A grassroots protest movement is set to make waves across the United States, targeting Tesla dealerships on February 15. The movement, initiated on the social media platform Bluesky by disinformation researcher Joan Donovan, aims to challenge Elon Musk's actions as CEO of Tesla and his perceived influence over federal governance. Documentary filmmaker Alex Winter joins Donovan in organizing this nationwide protest, which has already gained significant traction, with hundreds of individuals confirming their participation.
Donovan and Winter have rallied support for the movement through Bluesky, a platform known for its emerging community-driven initiatives. On February 10, Winter posted a call to action: "Sell your Teslas, dump your stock, join the picket lines." This message encapsulates the movement's core objectives: holding Musk accountable and questioning his vast influence. Demonstrations are planned in major cities, including Austin, Portland, Seattle, Kansas City, and Mesa, Arizona, with international protests outside Tesla showrooms amplifying the movement's reach.
“As citizens, we have different points of leverage,” – Joan Donovan
The protests are not merely a reaction to Musk's actions but are also part of a broader effort to educate the public about governmental processes and the significance of transparency and accountability. This initiative underscores the belief that power originates from states rather than the federal government, suggesting that state agencies can play a crucial role in ensuring accountability.
“My hope is that people come together, acting locally but thinking globally at these protests, and find other more local ways to resist,” – Joan Donovan
“I think one of the things that Musk has overlooked is that power isn’t derived from the federal government, power is derived from the states, and there’s a lot that different state agencies can do to rein in the power of the federal government to force accountability.” – Joan Donovan
The movement has seen widespread organization, with 42 protest events scheduled across the United States as of Friday afternoon. Participants aim to not only shape public perception but also build a community dedicated to holding Musk accountable outside of traditional legal avenues.
“If Musk thinks he can speed run through DC downloading personal data, we can certainly bang some pots and pans on the sidewalks infront [sic] of Tesla dealerships,” – Joan Donovan
Winter emphasizes the movement's long-term goal: to devalue Tesla stock, thereby undermining confidence in the company's future and prompting widespread sale of shares. Such actions could impact Musk directly, given his wealth is largely tied to his ownership of approximately 20% of Tesla's stock.
“Sell your Teslas, dump your stock, join the picket lines,” – Alex Winter
“Hurting Tesla is stopping Musk, and stopping Musk will help save lives and our democracy.” – Alex Winter
“The long goal is to devalue, to create a vote of no confidence in the company’s future, and to prompt a widespread selling of shares, which would legitimately hurt him,” – Alex Winter
This movement is rooted in Bluesky's AT Protocol through the "Free our Feeds" initiative led by Winter. This initiative seeks to foster an open social media system that empowers grassroots efforts like this one. By acting as citizens rather than relying solely on judicial interventions, participants aim to leverage their collective voice for change.
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