Anti-Elon Musk protesters are coming for Tesla’s new diner

Tesla simply opened a retro diner in Los Angeles, so it was solely a matter of time earlier than anti-Elon Musk protesters caught wind.

The long-awaited retrofuturistic diner, full with large out of doors screens for drive-in motion pictures, dozens of Supercharger stalls, and an Optimus robotic serving popcorn, opened to very large traces in West Hollywood on July twenty first. Protesters are planning on demonstrating exterior the newly opened diner on July twenty sixth, in keeping with the Motion Community web site, which has served as a repository for the so-called Tesla Takedown motion.

“[Elon Musk] desires to rejoice his reign of terror in OUR CITY, Occupied Los Angeles, with a tacky Tesla-branded diner completely for his legion of conmen stock-pumpers and MLM influencer tryhards?” the web site reads. “WE SAY HELL NO.”

Since early February of this yr, Tesla has been the goal of protesters against Musk’s involvement with the Trump administration. As Musk’s Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) sought to get rid of humanitarian support applications and hearth tens of 1000’s of presidency employees, demonstrators have expressed their rage by picketing exterior Tesla showrooms and demanding Tesla homeowners promote their autos.

Others have taken issues additional, defacing Tesla autos with anti-Musk slogans, smashing home windows, and even setting some Tesla property on hearth. Musk’s allies within the Trump administration are threatening to prosecute anybody caught defacing Tesla autos by classifying the acts as “home terrorism.“

Musk formally stepped again from DOGE in Could, though he claims that he’ll stay concerned with the group in some capability. The next month, Musk and President Donald Trump had a public falling out, with the 2 engaged in a disagreement. Trump has threatened to deport Musk, whereas Musk has accused the president of being on Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged shopper record.

Regardless of all of the drama, anti-Musk protesters are attempting to maintain up the power. Joel Lava, who has been serving to lead the Tesla Takedown protests in Los Angeles, stated he expects a big crowd exterior the diner this Saturday.

“It’s in West Hollywood,” Lava instructed The Verge. “I believe it’s protected to say that Elon Musk will not be a well-liked determine in West Hollywood. So I don’t assume it’s going to be arduous to protest it.”

Whereas the weekly crowds might have diminished barely from their peak within the spring, and whereas Musk might have distanced himself from the Trump administration, the Tesla Takedown motion hasn’t given up. Lava stated that dozens of individuals nonetheless present up each week to protest exterior of Tesla places in LA, buoyed by information of Tesla’s worsening earnings assertion and falling gross sales. He additionally cited latest studies of meals that was purported to ship out with USAID being left to rot in warehouses due to DOGE’s funding cuts. And the information that Musk might begin his personal political occasion has additional motivated the activists to maintain up their presence, Lava stated.

“Sure, our numbers have dwindled, however they’ve stayed sturdy,” he stated. “We’ve already constructed a neighborhood, [and] folks will present up.”

Lava stated the ways might be much like these utilized in protests exterior of Tesla dealerships and charging stations: elevating consciousness about Musk’s efforts to decimate humanitarian support and destroy the federal authorities.

“I believe our easy message is Tesla funds fascism,” Lava stated. “You’re going into this cafe, and also you’re giving a $300 billion man your personal cash to assist destroy the material of our nation. That’s why we don’t need you shopping for Tesla. And that’s why you shouldn’t go into this cafe.”