday evening.
