About 100-125 people gathered outside the Tesla dealership in Peabody on Andover Street last Saturday afternoon to protest Elon Musk’s unelected involvement in the United States government.
North Shore Indivisible, a grassroots progressive group “united by the belief that American democracy is under threat,” wrote in a statement that it was also in attendance at the Peabody Tesla dealership, and that it had organized to be present from 12-2 p.m. for its second “Tesla Takedown.”
NSI mentioned that its group members were particularly moved by one protester bringing a large American flag to the protest.
“We believe that dissent is patriotic, especially now that our democracy is in peril. We are standing up for the Constitution and the rule of law,” the statement wrote. “The reason why we are pushing back against the Trump Administration is that we love this country. We believe that democracy is fragile and precious and is worth defending.”
NSI wrote that protesting at the Tesla dealership is “a symbolic, nonviolent action against an unelected person, Elon Musk, taking charge of the government and yielding unchecked power in violation of American laws and values.”
Marblehead resident Barbara Roy attended the protest and emphasized that it was a non-violent protest and that she does not “invite, encourage, or support” violence.
“We actually greeted the police officers on duty. I went and spoke to them directly because I’m a citizen and they work for me, and I asked them, ‘You guys OK with all this? Let us know if we can do anything better,’” she said.
Roy added that some protesters even began picking up trash to ensure the place was left better than they found it, and to “leave a more positive impact.”
“I’m a first-time protester, and I’ve been motivated by the disturbing breach of our Constitution,” she said, adding that Musk and President Donald Trump are not following nor respecting the Department of Justice’s jurisdiction.
Roy also mentioned that she has no personal qualms with Tesla cars, but protesting outside of Tesla dealerships is a way to send a message to Musk.
“If you want to get rid of waste and fraud, do it with a scalpel. Do it meticulously. Do it with research. Don’t fire the nuclear people and then say, ‘Oopsie, we need them,’” Roy said.
She added, “The slash and burn approach is not something I’m comfortable with, and Elon Musk is not open to receiving a phone call from me or an email. There’s no way I can get my message over to him, but I can protest against Tesla, and his board can suffer the consequences as they fall on them as a result of Elon’s actions.”
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead was also in attendance at the protest. Minister Edmund Robinson said that while this was the church’s first time protesting Tesla, the church has been protesting through street demonstrations dating back to the Vietnam War.
“We want to be doing something to express our values, and that seemed like a good enough thing to do,” Robinson said. “I don’t think anybody has any animus toward Teslas or driving Teslas. Most people can’t afford one, but we were not there to cause any damage to the Tesla dealership. (We were there) because it overlaps with Elon Musk, who’s been doing some pretty unfavorable things in his position as sidekick to the president.”
When asked why now is the time to protest Tesla, Robinson said, “Ask Donald Trump and Elon Musk why the time is now for them to be destroying our government. Because (this) is a reaction. We’re doing it in reaction to these things, and they’re doing slash and burn to the structure.”
Roy said she protested because she wanted to be able to say she was on the side of history that tried to take action.
“When all this is said and done, whether it’s in a year or four years or five years, do you want to look back and say, ‘I just hid in my room,’ or do you want to look back and say, ‘I participated. I helped. I made a difference,’” she said.
The Tesla dealership in Peabody declined to comment.
