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Editor’s note about the author:  Lex King is a Department of Defense employee, who was involved in multiple diversity groups and cultural celebrations. They are writing under a pen name to avoid retaliation. Their views are their own and not the Department of Defense.

First, they grounded the Tuskegee Airmen. Then, they silenced the Code Talkers.

They swatted the WASPs, sold the Enola Gay for scrap metal, and chiseled away one of the men at the center of the Marine Corps Memorial.

For someone so concerned about lethality, the only things Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth seems interested in attacking are multicultural potlucks. Thus far, he’s banned military academies from using affirmative action, ordered defense agencies to review their libraries for ‘woke’ books, and kicked openly trans service members from the ranks. Not to mention, the Department’s digital content refresh, which scrubbed any material promoting DEI from official websites and social media accounts.

Unfortunately, Hegseth has repeatedly failed to clearly define what he considers DEI, and in the rush to comply, agencies erased some of America’s most distinguished service members…all while repeating the importance of “meritocracy.” The Red Tails are remembered for their role in racial equality, but they’re also remembered as one of the most successful bomber escort squadrons of World War II. They should be the prime example of meritocracy. Instead, they were briefly wiped from course curriculum of Air training programs.

Those mishaps expose Hegseth’s true motive. He believes in meritocracy—as long as the meritorious individuals are straight white men. Anyone else isn’t an example, but a threat.

Hegseth and fellow members of Trump’s cabinet painted diversity programs as divisive and wasteful. That extended to observance months, like Hispanic Heritage Month and Pride Month, which Hegseth canceled in the inflammatory memo, “Identity Months Dead at DoD.” Some components took it a step further; a leaked memo from the Pentagon’s intelligence agency also canceled events related to two federal holidays: MLK Jr. Day and Juneteenth. This memo release was reported in the New York Times and by AP.

Federal holidays are established in law by Congress. They all go through the same voting process and have the same status, yet as we near Memorial Day, a telling trend is unfolding. If observance months and federal holidays were truly a fiscal responsibility issue as claimed, then all 11 federal holidays would be treated the same. No social media posts. No workforce emails. No guest speakers, or celebrations, or other commemorations.

Yet on May 23, DoD published an article on their news page, “Patriotic Military Events Planned for Memorial Day Weekend at Coca-Cola 600 Race.” The very same type of article that had been commonplace for Juneteenth, before it was banned.

To be clear, I don’t believe the Department is inherently wrong for recognizing Memorial Day. They absolutely should, just as they should afford equal treatment to all 11 federal holidays. Hosting a Memorial Day event while banning MLK Jr. Day and Juneteenth, when all three days share the exact same designation, is treating the events differently based solely on “DEI.”

What do Juneteenth and MLK Jr. Day have in common? The advancement of civil rights, the reflection on past wrongdoings, and the celebration of Black culture. Let’s cut through the smoke and mirrors. These holidays were targeted due to racial prejudice. Three events, all with the same status in U.S law, received different treatment due to a protected characteristic—textbook discrimination. It may not violate the letter of equal opportunity law, since it’s aimed at an activity and not a person, but it certainly violates the spirit of it, and it leaves a dark shadow hanging over the 2025 Memorial Day observances.

In previous years, hallowed, sacred days like Memorial Day were spent in quiet reflection, humility, and gratitude. They felt heavy with the weight of sacrifice. This year, it’s heavy with something else: Tension.

When Arlington National Cemetery scraped diversity-related content from its website, it seemed like even our most venerated veterans were under attack once again. At the very same cemetery, one can stand—as I have many times—outside the amphitheater and watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Sentinels from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment have guarded the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier every minute of every day since 1937. They even remained at their posts when black smoke poured from the Pentagon on 9/11. It’s one of the most prestigious assignments in the U.S. military, yet Sentinels don’t wear a rank. That way, they never outrank the individuals entombed.

Hegseth clearly knows the importance of the Tomb of the Unknown. He’s participated in wreath layings there before. But here’s what he seems to be missing: the Sentinels don’t know the names of the Unknowns. They don’t know their stories. They certainly don’t know what they looked like, and it doesn’t matter. Their devotion to the memorial remains steadfast, regardless of these details.

None of us know the Unknown’s heritage, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Right now, maybe that’s a good thing.

After all, if their lives don’t align with Hegseth’s distorted view of a meritocracy, how far would he go to make the Unknowns truly, completely, unknown?

The post The Myth of Meritocracy: Diversity will Never Die appeared first on DCMediaGroup.

Arlington, Va—As the weekly Saturday boycott line began winding down, Lawrence MacDonald read a list of issues over a bullhorn to about 50 who were compelled to return to week 17 of the Arlington Tesla Takedown. “Medicaid! he shouted, “Hands Off!” the group responded. “Social Security!” “Hands off!” they repeated. “Due process!…” He continued down his mental list of the many government agencies, services, and rights already hacked to pieces by Musk’s so called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and after each one they respond as if dutifully bound, “Hands off!” When he ran out of issues others shouted their reasons for being there. This went on for a while.

In the street behind them, passing motorists continued honking and partially drowning out their replies. A truck blasted its airhorn drowning them out altogether for a few moments. Someone cheered back, “Woooo Hoooo!” This delayed MacDonald’s closing comments further but gave an opening for others to speak.

With the passing months, the motorists have gotten much more into the mix of people dancing with joy, waving and cheering, reading the signs and their weekly Tesla Takedown boycott message outside the showroom on South Glebe Road. Many motorists seem to expect them to be there and have laid the sauce on thick with honking and thumbs up, sometimes disturbing the residents nearby.

Recently a resident came out to ask them to keep the noise down because he had guests to visit and lived right across from the Tesla. Someone from the boycott line threaded their response between polite and rude that the country was facing an authoritarian takeover and a little disruption while they were fighting it in the streets wasn’t going to do him or his guests any longterm harm such as this regime would do him. He left flustered. The Tesla Takedowns have continued.

Another tall muscular man they call Gus, took the bullhorn next and had something important to tell them. He had been watching youtube videos of Serbia protests. He compared the Tesla Takedowns to the actions long-standing protests in Serbia where its citizens are fighting the populist government of President Aleksandar Vucic and its crackdown on students and university professors opposing his strong arm dismantle of democratic freedoms. “Those folks out there are just relentless. They’re making a difference by getting out there every day. They’re persevering and that’s what its all about,” he said.

He also said this Telsa Takedown had the most honks of any location he had been to. He urged them to keep coming and get more to join by passing out flyers inviting others to join.

Others were doing more than their part aside from showing up. They brought friends with them. One lady in her 70s brought two friends in her age group, their long grey hair belying their age. Others much younger stood just up the line from them. It was their first time at a Tesla Takedown.

A man who runs a fulfillment business brought eight bags of his pin-up buttons which he said makes by hand, offering them free to anyone who wanted them. They cost him 50 cents a piece but he brings hundreds which are given to motorists who stop to say thanks. Bob, as they refer to him, wears his baseball cap with the buttons neatly displayed around its brim. “Have you tried my newest button edition?” he asked. It depicts a cartoon image of clown-like Trump dressed in an orange crown and a red X over his face.

Others have printed hand flyers and bumper stickers for anyone who stoped and opened their window to accept them. One of the stickers depicted a coiled snake and reads, ‘They’re Already Treading on You, Sweetie’ a poke to the Libertarians who pass by to join the line.

Tesla Takedowns Met Their Objectives

Much has come as a result of the Tesla Takedown boycott lines. They are continuing far longer than anyone imagined they would and they have been far more influential on the downfall of Tesla brand and its corporate reputation than anyone imagined they would be.

A published report in Electrek, a news and site that tracks and analyzes the transition from fossil-fuel transport to electric transport, reported a large Danish Construction Company Tschening, is returning its entire fleet of Tesla electric vehicles over Musk’s political association with Trump. The company CEO stated his company did not want to be “associated with the values and political direction that currently accompany the Tesla brand,” according to the report.

Tesla sales are down sharply globally even though the global demand and market for electric vehicles is growing as many begin to transition from fossil fuels to electric sources for their transportation.

A published report in Carscoops said Tesla sales for the month of February dropped 76% in Germany, 72% in Australia, and 66% in the European Union. China reported a 50% drop in sales during this period.

ElecTrek reported Tesla sales in the U.S. were down sharply even by its own standards; a drop of 15%, with a “record of inventory not seen in years.” The report further indicated that the reason sales were off so much was due to “brand damage” during the first quarter .

A story in TC said that Tesla’s attorneys had filed a warning with the Securities and Exchange Exchange Commission in April that “negative perceptions resulting from the protests, along with the broader criticism of the company, “may harm our brand and our business (including sales) and make it more difficult to raise additional funds if needed.”

And a story published in Truthout, told of how Tesla EV company saw a 71% drop in profit since the beginning of 2025 in part due to the onset of Tesla Takedown protests outside its showrooms.

In the Bulwark on Substack, Johnathan V. Mask wrote, “The anti-Tesla movement is one of the most successful cases of social coordination in American history. In the span of six months the Tesla brand has been made radioactive.“

Tesla Takedown Purpose is Evolving

But many are coming to realize a key fact about the Tesla Takedowns which has slowly come into focus over the past two months. They are about much more than attempting to damage Elon Musk’s reputation and separate him from his money. It was easy in the early days for boycotters to say that when all this began. When Musk’s DOGE government interlopers forced themselves past security protocols, accessed the information held in the Federal arm of government, and removed Federal workers, the issues spurring the boycott lines were straightforward. Now things are different. They’re more complicated.

In the balance of this failing democracy hangs the liberty and rights of individuals weighed against the increasing wealth of the ultra rich like Musk. Taking down Tesla’s brand by handfuls of citizens resisting Musk and his DOGE team was their initial response. But now their purpose has morphed.

This Doge intrusion into and removal of government data, and illegal shutdown of many government services, terrible as it was, seems diminished in many ways compared to what is happening now.

The Tesla Takedowns are in fact evolving and their purpose is becoming even more important. This is because the last liberal guardrail of checks and balances of power standing is the Judiciary branch itself and it is imperiled as it is beginning to fail to hold the Trump regime to account.

Bedrock constitutional rights such as Habeas Corpus, the rights of U.S. Citizens to have public due process—to appear in court—to know their charges, to understand why they are being detained, and to be provided legal defense, are being denied to migrants and citizens alike. These are bedrock principles of the U.S. Constitution. This is happening to migrants workers and students as well who have green cards and are well on their way to citizenship.

Birthright citizenship rights are also being swept aside by the Trump regime with its growing hunger for power. And the regime is now ignoring or gaslighting many rulings of U.S. District Court Judges and even the Supreme Court on these issues. This threatens to sweep aside Judicial power altogether.

The bedrock ruling of the 1803 SCOTUS ruling in Marbury v. Madison, established that the Supreme Court was vested with the power and the final say of interpreting the constitutionality of law. Trump said he did not know if he was required to uphold the constitution, even though he twice took such an oath to do so on January 20, 2017 and on January 20, 2025.

The talk at the Tesla Takedown boycott line reflects a growing sense of unease that there’s much more at stake at the boycott lines than just Musk, his EV sales, and Tesla stock values. The boycott line is beginning to accept that they will be among those in the last guardrail checking the Trump regime power takeover in the U.S. government

The people are the last guardrail of power balance in any democratic government. What they decide to do about it will be the next chapter written in this country’s history.

The post Citizens Persist at Tesla Takedowns; Pace For Long Race Hard Road appeared first on DCMediaGroup.

Arlington, VA—The DC Maryland and Virginia community refuses to stop their weekly stands outside Elon Musk’s Tesla Electric Vehicle Company showrooms. Their efforts to cast the car company in an unfavorable light has succeeded far beyond their initial hopes in February when handfuls of them first stood in cold weather with their hand made signs and their will.

Their boycott lines have catapulted from social media and into the mainstream media talkshows. They have affected Tesla sales, damaged its stock value, by spreading their boycott message across the country. Their boycott message has also spread internationally to the European Union and to Australia.

They showed up again on Saturday and Sunday this weekend for the “sweet sixteenth” week. One man brought his dog, they affectionately named Chester, who is in his sixth week of coming to the Tesla Takedowns. He gets plenty of pets and has assumed his place as a mainstay. Another person who barely escaped an oppressive regime with their parents has brought their son, an early 20-something youth just out of college and exposed to resistance for the first time. Someone brought their child to the boycott line. Others bring food, water, snacks and sign-making materials. Another has brought protest buttons they made to distribute to passing motorists. Someone else brought flyers to encourage others to join the boycott line.

They are driven in part by escalating incidents of harassment from the regime and its acolytes against resisters. Judges, law firms, universities, Federal agencies and the leadership, and institutions that have stood up against Trump have become targets of retribution. This has destabilized democratic institutions hut has also fueled the resistance of the boycott lines to continue their repeated Tesla showroom protests.

They are also compelled by a sense of justice and compassion for others who are suffering from the abuse of power by this regime. The Trump regime wants to break institutions by force, demoralize the vulnerable by abusing them, and instill fear by creating chaos where the rule of law previously guided social order. The Tesla Takedowns are much more than anything else about ordinary citizens with no other connection other than their humanity, fighting for a just society. So they show up with zeal, find humor and express bonafide joy, and encourage others to keep going.

Three political scientists wrote in a New York Times op ed that the US had “Crossed the line into competitive authoritarianism.” But to the boycott lines the evidence of an inexorable march to full-blown fascist state was plainly visible months ago. It’s just that the mainstream media cannot acknowledge it or refuses to waken to this fact.

The odd collection of ordinary citizens come from most every walk of life—Boomers, Millennials, X-Gens, and Zoomers have all shown up—and here and there members of the late Silent generation have joined the boycott lines. Because they remember life in the world when Hitler lived and nearly brought the world destruction to Europe, The Middle East, and Asia.

Tesla Takedowns offer them a few hours to share their thoughts and vent about what is happening to their government and communities. They look forward to seeing each other and sharing ideas about what to do next. They network about other grassroots groups taking actions elsewhere. Some of these groups represent organic community resistance just like the Tesla Takedowns. Some of them have come to the afternoon Tesla Takedown at Arlington after first having gone to another action elsewhere earlier it the day. And it takes a toll on them physically and emotionally. They feel they have no choice but to keep fighting because there’s so much at stake. To quit now means to accept defeat.

All around the country there are similar actions taking place led by citizens just like them. They see the posts, photos, and videos on social media. It also fuels their fire to keep going. Locally there are other groups doing much of what they are doing, just in different ways. It drives them like a locomotive.

There’s a group linking up during rush hour to hang banners and signs from bridges with messages the passing drivers understand. “No Kings,” is hung from I-395, “Moms Say Save Medicaid And Snap,” hangs over Route 50, “Honk,” reads yet another. They are composed of giant interchangeable block lettered signs strung together like giant billboard signs and held in place by bungee cords. And they play their part in some way—even if the only act of resistance that the passing motorists do that week is to honk at a sign in approval. Seeing others taking a stand is something they’re going to remember later in the week and perhaps they’ll join in to hang signs from the bridges. The organizers say this is how their numbers have grown by hundreds since February.

Another group stands in for Drag Queen Story Hour to provide a citizen-led neighborhood watch against trouble from religious extremists and Proud Boy groups that have previously harassed the Drag Queens and families who were attending the readings. These groups also meet weekly.

Yet another group has been protesting outside the El Salvador Embassy in downtown Washington DC over that country’s illegal incarceration of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Abrego is a green card holder, married to an American citizen, and in the process of gaining his US citizenship. Yet he was still disappeared by ICE without due process, flown to El Salvador, and locked up in dungeon conditions at CECOT, a notorious concentration camp.

A group is gathering at the court house in Maryland protesting against the arrest of migrants without given due process, held indefinitely without habeas corpus, as constitutionally required. And these are not one off cases—there are many of these cases winding through the courts, perhaps 1000s, no one knows for sure because ICE is not releasing information about where they are or who they are.. There have also been several children born in the U.S. to migrants and by constitutional authority ought to and should be deemed American citizens, yet they have been arrested by ICE too.

So these issues compel the weekend Tesla Takedowns and the other weekly actions to continue because there are so many issues created by this regime. And the issues are getting more blatant as the regime gets more desperate with its diminishing support percentages based on polling.

The Tesla Takedowns serve as a way for the citizens to find stable ground and organize themselves to ready for worsening conditions likely to come as the regime continues its assault on what is left of individual rights and democratic institutions.

But much more importantly, the boycott lines are being acknowledged as having a devastating effect on the bromance between two of the world’s most famous narcissists, Trump and Musk.

According to Sherrilyn Iffyl, a civil rights attorney, writing in her substack blog, “the bromance” between Trump and Musk, “is over.” She further writes that their “rift was caused, it appears, by some combination of Elon’s arrogance…Trump’s recognition that Elon’s unpopularity was potentially dragging down his poll numbers…[and] the press questioning whether Elon was serving in fact as a shadow president – an affront to Trump’s massive ego.”

Iffyl notes in particular that the Tesla Takedowns have taken hold and fanned the flames of regret among jTrump and his cabinet that Musk was welcomed as an integral part.

“Most of all the #TeslaTakedown protests were particularly effective. Trump likes a winner and the death of Tesla as a marquee brand as a result of these wide-ranging protests made Elon toxic for Trump. Springing up organically in communities throughout the country, these overwhelmingly non-violent protests outside Tesla dealerships were populated by midwestern grandmas, middle-aged men and women on the coasts, college students, Gen Zs, and suburban Moms and Dads across the country. Even more powerfully, the protests took on an international dimension, with Tesla Takedown protests extending to Europe and Australia.

“The protests have been so far reaching and sustained that Musk’s ego would not allow him to believe that people can hate him that much. His insistence that protesters must have been paid to participate in demonstrations is a testament to the cluelessness of a man who would think it was hilarious to brandish a chainsaw while giggling manically in glee at how effectively he has slashed and burned the jobs that form the livelihood for of the American workforce. Yes, Elon, people who need their jobs to survive, who want medicine, believe in science, support equal rights and justice, and most of all want to believe that when they are too old or ill to work, their country will not consign them to destitution and homelessness with no health care, really do hate you that much,” she wrote.

Tesla protesters often joke among themselves about whether or not anyone has received their weekly Soros checks but so far no one has come forward with one. They joke that they still hold out hope for their compensation. The reality is that there will never be remuneration.

Someone has to pay for the gas and the supplies, the wear and tear on the cars getting them from point to point. It’s costs are out of pocket for everyone involved. There’s no funding and no funds to draw from. Nothing is free. And time on the line means other life priorities get pushed aside. Its the price they willingly pay for a chance to hasten this regime’s downfall to the dustbin of history.

The post Tesla Takedown Continues To Week Sixteen; Citizens Undeterred appeared first on DCMediaGroup.

Arlington, VA—Mothers everywhere will be beaming with pride as their grown children return home bringing flowers for Mother’s Day weekend. Though flowers are a nice gesture, doing something with Mom like cooking dinner or taking her out is another way to say ‘I love you’ on Mother’s Day. But going to a local Tesla showroom with your children to fight fascism? Well, maybe.

After all, Mother’s Day is that one special day set aside to celebrate Moms and all they did to help us grew to adulthood; readying us for school, getting the supplies we needed, helping with our homework, preparing nearly 6580 dinners through the last high school year. Then there were the many times we got sick or needed reassurance through a hard time and it was Mom who was the one that was there for us more than anyone else. Then there were the talks and admonitions during difficult times of growing up when we went astray and the hard wisdom Mom gave us which we often did not fully grasp until years later when we appreciated and understood that wisdom.

On Mother’s Day weekend 2025, Mother’s wisdom continued with push back against fascism at the Tesla Takedown in Arlington, Virginia. That too may be another way Mom says ‘I love you’ as this is a dark time when we need assurance and wisdom. And who else knows more about life’s ups and downs and the wisdom to overcome hardship than someone who gave us our first breath?

Our democratic institutions and rights are being whittled away by the authoritarian regime currently trying its best to destroy the institutions and family support systems and Mothers everywhere depend on these to help their families navigate a society growing more difficult and complex with every year. This regime is cutting or attempting to cut Medicare, Social Security, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and many Federal agencies that provide services that help communities remain economically stable, healthy and safe. There are many facing cuts but some of them include the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Health and Human Services, Department of Education, U.S. Agency for International Development, and the National Institute for Health. And Mothers both here and abroad need these services to raise children.

But what is the history of Mother’s Day and why is it so important, especially in 2025? Mother’s Day was conceived primarily by three women, mainly. Ann Reeves Jarvis, who was an activist who organized women’s clubs to help with sanitary conditions in Appalachia in the 1860s. She also focused on the high infant mortality rate and worked to create better conditions for families and children. Julia Ward Howe worked towards peace and eradication of war with a Mother’s Day for Peace day after the Civil War. In 1905, Anna Javis wished to memorialize her own mother and all mothers on a special day. She reached out to organizations and influential people, lobbying for a Mother’s Day holiday and in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson recognized it by signing a bill into law designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

So it was Mothers who also showed up today and stood in for us for Mother’s Day weekend. It’s what Mothers do and have always done.

Some Mothers also brought their children with them to the Tesla Takedown because mothers understand that sustaining a family isn’t just providing daily meals, clothing, or mother’s assurance. Children learn how to survive by an example of how to live and stand up for what is right. Because mothers also teach hard to understand lessons which children may not understand until years later when that wisdom blossoms.

And so the Mothers brought their children to show them how they must stand in for the just society they want and need to survive. They also brought placards and magic markers for their children as if it were a homework assignment to make signs for the passing motorists to honk in support of their messages. One Mom brought her homemade baked chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, enough for everyone to have as many as they wanted.

This Mothers Day the Mothers instructed their children on what one must do to stand up and fight against a regime entranced with its own power and greed. And the children may not yet fully grasp what they learned today. But who knows, maybe children are far more understanding today than children of decades ago. The children know that something isn’t right by the determined look on their Mothers’ faces.

This regime needs no reintroduction because regimes of this nature are typical, unimaginative and boring. Regimes are also the mark of unhealthy societies, ruled by the misguided and the selfish within those societies. They have historically tried and failed at governance too many times to count. This regime will fail too and when it does, it will because of Mothers standing in. Mothers are the antidote to regimes because they are guided towards family and naturally giving of themselves to raise others.

It was a sunny day and the weather was not too cold and too hot and there was not a cloud anywhere from horizon to horizon. And it was a perfect Mother’s Day for teaching children how to stand up for themselves and for a just society.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms standing in to fight this regime.

The post Moms Teach Children How To Fight Fascism at Tesla Takedown on Mother’s Day appeared first on DCMediaGroup.

Arlington, VA—Word was passed among the Tesla boycotters earlier this week not to tread on the Arlington Tesla’s dirt surface because the company was laying new mulch. So on week 14 of the boycott actions the line stayed off the new mulch out of respect for the business operation. As they have done for the last 3 1/2 months, boycotters brought their hand-painted signs, many of which were new as last week’s action was soaked by a storm.

Those who think the Tesla Takedowns are just about taking down Tesla stock values and separating Elon Musk from his capital have missed the point of Tesla Takedowns. The actions themselves have become more important with each passing week because the Trump regime’s insatiable lust for power has expanded and cannot be constrained. The recent disappearance of migrants and American citizens without due process afforded under the law during a court hearing demonstrates that.

The Tesla Takedown actions are grassroots organized with horizontal support volunteers and no hierarchy or funding. There is a short list of standards they have agreed to follow. One is that they don’t verbally challenge or verbally attack Tesla customers, they don’t block the driveway, and they are respectful of drivers who oppose them, although there are very few. Most drivers passing by honk in support of the boycott or give a thumbs up, or stop to talk when the traffic light is red. Participants hand out buttons and ask them to join. Some have even joined the action. Another standard is that they encourage each other through joy and lightheartedness despite the bad news reports because fascism and authoritarianism thrive on fear, dread, and silence, so demonstrating its opposites, courage, joy, and vocal opposition, are themselves forms of resistance. They are also revolutionary acts because they are contagious and they work. Many who return say they look forward to the next time they can come.

This has created a family friendly event and an atmosphere where a variety of diverse groups are welcomed to the boycott. Many have brought their spouses, grandchildren, dogs, while spending a few weekend hours to do “community service” which they have come to describe as fighting a fascist regime.

The Tesla Takedowns are fun though there’s a lot at stake, much more than there was when the Tesla Takedowns first began. The participants discuss amongst themselves the current crisis and how democratic governments like this one are in reality quite vulnerable to the rise of an authoritarian, given the right circumstances. One sign someone is holding quotes a passage from ‘Diary of Anne Frank’ warning about people being disappeared or “kidnapped” in the night, as the sign’s holder describes. It is now the same reality here in the U.S.. Another sign warns of the dangers that befell Germany when the Third Reich came to power, when many waited for others to act. It too is now the same reality here in the U.S.. But Tesla Takedown boycott line aims to intervene in some way even if it is not through direct action.

One participant came for the first time on Sunday. He said he didn’t know what else he could do but he wanted to do something. It was his first time at a street action.

The Tesla Takedown boycott lines are mostly targeting one man, the worlds richest man, who has with his special government employee Doge team, dismantled the operations of the U.S. Federal agencies and in many cases, illegally removed or dismissed without authorization, 10s of thousands of its workers. Through Doge, Musk has also created chaos in the Federal government and in the U.S. Judicial system. But the boycotters are also and indirectly targeting the Trump regime, because Musk has enabled its power grab as it has sought to control the three branches of government by bullying its way to power.

Over 80 cases are weaving their way through U.S. Federal District Courts, with Appeal Courts, and the Supreme Court also issuing rulings. Musk and his Doge team has triggered these cases and appeals and temporary restraining orders; orders which the Trump Regime, vis-a-vis the Department of Justice, has stalled the implementation of by delaying, failing to comply with, or by ignoring the orders altogether.

All this has cumulatively caused incalculable damage to the democratic system of government. American citizens depending on normal governance, operating processes, and services of government, have been affected in many ways. At stake are the safety, benefits, rights, and even the liberty itself of every American citizen. The full effects of the loss of these has not yet come into full focus.

Tesla Takedowns are targeting Elon Musk because he has bragged about deconstructing the Federal government and destroying its operations and the economic livelihoods of tens of thousands of Federal workers. Musk has in effect enabled Trump by doing with Doge what Trump himself and his cabinet could not do alone.

Trump hired Musk to destroy democratic institutions and the bedrock of government infrastructure after Musk donated millions to his election campaign. Americans did not vote for Musk to take down the Federal government or enable Trump to gain so much authority over it to take away freedom and liberty as well.

Recently Musk appeared on a talk show to complain about the unfairness of those opposing him outside his Tesla showrooms. He complained about vandalism to several of his showrooms and cars in the U.S. and in Europe, without acknowledging the true destruction to the country he and Doge have caused.

Tesla Takedown boycott line participants discuss these issues and understand what is at stake. They discuss the issues and share information about other events coming up and encourage others to join.. They encourage each other to keep showing up despite the spate of reports that services and liberty are quickly being whittled away, They act like a swarm of Canada geese encouraging each other to continue. This is why they keep returning to Tesla showrooms. And even though Musk has recently disappeared into the shadows, unable to face the immense backlash against him, they keep returning, three days a week.

They say they aren’t leaving but it is likely they won’t be out there for good.

When they say they aren’t leaving they don’t mean they are remaining there at Tesla Takedowns permanently. They mean their energy, spirit, and effort will be to challenge Elon Musk wherever and wherever he shows up. They aren’t going anywhere.

The post Tesla Takedown Boycott Holds The Line At Showroom In Arlington VA appeared first on DCMediaGroup.

Arlington, VA—Rain, wind, mud, drenched clothes, and soggy shoes at the Arlington, Tesla Takedown boycott line did little to prevent the die-hards from completing their weekly Tesla Takedown community service. On week 13 they danced even better in the rain than they did before skies opened up on them.

Sign lettering and sharpie messages ran and faded with the poring rain, ruining most of the colorful hand-made signs but it didn’t matter to the activists who continued dancing and encouraging passing motorists to blow their horns. Some signs appeared to be bleeding, a metaphorical statement to the state of affairs in the U.S. government at the hands of the Trump regime.

The soaking rain brought out some introspection from activists on why they were there. “Comfort and Revolution don’t go together,” said Nadine Seller, a mainstay known for her colorful cursive spray-painted banners. Soaked and undaunted, she ruminated those who continue to visit the Tesla showrooms. But her rumination may be short-lived as Tesla stock continues to founder.

From the bullhorn, Lawrence MacDonald rallied those assembled with insight on what they were doing and why they were outside the Tesla showroom. “Elon Musk says he’s stepping back from destroying our society and country. Is that what we’re doing?” he asked the protesters. “No!”, they responded.
How about ‘hell no!,” he retorted. “Hell no!” they yelled back. His skills at easily motivating groups was apparent.

He continued spinning them up. “Senator Lisa Murkowski [with] all kinds of power and privilege said she’s afraid. Are we afraid?” “Hell no!”, they responded.

MacDonald easily put into perspective that the courage and presence in the resistance movement was more powerful within the people than it was in the elected leadership. Up to this point the elected have been almost completely muted by the Trump-Musk government takeovers and takedowns of agencies and bureaus. Up to this point the speeches and appearances at agencies and bureaus have resulted in no progress stopping DOGE from taking over agencies, violating security access standards, and pilfering data.

But the Tesla Takedowns have had improbable success in undermining the value of the company in which the world’s richest man has tied most of his wealth, and used it to leverage control of I.S. government from its constitutional purpose.

Elon Musk has been the first to blink during the Tesla Takedown protest saga, telling stockholders in the media he’d be “stepping back” from his so called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) project, a project U.S. District Courts have ruled against with dozens of orders countering its actions. His project is actually a government destruction project. He said he planned to focus on “allocating more of [his] time to Tesla.”

That didn’t matter either because activists vowed to keep returning to Tesla Takedowns anyway to continue pressuring the public to dump Tesla cars and stock and boycott the car company.

It is one of the most successful grassroots organized boycott actions ever taken against a corporate behemoth as evidenced by Teslas first quarter 2025 revenue results. The electric vehicle (EV) car company sales revenue collapsed 71% compared to first quarter 2024 revenue results.

The vaunted Musk and his brand have effectively been run off the road and over a cliff by protests. The EV automaker and world’s riches man suffered damage from the nation-wide Tesla Takedowns by the card-carrying “Soros” fandom. Even Musk himself acknowledged so much so the damage during an interview in March, when he reflected on the damage to his company the Tesla protests were having. However he falsely accused the left with vandalism to his showrooms without offering any evidence to support his claim.

This is a major win for the activists who have inspired each other to keep returning each week with the energy that’s making a major impact on the Tesla corporate values and a major economic objective they first undertook in early February.

They’ll have to fix one thing however, and that’s how their signs hold up under rainy conditions. Several who’ve have been through rain storms several times before, told newcomers they could cover sigs with packing tape or place plastic over them. They’re going to need that for the Summer thunderstorms yet to come.

The post Comfort And Revolution Don’t Go Together At Tesla Takedown Week 13 appeared first on DCMediaGroup.

Washington DC—The Nation’s Capital and outlying region usually sees a protest or two on any weekend. But Saturday saw so many street actions against Trump policies it was difficult to keep track of them. In fact it was impossible to be in the dozen or more locations of the actions at the same time.

Easter weekend is usually quiet in DC as Spring break begins but it was a very busy day across the region as thousands took to the streets in multiple actions. And it wasn’t just happening in Washington DC; actions countering Trump were reported all across the country.

We take a brief look at what some of the civiic resistance looked like here in the DC-MD-VA (DMV) region on Easter weekend.

Tesla Takedown Boycott Line Week Eleven

Tesla Takedown boycott lines reached their eleventh week Saturday and are still captivating many with multiple locations reaching record numbers of participants. These grassroots activities have no overarching group or organization spearheading them yet they have attracted many mainstreamers who previously did not exercise First Amendment rights. They’ve given many a chance to engage a low-impact type of resistance that is family and children friendly. Many also brought their dogs.

Actions took place at a dozen Tesla showrooms across the region.

Elon Musk is the central target of these long-running boycott lines as the result of his so-called Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) takeover of government agencies, accessing citizens’ data, firing thousands of Federal employees, and shutting down their agencies. The goal of the boycott lines is to build public opposition to Musk’s brand, crash his Tesla Electric Vehicle stock value, and damage his reputation in the public sector, by shining light on his involvement in the U.S. Government agency takeovers.

The reality is that no one has done more to damage Musk’s reputation more than he has by disenfranchising every American from their private data. He and his DOGE team have done this with the consent of the Trump regime at the Social Security Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and work and financial data of millions of Federal employees, potentially exposing it to unscrupulous third party accessories.

On Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Ellen Hollander has blocked for now, DOGE attempts to further access Americans’ Social Security data.

The Tesla Takedown boycott line actions are succeeding way beyond activists’ greatest hopes and are still expanding.

El Salvadoran Embassy

At the Salvadoran Embassy a group of activists brought hand made signs and posters to challenge El Salvador’s authoritarian Nayib Bukele for his role in confining and denying release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran legally seeking American citizenship in the U.S. He was kidnapped by ICE agents and illegally flown to El Salvador in defiance of a U.S. District Court Order, shacked at CECOT prison after falsely being accused by the Trump regime of being a gang member. The Department of Justice later admitted his illegal arrest was due to an administrative error but still refused the Supreme Court order to facilitate his return.

This story has captured world attention and has galvanized resistance against the Trump regime. The U.S. Judiciary has repeatedly ruled against the Government over its mishandling of the legal status and physical status and the rights of Habeas Corpus of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

At the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), hundreds of Federal employees, CFPB Union members, and supporters, picketed outside its headquarters on 17th Street over the takeover and takedown of that agency by DOGE infiltrators. Recent Reductions in Force as the result of Elon Musk’s DOGE operations inside the building have been stopped by court order. The action has been one of many which DCMG has covered since early February when DOGE operatives first forced their way into the CFPB headquarters building.

The Federal employees of CFPB provided a valuable service to consumers by providing relief from unscrupulous lenders who charged junk fees, unfair mortgage fees, rip-off bank overdraft fees, and fly-by-night online services which charged customers for add-on services they did not request. The CFPB returned $21 billion to consumers since 2011 when it was created under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010.

On Thursday this week, a ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Amy B.Jackson blocked the RIFs of 1400 Federal employees at the CFPB after the National Treasury Employees Union filed suit. This fight is far from over and neither are the actions outside the Bureau.

50501 Action At the White House

The Hands Off action of April 4, two Saturdays ago drew millions into the streets across the country. Washington DC saw tens of thousands of protesters with some reports claiming between 50 and 100 thousand joining in.

On Saturday just two weeks later the action did not approach that number but those that did show up in Lafayette Square are continuing the message: Hands off Social Security, Hands off Medicare, Hands off Education, Hands off Health and Human Services, USAID, OPM, NOAA, NASA, FDA, … , Hands off of government.

The 50501 movement is a formidable decentralized operation and is likely to grow more powerful as civic actions are taken to the next level of civil disobedience.

(This story was amended to reflect Abrego Garcia’s native homeland as El Salvador)

The post Defiance Of Trump Regime Rises As It Creates Many Major Crises appeared first on DCMediaGroup.

Arlington, VA—There were fewer at Arlington Tesla boycott line Saturday but that didn’t stop Tesla Takedown die-hards from braving a cold windy weather day to draw honks and give rounds of cheers to passing motorists. Some were caught flat-footed by the brisk and stiff wind as they underdressed and suffered through the cold. But they still braved it.

The cold weather was soon forgotten because someone brought a speaker on a wagon and boomed resistance dance music to the line. Then they spontaneously did what comes naturally with good music. They joined in dance and warmed themselves by it. And this particular week the boycott line ran for two straight hours. Some had also been at the earlier Rockville Tesla Takedown drew over 200.

One can tell if a 60-year old resistance song was a trans-generational success if 20 year olds dance to the music along side 70 year olds and no body cares what moves anyone is making. The song “Stop Children What’s That Sound,” by Buffalo Springfield did just that. There were many other resistance songs in the line up that did that as well to the boycott line.

Some of the songs had no business being played on the resistance line, like “Walk The Dinosaur,” a fun full dance songfrom the 1980s that was requested by popular demand. But if it makes one feel good, why quibble over formalities like what a proper resistance song actually sounds like?

After a week with plenty of reasons not to leave the house, people still want to get out and do something that makes them feel good. The Tesla Takedown boycott lines are helping them and giving the community a chance to refresh and draw its own energy to organize while helping some get beyond the stream of earth shaking news events.

Someone brought packages of anti-Elon Tesla Club stickers and passed them to motorists who stopped. A elderly woman wore a sign strung over her shoulders reading, “Hate Won’t Make Us Great,” while holding a bubble machine. A supporter brought their favorite oatmeal chocolate cookies and passed them out. There was also a big box of chips. So why brood on the couch doom scrolling?

There were held-held percussion musical instruments many played while dancing and someone actually managed to shake a cowbell for more than two hours—finally breaking Blue Oyster Cult’s song, “Don’t Fear the Reaper.”

Dancing in the street is itself an act of resistance because an authoritarian regime cannot actually tell if its for fun or an act of resistance. That’s because regimes take themselves too seriously and can’t bear to admit they’re being made fools of.

This is what happened outside the Government Accounting Office last Wednesday during a Doge takedown pajama party. A group of 20 played music and danced to mock the Doge infiltration going on inside the key Federal finance accounting office.

As the resistance at the Tesla Takedown boycott lines slowly come to terms with the regime’s destructive nature on the civil order, Tesla Takedowns have found their weekly boycott lines as a way to process and ready themselves for what is likely to come. They hold hope for a miracle and that maybe the cavalry will ride in.

The regime is not going anywhere and neither are the resisters. But they refuse to concede. They know the future looks dark as the cherished institutions around them are one by one failing. And its not because of what cowards have done as much as it is because of what entrusted leaders have failed to do. There are far more who know the difference between right and wrong as compared to the handfuls waging nihilistic roughshod against institutions.

The question on everyone’s mind remains why are so many stakeholders obeying in advance and failing to stand up to this regime at times and places where it matters?

The cavalry isn’t going to ride in. The resistance is the cavalry. And they aren’t leaving.

The post Weather Doesn’t Stop Tesla Takedown Boycott Line On Week Ten appeared first on DCMediaGroup.

Washington DC—Tens of thousands rallied at the Washington Monument in a mass rebuke of the Trump-Musk regime, its disjointed takedown of Federal agencies, its wayward foreign and economic policies, and its policies eroding individual rights. The rally was a part of nationwide actions in major metropolitan centers, reflecting the resistance movement is getting stronger and still growing.

There were far more there than the limited projection of the sound system could reach. So if anything the event was more of a demonstration that there were many feeling the same way about the Trump-Musk policies—if one could even call them policies—because policies themselves imply thoughtful consideration of cause and effect with the objective of achieving a meaningful outcome.

The Trump and DOGE activities of the last three months have upended Federal government, ruined foreign relations with allies the U.S. cultivated for centuries, crashed the economic outlook, disrupted trade, endangered national security, eliminated education, health and healthcare agencies, stressed the judiciary, decimated foreign aid, and have resulted in the near takedowns of many other institutions, an exhaustive list of which would not fit here. The Trump-Musk actions since January have broken down, not built up. The policy authors have published no public plan for what they intend to replace with the institutions they have broken or eliminated.

At the top of on the hill of the Washington Monument it was difficult to hear speakers from the Sylvan amphitheater but one didn’t need to hear them. The handmade signs bore the messages speakers otherwise would have told.

One sign read, “No Tariffs For Penguins,” criticizing Trump’s new round of tariffs imposed last Wednesday which crashed markets on Thursday and Friday. The tariffs targeted nearly every U.S. ally as well as several Antarctic islands uninhabited by humans. The Antarctic islands happen to have tens of thousands of penguins living there so tariffs on them are not likely to be a source of much revenue for Trump’s coffers.

Another sign read, “You’re Gonna Hear Her Roar,” in a nod towards women’s equality and women’s rights to healthcare. The LGBTQIA community was well represented with flags and messages as well.

“Protect Federal Workers,” read another and many unions affected by the Federal agency takeovers brought their signature signs as well.

Yet another read, “Trump Hires Meritricious Not Merit,” with photos of his cabinet, people wholly unqualified for the positions they hold. For example, last week Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was found sending National Defense Intelligence over an unsecured phone application, spilling it to the press, and potentially endangering service personnel involved in a top secret mission. It was a violation of nearly all top level security protocols, violations which he denied. A Secretary of Defense should at a minimum obey the regulations and the laws he is obligated to enforce among his subordinates. Another cabinet member, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has disavowed vaccines, yet as Secretary of Health and Human Services, holds the key position overseeing the national health and well-being of millions of Americans.

The sign, “Protect Student Speech,” was a reference to the recent attacks on First Amendment freedoms under duress by Trump’s recent policy of rounding up students who have written or spoken against the Israeli government’s attacks on Gaza.

A group that calls itself Third Act of Virginia brought a large hand-painted banner reading “Stop DOGE,” with eight people carrying it. Another of their associates built a giant puppet of Elon Musk giving a Nazi salute in a criticism of his far-right nationalist beliefs and seeming support of fascism.

An educator brought a colorful compilation of twenty lessons that can sustain resistance through authoritarian upheaval. The lessons will become more important in the months and years to come as this regime continues its burn-it-all-down power drubbing of democratic norms. They are lessons worthy of recitation:

1) Do not obey in advance.
2) Defend institutions.
3) Beware of the 1-state party.
4) Take responsibility for the face of the world.
5) Remember professional ethics.
6) Beware of paramilitaries.
7) Be reflective if you must be armed.
8) Stand out.
9) Be kind to our language.
10) Believe in truth.
11) Investigate.
12) Make eye contact and small talk.
13) Practice corporeal politics.
14) Establish a private life.
15) Contribute to good causes.
16) Learn from peers in other countries.
17) Listen for dangerous words.
18) Be calm when the unthinkable arrives.
19) Be a patriot.
20) Be as courageous as you can.

But there was more than signage to appeal to the senses. Others brought drums and musicians played beats to common chants as hundreds joined in. Some danced and others, even children joined their parents in chants.

There were plenty of people who exchanged information on how to get more deeply involved in the resistance movement. Someone asked aloud if large protests make a difference. Do they lead to anything constructive? Well, remaining mute and immobile gives fascism the green light to flourish. Organizing, mobilizing, building community, making connections, and taking a stand against authoritarian regimes can stop fascism in its tracks.

The post Hands Off Rally In DC Draws Tens of Thousands in Rebuke Of Trump, Musk appeared first on DCMediaGroup.

Washington DC—City Council unanimously voted 13-0 to rename the DC Blue Plains Water Treatment Facility in honor of President Donald Trump. An amendment to the bill also calls for installation of a giant golden throne in his honor. The vote came late on Monday night after most administrators had left for the day. The bill was to be forwarded to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s desk for approval on April 1. But Mayor Bowser had already approved it before the DC Council did, in keeping with the DC Government’s new policy of anticipatory obedience.

Blue Plains administrator Richard Pugh said the water treatment facility was the largest and most modern in the world and it was befitting to name it after someone who was larger than life.

“Naturally there was only one person we could think of to bestow this honor so we had to pick someone who has made a big improvement on the lives of so many in the Nation’s Capital and that was Donald Trump.”

Whenever Donald Trump comes to visit his facility he’ll have his own golden throne he can pause on,” said Pugh. “That’s a good thing. We want him to be comfortable and feel right at home.” Pugh also remarked the ribbon cutting ceremony for the rebrand is being planned in a few days once the throne is installed.

Plans are underway to build the throne in a conspicuous place where everyone can see him when he comes by. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum of Art of Yew York City has provided detailed artwork on how the throne will look once construction is finished, he noted. The golden throne is not anything like those thrones you’d typically see in other monarchies,” said Pugh. This throne is very classy and will be 24 carat gold not the watered down 18 carat gold previously used at the Guggenheim Museum.

“It has to be solid gold because Donald really likes golden things. You know he has added a royal finish throughout the White House with golden curtains, upholstery, and gold on the ceilings. There’s even gold in the Oval Office with a lot of golden vases and eagle figures.”

The New Trump Water Treatment facility will process over 370 million gallons of water per day (mgd)—it really clears up the waste water coming from DC just like President Trump has cleared up a lot of government of its waste and eliminated slacker bureaucracy. “He’s done away with a lot of unwanted and unnecessary things in DC and we want to honor him for it,” said Pugh.

An earlier amendment to replace the tar at the Blue Plains Water Treatment Facility with yellow bricks spelling Trump’s name was tabled because of Federal worker cutbacks.. It would have been visible from space. When asked about the Blue Plains rebrand White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was at a loss for words for the first time ever.

The post DC Counsel Votes To Rename Blue Plains Water Treatment Plant After Trump appeared first on DCMediaGroup.

Washington DC—Hundreds of Tesla electric vehicle dealerships saw lines of citizens line up outside them urging consumers to boycott the flailing car company. The decentralized grassroots actions have targeted the world’s richest man, Elon Musk over his continued interference in Federal government operations.

A surge of anger towards the mega billionaire has fueled the Tesla dealership boycott actions which are now in their seventh week. The boycotts are credited with at least in part taking down over 40% of the car company’s stock value.

In Washington DC over 100 danced outside the Tesla dealership in Georgetown drawing many new participants to the festive block-party atmosphere along the busy M Street shopping corridor. Passing motorists joined in the celebratory mood by honking, giving thumbs up approval, and slowing to take photos and videos. The mood couldn’t have been described as a protest but more of a celebration in defiance of an increasingly authoritarian presidency.

The Tesla boycott lines are one of the remaining actions left for a citizenry stunned by the speed at which Elon Musk and his so called Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) has taken apart multiple government agencies, bureaus, and essential functions. Where Congress has failed to take decisive action against the Executive branch power grab, the citizens are taking actions on the streets.
The Trump-Musk president union is growing more desperate to assert its authority as it gets rebuffed in the Federal courts over nearly every one of its policy objectives. The judiciary is the last part of government still functioning in a constitutional separation of powers role and the last institution capable of culling any Trump-Musk power. It is there that the official decision on Federal government operations will be decided.
The growing Tesla boycott actions in the streets demonstrate restlessness in the people in that many genuinely disapprove what has transpired in the Federal government over the past 3 months.

Meanwhile at the Arlington Virginia Tesla, hundreds also joined in a community boycott line became more of a block-party celebration with over 100 citizens wearing costumes and holding hand-made signs, as passing motorists honked approval.

Tesla actions were also reported in many countries in the European Union, including France, Germany, and the U.K.

We will add video reports to this story later in the day. You may also visit our Bluesky channel for periodic video updates throughout the day.

The post Tesla Car Boycott Goes Global In Defiance of CEO Musk On Week Seven appeared first on DCMediaGroup.

Arlington, Virginia—Its 4:15 on Tuesday afternoon in front of the Tesla dealership on South Glebe Road and the sidewalk is already lined with nearly 70 cheering for passing motorists to boycott Tesla electric vehicle dealerships. More keep coming with their odd assortment of signs, and spirit. They have been coming to the dealership for a solid 6-weeks as an opposition response to Elon Musk’s butchering of Federal Government agencies, taking down or dismantling government functions, capturing terabytes of classified information, and illegal firing of tens of thousands of Federal employees.

The numbers are still growing each week as more Tesla boycott stalwarts join the boisterous line waving signs and cheering for motorists to honk their approval. Many honk as they pass but some occasional thumbs down also pass by. They don’t blow their horns.

There’s nothing uniform about the odd collection or sidewalk collaborators condemning the Trump-Musk government takedown. There are retirees, youth, a lawyer, business professionals and union workers, Federal workers, single mothers, an elderly woman in her 80s sitting in a folding chair barely able to stand, someone with an LGBTQ flag, another carrying a Black Lives Matter sign, and a man wearing a gold Guy Faulks mask. About the only uniformity among these concoctions of resistors is a desire to see Elon Musk taken down the way he’s taking down the order of their government and their financial futures.

About 40 feet away a man has set up an ancient wooden box camera on a modern metal tripod that looks like it could have been used to photograph the completion of the transcontinental railroad at Promintory Summit in 1869. Mac Cosgrove-Davies is hunched under a thick blanket hood sliding a silver nitrate covered metal plate into a slot and readying to expose it to light for a moment. He removes the lens cap and then replaces it. He leaves his camera set up on the sidewalk as he takes the plate to a nearby table on which he will develop it.

He lays the metal plate into a series of three square plastic containers and within minutes a black and white image appears on its white surface. He observes it a moment and then places it in a container of water to rinse off the chemicals. It’s a bit dark—possibly over-exposed. The light this afternoon is dim and it is a cloudy day after all, so maybe it wasn’t over exposed as much as it just a dark day.

The finished image is a reversal of the real life scene playing out before the camera. It’s a metaphor for the sequence of events in society over the past two months. Nothing seems to be anything like it was.

He uses no meters and no electric devices. The entire process is all analog and the resolution of the photographs he develops is infinite. The finished photographs even capture the blurry movement of those in the boycott line as they wave their signs and move about, an aspect that is impossible to capture with today’s digital technology.

Part artisan, chemist, and historian, and a throwback photographer from an era long past, he explains the chemistry behind the process commonly used between the 1850s and 1870s while he prepares another plate for exposure. He pours a strong mixture containing ether onto an aluminum metal plate while holding it flat in one hand and waits a minute until it sets. It’s known as the collodion wet plate process and it must be completed within 15 minutes. So he works from a portable dark room out of the back hatch of his car.

He goes into a detailed description of how the process works, describing the chemicals used and the history behind them.

“Once this collodion starts to set I’m gonna put this plate into a bath of silver nitrate. So there are hallides salted into the collodion and the silver from the silver nitrate is gonna join with the hallides and that becomes a silver hallide which is light sensitive,” he says, finally.

The Tesla boycott actions are crossing over to the mainstream as evidenced by the comming of folks like Cosgrove-Davies to record the boycott line. He has travelled to document the movement of the people. He explains that he has been using this ancient technique known as the collodion wet plate process to create images for many years but decided to begin documenting the resistance ever since the U.S. Agency for International Development was shutdown by Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency acolytes.

He says that one image of about the size of a large postcard, about 6”x 8” costs about $5 by itself to create without adding in the cost of the camera and other equipment he needs to develop the collodion wet plates. He does portraiture for about $100 per plate which enables him to continue his craft, but with this project he is documenting an historic moment which will be over sooner than later. And he’s here for it.

A Tesla salesman comes up to him from inside the electric vehicle car business and politely asks him to move his camera from the driveway entrance as he fears someone may knock it over. Its the first time anyone has come outside to speak to anyone involved in the boycott actions.

Nearby many on the boycott line snap instant digital color images from their built in cellphone cameras, completely oblivious to the artisian-chemist-photographer at work nearby. He’ll have taken and developed a series of four photos with his camera from a bygone era while the others will have taken dozens of photos and videos in minutes. They’ll upload their digital images to social media platforms. He’ll have images that capture the movement of the people and their movements in real time in black and white.

The post Tesla Tuesday Boycott Draws Ancient Styled Photo Man appeared first on DCMediaGroup.

Arlington, VA—At about 12:30 on Saturday afternoon about 20 arrived early and circled up nearby the Arlington Tesla dealership to discuss safety and security of the ongoing weekend boycott rally which was to begin at 2 pm. The main organizers of Third Act of Virginia asked participants to agree with a thumbs up of a short list of positive behaviors that would keep the boycott action inclusive, safe, and non-confrontational towards Tesla customers. They discussed deescalation as a method of diffusing tensions during conflict.

Third Act of Virginia is a grassroots organization dedicated for those 60 years and older, or in the “Third Act” of their lives and wanting to give time and resources back to their communities. But many members are much younger and like the stability and wisdom the organizers bring to the table.

During the school circle, there was a discussion of sign-making techniques and free materials provided to make them. Someone brought homemade cookies and there were drinks and snacks for everyone. A box of Budweiser non-alcoholic energy drinks was set out again—the same box left out the week before—and several were opened and gone as it was much warmer than last week. A street medic volunteered to provide care in case of injury. There were flyers and information passed out and several joined in the action for the first time.

Then the main organizers stood back while the line of boycott resistors walked to the Tesla dealership and did their boycott thing; they danced to a playlist over a sound system, cajoled motorists to blow their horns and cheered when they did; and they gave out magnet bumper stickers to Tesla owners who agreed to take them. A woman with a bubble making toy returned to spread bubbles everywhere. Someone brought their dog and he rolled in the grass. Many took pictures and short videos to share with others on social media. But the number one reason they keep growing is because there isn’t anything the Trump-Musk regime can do to stop them. And they feel empowered to take legal street action against Elon Musk’s illegal takedowns of democratic agencies and institutions by protesting his most profitable business. They’re urging the public to boycott Musk’s electric vehicle company. It’s called the Tesla Takedown boycott action and it’s going on across the country at other dealerships.

Several stepped up to be volunteer safety marshals to keep participants from getting too close to passing traffic and several others designated as police liaisons. No police showed up. Police didn’t need to show up. That’s because, there were no incidents, no confrontations, no vandalism, and there was even someone who stayed to pick up stray pieces of trash after the boycott action had mostly cleared out at 4 pm.

Over the past two weeks the Attorney General has spoken out against the First Amendment Tesla boycott actions by conflating their actions with “terrorism” because there have been several unrelated incidents of vandalism at Tesla dealerships usually late at night. The vandalism has not been linked to any of the Tesla Takedown boycott actions. Despite the Attorney General’s veiled threats, many of the participants have expressed desire to keep up the momentum of the actions by returning next week, March 29, when there will be an effort to expand the boycott actions to 500 locations globally.

For this, the sixth week the boycotts continued expanding as more joined in the actions. The boycotts are an improbable success story. They continued captivating attention, and they are gaining popularity. They are improbable in that they are one of the few prominent resistance actions that continue flourishing against a backdrop of institutional failures to repulse the spreading web of Trump-Musk authoritarianism. They are gaining popularity and captivating attention because those participants that are coming are actually creating a safe space for others to have fun blowing off steam despite the stress of watching their democratic institutions taken apart by Trump and Musk. The stress of watching democratic institutions and legislative opposition leaders fold has burdened everyone. The mainstream media is beginning to report on the Tesla Takedown boycott actions and that as well as a spectacular drop in Tesla stock value over the past three months gives evidence that the Tesla Takedown actions are successful too.

According to a published report in the Guardian, 20% of Americans support boycotts of corporations supporting Trump policies. This includes firms that have backed away from diversity and equality human resource hiring policies. A national boycott of Target stores beginning on March 6 over its rescission of diversity and inclusion human resource policies resulted in billions of lost sales. Tesla owners are turning in their cars as public pressure builds on the Tesla brand, increasing the percentage of market trade-ins for the brand according to a published report.

The Tesla Takedown boycott actions are an effervescent grassroots response to the failure of the legislative government and its institutions to protect the people against power hungry authoritarians who want to takeover and steamroll democratic institutions. They are composed of ordinary citizens who will not sit quietly while this is allowed by others too weak to stand against it.

At the end of the action, a person who goes by the name “Mac” read a quote by Gil Duran, a journalist who writes about tech fascism. He read the quote by Duran in its entirety but the salient points are,

It’s not just about money, it’s about power. Silicon Valley’s favorite word is disruption and tech companies have disrupted communication, shopping, travel, and many other aspects of our lives and some of those changes were good connecting us across cities, states and continents as we’re doing right now, but now Silicon Valley billionaires don’t want to just disrupt markets. They want to disrupt democracy itself. A small group of tech billionaires, people like Elon Musk and Peter Teal under the influence of a man named Curtis Jarvin and other right wing philosophers, believed democracy is obsolete.

“Their vision is to replace democratic nations with corporate dystopias under billionaire control. These are ideas that sound crazy, but they have been openly discussed in Silicon Valley circles for years. Its a dangerous ideology of tech supremacy.
These billionaires believe they are destined to the rule of the world. They believe the time has come to capture existing governments and remake the rules in their own favor. They seek to collapse democratic societies like the United States and replace democracy with corporate dictatorships.

“They want to replace the dollar with crypto, giving them even more power over our world. They desire to control every power center, government, police, media, academia, even religion, and they are already trying to build new corporate controlled cities, which Trump calls freedom cities, but they’re not talking about freedom for us. They mean freedom for billionaires who want to escape democracy, rules, and the law.

“This sounds unhinged, but look at what’s happening in the news. They’re trying to do this right now. These men pose an existential threat to our freedom and our way of life.

“But here’s the thing they built their empires with help from our labor, our government, our money, and our public trust, and we’re not going to allow them to use that power that we gave them to dismantle the very democracy that enabled their success.
That’s why the Tesla takeaked down matters so much because you’re proving that even the world’s richest man can be held accountable and can be cut down to size but this isn’t just about one man or one company.

“This isn’t about being the opposition or the resistance. This is a moral movement in defense of freedom, justice and human rights, and this is a mission to defend our country, our democracy, and our future. And we’re going to win, because ours is not a government of by and for billionaires.

It’s a government of by and for the people, and together we have a moral destiny to make sure that Elon Musk and his weird cronies learned this lesson and never forget it.”

https://youtu.be/zZpONedcgIo?

The post Tesla Boycott Actions Keep Going And Going Six Weeks On appeared first on DCMediaGroup.

Arlington Virginia—On week five of the Tesla Takedown protests one could be led to believe a block party was in full swing outside the Tesla dealership in Arlington, Virginia. Many went with their signs and banners but some brought sound systems with playlists and boomed the line with resistance dance music. And the music was in the right key of freedom to dance. Someone even brought a case of Budweiser nonalcoholic energy drinks in the classic aluminum cans.

The community got a large share of favorability ratings from passersby honking their support and thumbs up for the block long protest line. The protesters were near capacity on the sidewalk outside the dealership. One woman dressed as the Statue of Liberty. A man wore a brown shirt and pants with Elon Musk references symbolizing Hitler’s Nazi Germany. See video.

The grassroots leaderless Tesla Takedown action is in its fifth week with no signs of slowing. And the community is feeling good about what they are doing although they are not happy about why they’re doing it. Elon Musk’s car company is the target but ironically protesters target it by ignoring it altogether and concentrate on encouraging the public towards a national boycott of his electric vehicles. And it’s working.

Sales have plummeted in the U.S. as well as internationally. Prominent figures have announced they are selling their Teslas. The latest high profile online promise to sell their Tesla was Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), who said in a self-recorded online post, “Elon Musk kind of turned out to be an asshole and I don’t want to be driving a car built and designed by an asshole.” Cheryl Crowe announced online she too was getting rid of her Tesla and watched as it was towed away. She contributed to sale proceeds to National Public Radio.

Tesla cars have become politically taboo because Elon Musk has become politically toxic.

There were scores more this week at all the Tesla Takedown actions outside area dealerships than in all the previous actions last month. In Rockville MD and at Tyson’s Corner, Virginia as well as Washington DC, record crowds showed up for the Tesla Takedown protests. They were attended by good spirted participants and there were no incidents involving any kind of property damage.

Just before the action in Arlington a group of protesters met to discuss safety and security protocols. Someone read a list of behaviors that would be acceptable and everyone there signified with a thumbs up of their agreement with the informal code of behaviors. A certified medic joined them as well as designated safety marshals and police liaisons.

The Tesla Takedown actions are becoming so popular that more boundaries for group safety and security are needed. A core group of activists has stepped up to define what constitutes a safe environment for those wishing to participate. And it will become more useful as growing numbers join in the Tesla actions.

But since the beginning of the Tesla Takedown actions in early February, the safety and security protocols have been a natural part of the community understanding and practice of those showing up. There has been no one going onto the lot or harassing customers or employees. There has been no vandalism reported either.

On Friday, in response to an incident of vandalism on Inauguration day, nearly 2-months ago, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi warned protesters if they engaged in property vandalism they would be punished under anti-terrorism laws. “[I]f you’re going to touch a Tesla, go to a dealership, do anything, you better watch out, because we’re coming after you,” she said. Bondi’s comments were designed to have a chilling effect on the growing number of protesters by threatening First Amendment rights with arrests.

Bondi also threatened so-called funding of protesters, without offering any evidence whatsoever that the grassroots protests were funded. Bondi said, “[I]f you’re funding this, we’re coming after you. We’re going to find out who you are.” There were two other reports of isolated reports of vandalism. These did not occur during any of the Tesla Takedown protests.

On Tuesday Trump said he would consider labeling anyone “domestic terrorists” who used violence against Tesla owners or dealerships, according to a published report.

But the protesters are showing up and their numbers continue to grow. The actions are becoming increasingly popular and the community is drawn to them for resistance as well as an outlet for the stress of seeing their government dismantled by Elon Musk.

The Tesla Takedown actions are likely to grow as the weather warms and the Trump-Musk duo continue to unravel the Federal government agencies, disregard U.S. Federal Court orders, and exceed the constitutional limits of their power over the Legislature and the Judiciary.

The Tesla Takedown actions are only one part of a broader resistance movement bubbling towards a boil against the executive branch in this post-constitutional era and Tesla Takedown protests are not likely to fade away anytime soon.

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Arlington, Virginia—Its 4:15 pm on Tuesday afternoon and one can hear car horns blaring a block away from the Arlington Tesla car dealership. Some motorists toot a few times but others blare their horns down the entire length of the protest line, fueling the protesters to cheer back loudly at the passing cars. There are about 50 spread along the sidewalk of South Glebe Road holding an odd array of hand made signs. Across the street there are about 10 more. Others continue arriving, some by bike, others by foot.

The traffic is jumping along the busy road but a traffic light a short distance away slows and stops it for a moment, then it ebbs and clears out. The traffic passes less than a foot from the protest line. A woman worried about safety walks the line with a clipboard listing safety tips. She warns the line away from the street. But it creeps close again a few minutes later. Their enthusiasm pushes them forward.

Some sprint across South Glebe to take photos and videos of the line on their cell phones. They’ll post them on social media later in hopes that next week even more will come. A man is dressed like Uncle Sam and his stars and stripes top hat stands out. Some are Federal workers. Most are just there because they are shocked at what has happened in the country since the inauguration.

I ask several if there is any organization behind the Tuesday Tesla protest but there is none—everyone I speak to is from the local DMV community and heard about the chance to hit back at Musk’s electric vehicle company by word of mouth or from social media. Everyone there knows Tesla stock is dropping as word of the protests has spread from coast to coast.

Some say they have come because Elon Musk’s takeover of Federal government agencies and shutdown of many agencies has worried them about the future of the government. Some are so angry they didn’t know what to do. Calling their representatives was fruitless. They cannot understand how an unelected billionaire got inside the Federal government and has dismantled it piece by piece. They are frustrated that Congress hasn’t acted to get Musk out of government as several of their sign say. So they’ve joined the Tesla protests for a few hours. It’s their last resort.

Most of the signs they brought are an odd assortment of messages mostly critical of Musk. But other signs could lead one to the believe that there are many issues driving them there other than Musk’s transgressions within the network of classified government information systems.

Along the protest line someone is waving a Canadian flag while someone else waves the flag of Mexico, These are two countries Trump targeted with tariffs for reasons no one there seems to understand.

There’s even a flag representing transgender rights—pink, light blue and white emblazoned over the words “Change the CIS-tem.” This references the attack on the marginalized Trans community, a minority targeted by the right essentially because it exists contrary to their beliefs or for reasons too ambiguous to understand. Yet here the protesters are, set between protecting an almost defenseless community and defending the Federal government from being burned down by a billionaire megalomaniac.

Another sign being held reads, “Black Lives Matter,” an issue playing out in Washington DC across the Potomac River just 5 miles North. On Monday DC street crews paved over the symbolic civil rights memorial letters “Black Lives Matter. This request came from Trump acolytes without so much of a fight from DC City Mayor Muriel Bowser. This issue matters because during Trump’s first term the Black Lives Matter Plaza was the local ground zero for hundreds of arrests and uncounted skirmishes between DC police and activists following the Minneapolis Police murder of George Floyd.

The many signs form a tapestry of issues gnawing at the hearts of the protesters which seemingly lay disconnected entirely from the reason the protesters have come to be outside the Tesla dealership: to get the public to boycott Tesla electric vehicles to somehow affect sales and force the worlds wealthiest billionaire to lose something—or anything—for destroying the Federal government. But this is the essence of protests in this difficult time. There are so many issues and they are all interconnected in some way.

One of the protesters is a DC government retiree who left his position last year. Marcial Lever commented that what Musk was doing was just crazy. Of Musk he said, “He came out of nowhere. He’s dismantling the government. He’s getting all of our data and personal information. That’s crazy.”

Musk’s behavior has harmed his brands as much as Wall Street fundamentals and some of the signs protesters carry reflect that. “Stop the Billionaire Grift,” reads one, “Nobody Elected Musk,” reads another,” “Elon Musk Out of Our Government,” and “Clean Up After Your Doge,” reads yet another.

As for Tesla, its stock value has lost over 50% of its market value over the last two months since the Trump-Musk duo came to power. It equates to $800 billion in paper losses, over $140 billion of which was Musk’s.

The protesters talk among themselves about Tesla stock, reinforcing their rationale for being outside Tesla. They ruminate Musk and Trump while claiming the dramatic crash of his Tesla stock is their doing and perhaps it is they who triggered the massive losses.

Wall Street reporting has up to now barely mentioned the Tesla protests in its daily analysis of the Tesla stock crash, if at all. In fact Wall Street has been playing up its long term value. As for value sake, Tesla stock was already heavily overrated and vastly oversold with low sales. The company had a price to earnings (P/E) ratio more than 120 and many times that of other car companies before protests erupted and its stock cratered. Tesla stock was more likely than not to correct at some point near term.

The Tesla protests may not have caused the precipitous drop to go as fast and quick as it has. But the protesters were on the scene when it began and they helped spread tarnish on Tesla’s reputation and therefore they are claiming some credit for the tanking stock and worsening sales.

But it was Elon Musk’s attitude and behavior towards millions of Federal government employees and if there’s anyone to be personally blamed for the Tesla stock collapse, he is at least in part to blame. His nazi salad salute at Trump’s inauguration did much to harm his image. His chainsaw demonstration at CPAC as a metaphor to government hasn’t endeared him to Federal workers either.

So the protesters are there enjoying their moment in the sun for now. They are taking credit and giving themselves big props for having been there for one of the biggest corporate owns ever in terms of losses for one of the most reviled industrialists have ever lived and it has been some prominent doing that got them here.

Musk has lost $140 billion in two months, that’s more wealth than the individual GDPs of the world countries ranked from 62 to 185.

There has been no major media coverage and it confounds the protesters. Two local journalists walk between several protesters asking questions and taking notes on spiral pads. Up to now the Tesla protests have been covered by the large news organizations only when there has been vandalism or police activity but that’s about to change.

On Tuesday Trump sat in a Tesla next to Musk to hawk the billionaire’s brand at the White House. He said that the protesters who vandalized Tesla dealerships should be targeted for “domestic terrorism” for going after Tesla. He said that those involved would “go through hell.”

It was clear the protesters had finally struck a nerve leading all the way to the White House. And within 24 hours on Wednesday, every major news group was reporting about the Tesla protests.

The protesters had finally struck the right chord for the attention they sought and it was Trump himself who had done that for them.

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Washington DC—The Tesla dealership protests are still going strong across the Region as hundreds of protesters continue to show up outside the electric vehicle (EV) dealerships. The grassroots Tesla Takedown actions are growing fast as spring weather brings out more people. Protests were repeated at Tesla dealerships in four locations across the region, Arlington, VA; Tyson’s Corner, VA; Rockville, MD; and Georgetown, Washington DC.

At the Arlington, Virginia Tesla, record numbers of protesters showed up to urge the public to ditch their Teslas and not to buy them in the future. Hundreds of cars passed the Tesla dealership every five minutes on the busy four lane South Glebe Road. Many motorists were blowing their horns in support of the good spirted protesters.

Protesters did not go onto the Tesla property or otherwise have interactions with Tesla employees.

The protests have lassoed a rare moment of public fury towards a specific brand—in this case Elon Musk’s EV car company is the intended target because he is its largest shareholder. Most of his paper wealth is tied up in the over-priced Tesla stock.

Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) invasion of dozens of government agencies, takedown of agency operations, and firing of or barring from work spaces as many as 100,000 Federal workers so far over the last 6-weeks, has created chaos throughout government and is tantamount to a coup. It is this takeover that has prompted the Tesla takedown actions—giving to Elon Musk what he has given to every U.S. citizen—chaos and lost fortune.

The damage DOGE has done to the information arm of the Federal government, often referred to as its bureaucracy, is incalculable. Gone are the privacy of hundreds of millions of citizens as Musk’s DOGE team has over the last 6 weeks forced access to nearly every computer database in Federal government agencies and taken the information in those databases for his own purposes. But even more damaging is the destruction of intricate government networks and systems themselves which were developed and improved over the last 80 years since the Federal government began providing many services communities depend on. The true value of these systems could be in the trillions because the value of the technologies built into these systems over this period are more than the sum of its costs.

Musk’s takeover and takedown of many agencies has left many wondering what is left in them to safeguard and protect, whether or not they can be rebuilt after Musk is gone, and whether U.S. allies will continue to trust U.S. Federal government operations in the future.

Lawrence MacDonald, an organizer with the group Third Act, put Elon Musk’s DOGE activities in the Federal government bluntly. “Elon Musk hates America. He’s out to destroy our country,” he said. MacDonald also took issue with the entire premise of DOGE being either efficient or cost saving. “No one voted for Elon Musk. Its a fascist coup and we’re here to stop it by damaging his brand.”

Lisa, a participant in Saturday’s action said “this is how we’re gonna make change, by people coming out here and all over the country.” She said that Congress had in effect lost the initiative and it was now up to the people. “The Democrats in Congress don’t have the attention, we do. We need to use it. We need to do this every day.”

DOGE isn’t just taking over Congressionally authorized agencies, unconstitutional and illegal as that is—the DOGE actions are also extending into agencies of the Department of Defense where 10s of thousands of Federal employees face elimination actions, buyouts, or reductions in force.

Tesla stock value is a good measure of how the company is performing, and it doesn’t look good. Tesla stock value has blown to bits like a crashing dick-rocket—down 45% from its high on December 17, 2025. It has lost value every week since the Trump regime came to power in January. That’s seven consecutive weeks of losses.

Since the last closing day before the inauguration on January 17, Tesla stock has dropped over 30%, taking with it a quarter of Musk’s wealth since the Trump regime came to power.

Incidentally, SpaceX performance isn’t doing very well either. Two of its rockets have failed during ascent since January. SpaceX is a privately owned company, and therefore access to its private stock is very limited. This also means it is not required to publish quarterly earnings, performance, or describe future expectations.

The post Tesla Protests Go Big In Fourth Week As Its Stock Drops appeared first on DCMediaGroup.

Washington DC—Saturday marked the third week of Tesla protests in the DC-Maryland-Virginia (DC-MD-VA) area as the protests outside Tesla dealerships continued growing and spreading across the country. The protests reflect the extent of the rage many feel towards mega-billionaire Elon Musk for his role in the takeover and takedown of vital Federal agencies and functions. Protesters are urging car owners to sell their Teslas or boycott the electric car company altogether. They are calling their actions Tesla Takedown in response to Musk’s Federal Government takedown.

The fact that there are so many drivers honking their horns in support of the protesters shows that many who are not themselves directly involved in the protests support the cvil actions because they feel the same way as those on the sidewalks holding signs and banners, and chanting from bullhorns.

Elon Musk has led a 6-week effort to unconstitutionally deconstruct congressionally authorized Federal Government agencies, while illegally firing tens of thousands of Federal workers without due-process. The second and third order effects are just beginning to be felt by millions as financial and regulatory services begin to slow and funding for many programs has been slowed or halted.

Other Federal workers have been barred from entering their workplaces altogether. Federal workers at U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Treasury, Department of Education, NASA, FBI, Department of Labor, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, HUD, NIH, and many others have been barred from entering their offices or fired.

Most of Musks actions are being challenged in Federal Courts but some of the temporary restraining orders have been ignored.

Musk has also led an effort which has in effect harassed those Federal workers still remaining in agency workplaces by sending them ambiguous email updates titled “fork in the road,” outlining requirements for them to accept deferred resignations or face an uncertain employment futures. Another email sent en masse created chaos when it ordered the entire Federal workforce to report back their weekly accomplishments within a few days even though Federal workers already report accomplishments to supervisory staff for annual evaluations.

Another policy letter sent on Thursday was circulated which outlined further actions yet to be taken against Federal workers which included plans to relocate many agencies far outside of the DC-MD-VA region to other States in the coming year.

These Twitter-styled communications mimic the reduction in force rollouts enacted against the social media company before Musk fired most of the staff at that company and rebranded it “X.”

Musk’s burn it all down actions in the Federal government infrastructure has triggered an unusually spirited response from ordinary citizens who normally would not take part in first amendment demonstrations. For many it was their first time ever going to a protest. But in this case, the ordinary citizens included mothers with their children, grandparents, Federal workers, and private sector professionals who would usually be home completing their regular weekend activities. They are showing up with hand made signs along with activists who have done this kind of thing before and they are bearing their displeasure towards the mega-billionaire.

The protesters have targeted Tesla dealerships because it is where Elon Musk has most of his wealth tied up. The protests are exposing a a deep vein of emotion and anger and those who are showing up are exchanging information on how or organize and get others to join the protests.

Musk’s cruel treatment of Federal workers and their families, along with his arrogance towards those affected has fueled the rage and it has built more each week as more join in the protests.

The protests also seem to have a significant impact on Tesla stock, although it is not possible to scientifically measure the extent protests have on stock values. They have dropped from a value of $424.07 per share on January 17 to a value of $290.80 per share as of Thursday (February 27) since the inauguration. Thats a $133.27 drop in value per share or a decrease of 31% in Tesla’s total stock value. This represents a significant loss in the billionaire’s wealth, and it was a cause for celebration among protesters this Saturday.

The embarrassing foreign policy disaster that unfolded in the Oval Office on Friday between Trump, Vance, and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also tapped into the resentment towards Trump and Musk. Several brought Ukrainian flags which they waved at outside the Arlington, VA Tesla dealership.

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Washington DC—A couple of witty activists spun up a rebrand of Trump’s DC area International Golf Course Country Club with a giant banner on Saturday, renaming it the “Golf of Mexico.” They welcomed anyone who may happen to join the president today for a round at his to posh club—in Spanish with a warm “Bienvenidos!”

Their act of defiance went straight to the heart of all the chaos and ego driven silliness surrounding Trump’s rebranding of the Gulf of Mexico. It also poked fun at and split wide open the issues underlying his policies and treatment of migrants.

The ongoing first Amendment right of a free press and the court battle between Trump and the Associated Press for refusing to acknowledge the renaming of the body of water is a far more serious matter.

Trump has so far managed to keep the AP out of the West Wing press pool and off of Air Force One based solely on their refusal to comply with his arbitrary rebrand of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.”

All other major U.S. news outlets have conceded to Trump’s demand to rename the body of water to the Gulf of America. AP is the only news agency barred from the West Wing and from Air Force One and in its court filing stated it would be “irreparably damaged” by this bar.

Video credit: GolfofMexico.bsky.social

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Washington DC—The Federal workers illegally fired and unconstitutionally shutout of the work spaces of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were given a warm send off by colleagues, family members, and the public on Thursday. The sidewalk outside the main entrance was adorned with flowers, supporting messages on signs, gifts, bags of treats and food, and most importantly the warm embrace of hundreds who cheered their decades’ of public service as they left their offices at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Building for the last time.

The public gathered early on Thursday outside the USAID offices after a message was issued Monday outlining clear-out procedures to USAID Federal workers. Workers were instructed to go to their offices at specific times based on their bureau and floor and would be given 15 minutes to clear their belongings from their desks. The clear-out orders included an exhaustive list of prohibited weapons they were not permitted to take into their offices. Federal workers are already aware of workplace restrictions with regard to weapons so this portion of the order could be seen as another degree of humiliation from a regime already demonstrating itself hostile towards public servants.

Many of the workers were overcome with emotion as they walked out the doors with the few office mementos they had retrieved and into the arms and accolades of cheering admirers. It was the first opportunity they had been given to retrieve their office belongings since they were first locked out on Monday, February 3.

But if one small symbolic gesture could be seen as a revolutionary act then this was it. The hundreds of supporters demonstrated that even in a moment national disgrace there could be poise and grace in showing up for those that were suffering injustice and maltreatment.

The USAID takeover and shutdown was part of a larger takeover and shutdown of agencies all across the Federal Government. Over a dozen agencies have already been taken over with tens of thousands of Federal workers fired or barred from their offices. The Federal workers of these agencies are also suffering through sudden economic hardship as their jobs, salaries, healthcare, and livelihoods are taken from them without due process.

Carol Bannerman, a citizen who came out in support of the USAID Federal workers said that the shutdown of USAID will have far reaching consequences not only from the standpoint of the Federal workers harmed, and the services many millions depended on abroad, but also by the harm it will do to the reputation of the United States abroad.

“USAID provided soft power around the world which made people want to be like us. It served the most vulnerable people around the world. Soft power is just one element. Yes we use military power and yes we use economic power but soft power is a way of making people join us and it has the same role as military power,” Bannerman said.

Bannerman outlined some of the many ways USAID assistance helped developing nations and millions globally, from food and health assistance to assistance for women’s entrepreneurship and family health programs. These were a few of the programs being authorized from USAID before tens of thousands of employees and contractors working in developing countries were fired in late January.

A USAID Federal worker who has not been barred from their office spoke anonymously to DCMG about the current status of USAID Federal workers. “Right now at USAID many are still employed but have been placed on administrative leave. So we are still getting paychecks but are not allowed to go into the offices,” they said.

“We value your work and respect the contributions you have made to the betterment of humanity, and we see you,” they said.

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Washington DC—The Federal workers of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were notified today they would be given a short period to clear out their desks over a two day period. The email detailed the process over 2 days for USAID bureaus to split the workday into 15 minute increments for each worker to retrieve their belongings.

Many Federal workers have been located at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Building, the headquarters of USAID, for decades and would have naturally accumulated many belongings and mementos of their employment over that period. The Federal employees will not be provided any packing materials such as tape or boxes.

This is part of a DOGE plan to dissemble government agencies and reduce the Federal workforce to a fraction of what it was. This is the newest DOGE attempt to humiliate Federal workers who have been in public service for much of their careers.

But the public can show up and support the Federal employees by bringing boxes and packing tape, food, snacks and coffee, to help them through this difficult moment. The public can also bring signs of support and thank the Federal workers being released.

By showing up for the Federal workers the public can show that many citizens firmly reject the irrational and inhumanity of the DOGE takeover. It is also a subtle was to resist DOGE by giving power to Federal workers who have served the needs of developing countries through war, famine, and disease, and oppressive regimes since 1961. Even the smallest act of resistance can be a revolutionary act.

The staff will have Thursday and Friday, in one-hour windows by bureau and in 15-minute increments per person. No boxes or packing materials will be provided. It This will be an extremely emotional two days for the workers so any support from the public would be significant.

An announcement published on behalf of the USAID Federal workers read,

”We would like to encourage anyone who is able to join us at the (Ronald Reagan International Trade Building) to “clap out” staff, with signs of support. If you’re able to bring extra packing materials and/or drinks and snacks please do. We want to show these people how you treat public servants who have given their lives to the important work we do.”

The mandatory clear out schedule for USAID Federal workers is Thursday, February 27, from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm and Friday February 28, from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm. The public should show up early with supplies at:

Ronald Reagan Building
1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.

There is public parking in the Ronald Reagan International Trade Building garage, and the closest metros are Metro Center (red line) and Federal Triangle (orange/blue). If you are planning to park in the garage please make sure to have a government-issued ID (driver’s license).

The USAID offices were among the first taken over by DOGE thee weeks ago on February 3.

USAID was created by an act of congress in 1961 and signed by President Kennedy. Several court cases challenging the legality of the Trump-Mush takeover and shutdown of USAID remain open.

We covered the actions outside USAID on February 3 and February 4.

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