In the United States of America, we have the freedom to protest as long as we don't incite violence. Think about the beauty of standing up for what you believe in, even if it's outside of a car dealership where some people are just trying to earn a living.
When they got a job selling Teslas, the salespeople probably thought it was very cool to be working with a company making luxury cars that don't rely on fossil fuels. They might have been familiar with Elon Musk’s Starlink, a satellite service that has helped places like Western North Carolina get back online. Recently, they might have felt a sense of pride being associated with the same guy who helped bring two stranded astronauts back home.
They couldn't have guessed that their boss would end up running a government-sanctioned entity charged with slicing federally funded budgets. Certainly they never imagined that Musk would become one of the most hated people in America. Or that hundreds of people would stand outside dealerships where they work, holding handmade signs criticizing Musk's DOGE efforts.
That is exactly what happened today outside of the Tesla dealership in Lyndhurst, Ohio. At the time this video was taken, the crowd was growing. They cheered as passing cars beeped their horns in response to signs that read,“Honk if you love democracy.” Who doesn't love democracy?
We also love a protest. Agree or disagree with these folks, they're not at home on a Saturday afternoon cleaning the house and cursing Musk under their breath. They're speaking up. They'll certainly get on the evening news and be featured in the Plain Dealer. They will be heard. Hopefully, it will remain peaceful. Hopefully, the salespeople inside the Tesla dealership aren't harassed. They’re not doing anything wrong.
The likelihood that protests like these, which are spreading around the country, will have a major impact on DOGE are slim. Musk has announced he'll be done with DOGE sometime in May. The dust will settle, and chances are that at least some of the cuts that were made will be reinstated.
Obviously, the best way to press for change is to contact local politicians and voice your concerns. Write letters to congressmen and senators. Demand answers.
Still, protests have their impact. The biggest takeaway from the Tesla protests is that we remain a free country. You can't protest in some other places in the world without facing harsh consequences. Even as some protestors hold signs with Nazi flags and declare the Trump administration fascist, these events prove that we are, thankfully, a democratic republic.
The Tesla protestors are free and encouraged to stand up for what they believe in. Just like the lone guy standing about 100 feet away holding a sign reading, “Caution: Crazy people ahead” is also free to speak his mind.
This is a great country. Keep on protesting. And remember to honk if you love democracy.
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