CHICAGO — Skylar Damiano went from proudly owning a Tesla to spitting on them. The Humboldt Park resident would take his 2022 Tesla Fashion Y on roadtrips from Detroit to Dollywood — however he in any case had sufficient of Elon Musk by way of President Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day, when the Tesla CEO made what gave the look to be a Nazi salute.Damiano promptly traded in his Tesla, the primary automobile he owned, for every other electrical automobile at a “massive loss,” he stated. That suburban dealership instructed Damiano 9 other people got here in seeking to offload Teslas in simply two weeks, he stated.“Teslas was once cool,” stated Damiano, who lengthy sought after an electrical automobile however slapped an “Elon Musk F—ing Sucks” bumper sticky label at the automobile after Musk reworked Twitter right into a conservative social media platform. “He’s finished numerous harm to what EVs can have been. My buddies have been embarrassed to be noticed close to my automobile. The least I may do used to be do away with it prior to it turns into a real danger for me with vandalism or harassment.”
Rising rage in opposition to Musk — the sector’s richest guy, who’s now main a large push for investment and task cuts to federal businesses regardless of conserving no elected place of business — has grew to become Tesla right into a goal of Trump resistance.An rising “TeslaTakedown” motion sparked protests at greater than 50 Tesla dealerships national Saturday, together with in Chicago, the place a crowd transferring previous the Gold Coast showroom, 901 N. Rush St., swelled to about 500 other people. Some held indicators studying “Make mine a Tesla Fashion NEIN!,” “Unsightly a– Nazi automobile” and “No one voted for Elon Musk,” whilst belting out chants corresponding to, “Oligarchs out, democracy in.”About 30 cops guarded the open Tesla showroom all over the protest, however no arrests have been made. The display of pressure by way of CPD used to be extensively mocked on social media. “To verify the security of all the ones residing, running and visiting the world, in addition to the ones taking part in First Modification Job, the Chicago Police Division had further group of workers on this space for a deliberate demonstration,” a police spokesperson stated.Showroom managers declined to remark.
Protesters conserving anti-Tesla and anti-Elon Musk indicators stand out of doors of the Tesla display room at 901 N. Rush st, within the Gold Coast group of Chicago on Saturday March 8 2025. Credit score: Jim Vondruska for Block Membership Chicago
Protest police guarded a Downtown Tesla dealership amid a protest on March 8, 2025. Credit score: Charles Thrush/Block Membership ChicagoMost of the demonstrations had been non violent. However there have been studies of Tesla charging stations being torched close to Boston and pictures fired at a Tesla dealership close to Portland. Protesters in New York Town have been arrested for shutting down a Tesla dealership.Tesla drivers in Chicago have reported their automobiles being vandalized, whilst different drivers have taken to native Fb teams to mention they’ve been booed at the highway. One guy posted a observe left on his Tesla studying, “Your automobile makes you appear to be a Nazi supporter.”Anthony Stefani, a Cybertruck driving force from suburban Crystal Lake, stated he’s been flipped off on every occasion he drives into town.“It came about thrice lately already,” Stefani instructed Block Membership on Monday. “I purchased it for the automobile, now not Elon. [It] price me lower than 10 cents to refill the Cybertruck. … You get folks that find it irresistible or hate it. Simply turns out like numerous hate in recent years.”Tesla inventory has plunged by way of just about part in 3 months, greater than erasing the corporate’s Trump election bump amid rising public outrage, price lists that threaten car provide chains, slowing electrical automobile gross sales and fears from traders that Musk’s political dealings are pulling him clear of the corporate.
There have been virtually 900 fewer registered electrical automobiles in Cook dinner County from January to February, in step with the newest knowledge from the Illinois Secretary of State’s Place of job.Lavern Canteen, an established automobile salesman at McGrath Automative Crew in West The city, stated he’s simplest traded for 2 of a slew of Teslas introduced in lately. One of the crucial vehicles, with simplest 4,000 miles on it, got here from a “pissed” federal worker, Canteen stated.“No one needs to shop for them, no broker needs to business for them, as a result of you’ll’t promote them,” Canteen stated. “Don’t be expecting to get what you paid for it.” 
A Tesla SUV is given a parking price tag as protesters conserving anti-Tesla and anti-Elon Musk indicators stand out of doors of the Tesla display room at 901 N. Rush st, within the Gold Coast group of Chicago on Saturday March 8 2025. Credit score: Jim Vondruska for Block Membership ChicagoTrump, who signed an govt order to erase tax breaks for electrical automobiles, shopped for a Tesla Tuesday at the White Space driveway after vowing he’d purchase one as a “display of self belief” in Musk. Musk has been given the reins of a brand new Division of Govt Potency — referred to as DOGE — with legally questionable authority. In Chicago, Musk’s efforts have laid off federal staff, moved to near federal workplaces Downtown and shuttered Veteran Affairs methods that have been run out of native ward workplaces.Trump stated on his personal social media platform that Musk used to be “doing an unbelievable task,” calling the motion to “illegally and collusively boycott Tesla” the workings of “radical left lunatics.” Musk stated on X, previously Twitter, that “vandalism isn’t unfastened speech.”Joe Allen, an area organizer of TeslaTakedown, helps plan every other demonstration known as “Don’t purchase Nazi vehicles!” for midday Saturday out of doors the Gold Coast showroom. He believes the trouble will also be simpler than just cathartic, “consuming away on the symbol” Musk constructed as an innovator.“Democrats, within the opinion of numerous other people, aren’t doing anything else to battle Trump. However there’s individuals who need to battle Trump,” Allen stated. “That specialize in the nefarious function of Musk for attacking veterans products and services, social safety, that’s what’s maddening to other people. And with Tesla, that is the place he’s susceptible.” Lon Goodman watched the protest Saturday from within his Tesla. “I’m truthfully ashamed to possess this automobile,” Goodman stated. “I purchased it approach prior to I knew Musk had the leanings he had. I’m right here with my son to reveal him to protests.”
A Tesla drives by way of protesters conserving anti-Tesla and anti-Elon Musk indicators status out of doors of the Tesla display room at 901 N. Rush st, within the Gold Coast group of Chicago on Saturday March 8 2025. Credit score: Jim Vondruska for Block Membership ChicagoA few other people trickled into the Gold Coast showroom because the protest went on Saturday, together with one guy who stated “we like Elon” however declined to offer his title or remark additional. Erfin, an Uber driving force, stated he switched to a Tesla over the summer time after a charger used to be put in in his construction, including that “politics doesn’t get in the way in which of my task.”“I installed virtually 200 miles an afternoon doing Uber, and the amount of cash and time I’m saving now not having to maintain fuel is worthwhile,” Erfin, who declined to percentage his final title, stated Saturday. “I believe [Musk] is a superb guy, however he will have to promote the corporate if he’s going to paintings in govt. It’s a battle of hobby.”Simply out of doors the showroom, demonstrator Alea Perez known as Musk’s govt involvement “gross.”“He used to be now not an elected legitimate that voters selected to place into any custom of energy,” Perez stated. “He’s seeking to hoard wealth, and it’s going to be harmful to the wellbeing of all American citizens with this DOGE s—.”Allen, a 63-year-old former Teamster who has been no stranger to town wood traces, stated the protest Saturday — smaller than many after Trump’s first election — gave him a bout of déjà vu. “If you happen to closed your eyes, would you realize it used to be 2017 or 2025?” Allen stated. “Other people need to do one thing. … That is the start.”
Protesters conserving anti-Tesla and anti-Elon Musk indicators stand out of doors of the Tesla display room at 901 N. Rush st, within the Gold Coast group of Chicago on Saturday March 8 2025. Credit score: Jim Vondruska for Block Membership Chi
A mirrored image of protesters conserving anti-Tesla and anti-Elon Musk indicators status out of doors of the Tesla display room at 901 N. Rush st, within the Gold Coast group of Chicago on Saturday March 8 2025. Credit score: Jim Vondruska for Block Membership Chicago
Police stand guard as protesters conserving anti-Tesla and anti-Elon Musk indicators stand out of doors of the Tesla display room at 901 N. Rush st, within the Gold Coast group of Chicago on Saturday March 8 2025. Credit score: Jim Vondruska for Block Membership ChicagoListen to the Block Membership Chicago podcast:
