The weekly protests outside the Tesla dealership at Easton Town Center have grown from a small gathering into a massive movement, with attendance skyrocketing from a dozen people to over 400 in just a few weeks. Outrage against Tesla CEO Elon Musk has fueled the demonstrations. In particular, his involvement with Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and his widely condemned Nazi salute at the inauguration.
Footage shared in the Columbus subreddit shows the sheer size of the protests swelling outside the Easton Tesla location, with demonstrators holding signs, chanting, and receiving honks of support from passing cars. One Reddit user, Spooky_Gecko, captured the feeling on the ground:
“This was the 3rd time we have gone to this protest and it is INCREDIBLE how fast it has grown each time. The first one we were at seemed to be about 150ish people? This one was over 400! Also, the amount of people cheering us on from their cars or joining from the mall was so great to see. I am really proud of this community right now ❤️❤️.”
The protests, organized by the Ohio AFL-CIO, take place every Saturday at 4:30 PM outside the Tesla dealership at 4099 Easton Loop W. The event page describes it as a stand against Musk’s “attacks on federal workers” and his efforts to undermine union contracts.
Amusingly, the movement has become so large that one banner held by an attendee caught my eye, in particular. The banner reads “It’s so bad even the introverts are here.”
Growing Fury Against Musk and Tesla
The controversy surrounding Musk has reached a boiling point in the wake of his appointment to Trump’s DOGE agency, which many see as a blatant attempt to dismantle labor protections. His salute at Trump’s inauguration last month only intensified the backlash, leading to widespread vandalism of Tesla vehicles and dealerships.
In one particularly blunt Reddit comment summed up the frustration:
“He kinda pissed off an entire demographic which contained the only people willing to buy his frequently malfunctioning overpriced vehicles.”
Some former Tesla owners are even ditching their vehicles in protest. One user, bearcats05, shared:
“Sold my Model 3 this week and bought an Ioniq 6. It’s honestly a much better car, and I really don’t want to support Musk in any way.”
This protest isn’t happening in a vacuum. Across the country, Tesla showrooms and vehicles have been targeted as anger toward Musk spills into the streets. Reports of spray-painted vehicles, slashed tires, and even Tesla owners removing their car emblems to avoid harassment have surfaced online.
While some protestors emphasize peaceful demonstration, others see more drastic action as a necessary response to Musk’s influence. Mettie7 warned against escalation:
“Protesting peacefully, like in the vid, is fine and encouraged, but the moment they start vandalizing other people’s vehicles with spray paint or torching them, it’s gone too far.”
Yet for many, Musk’s actions have pushed them past the point of patience. MattCaff89, who has attended multiple protests, reveled in Tesla’s plummeting stock price:
“We’ve gone two weeks in a row. It’s a great time and it feels so good to be doing something. Plus I love watching Tesla stock tank all week and feeling like I helped make that happen lol.”
The Easton Tesla protests show no signs of slowing down. With each passing week, the crowds grow larger, the chants grow louder, and the pressure on Musk and his company intensifies. Organizers have pledged to continue their demonstrations “until the tyrants topple.”
If the momentum of these protests continues, Easton Town Center may soon find itself at the epicenter of a nationwide reckoning with Musk and the empire he’s built.
