By Pat Bryant
The nation is experiencing protest reaction to Elon Musk and billionaire takeover of government, firing federal workers, and demolishing federal departments and agencies—all to fund a massive 6 trillion-dollar tax cut giveaway to the richest people on the planet. Musk, the largest shareholder of Tesla gave Donald Trump $288 million in the 2024 election. President Donald Trump rewarded Musk with his running the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). DOGE is engaged in destroying federal programs that have served Americans for the past 80 years.
The large protests are centered at Tesla car dealerships, City Councils, Republican Party congressional offices and state capitols. Tesla stock has lost 48 percent of its value since January.
Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee are among 500 cities that protestors will target 277 Tesla dealerships on Saturday March 29, making the demonstrations the largest since protests of police murder of George Floyd during 2020.
Saturday March 29 protests were announced on a hour long call that included members of congress, federal workers, academics and journalists. Already demonstrations have grown from a few scattered that now are set to become historic.
The drastic changes Musk and Trump have made are historic. Never so quickly in U.S. history has monumental changes occurred so quickly. Most of the agency destruction and firing have been blocked by federal judges. Trump and the Department of Justice are fighting those judges and is calling for impeachment of judges which has been rebuked by Chief Judge John Roberts. Roberts said disagreements with judges are not a impeachable matter.
Rep. Jasmine Crocket (D-Tx) endorsed the protests saying “we are fighting for our country. We’re fighting for our freedoms. And when I say fighting, I’m saying that figuratively. Obviously, everything that I am promoting is non-violent. Congresswoman is a leading Democrat resisting Trump’s firing workers and slashing agencies, without congressional action which is illegal. Key among the agencies are the Department of Education and the Social Security Administration.
Rep. Crockett call for non-violent protest come amid some sporadic violence, but well media publicized violence against Tesla dealerships. There have been only peaceful protests in Florida and most places.
Three people have been indicted for attacking dealerships and setting fire to electric cars. These violent events are minor in scale, but President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi threatened severe prosecution of those destroying property as terrorists with the justice department seeking 20-year sentences.
Trump also staged an illegal promotion at the White House as Tesla stock plummeted. It is illegal for government officials to promote any company or product on government property on government time. Protestors have said their goal is to destroy Tesla as Trump and Musk have destroyed government programs and fired workers. Tesla sales are down due to competition and rejection in Europe, China, and the United States. Several Tesla board members, James Murdock and Robyn Denholm included, are reported to have sold over $100 million in Tesla stock in recent weeks.
Key Florida demonstrations will take place in Jacksonville Tesla 11650 Abess Blvd; Fort Lauderdale Tesla 2829 N. Federal Hwy; West Palm Beach 5544 Okeechobee; Tallahassee 2412 W. Tennessee St.
*Pat Bryant is a southern journalist who focuses on labor and human rights news in the Southern United States
