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On Friday (March 14), over 350 protesters gathered outside a Tesla dealership in Fayetteville, expressing their discontent with Elon Musk's role in the federal government. The protest, dubbed the "Tesla Takedown," was part of a nationwide response to President Donald Trump's federal budget cuts and Musk's leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Demonstrators voiced concerns about potential impacts on social services such as Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare.
The protest began at 4 p.m. and stretched from the Tesla service center on North Burdick Street to the edge of the nearby Towne Center. Participants chanted slogans like "Hey, hey, ho, ho, Elon Musk has got to go," while passing cars honked in support. According to CNY Central, the protest remained peaceful, with no reported violence or property damage.
Steve Simon, one of the protest organizers, highlighted the broad concerns among attendees, noting that many were worried about the potential closure of Social Security offices and cuts to federal assistance programs. Sarah Pralle, a public policy professor at Syracuse University, expressed concerns over Musk's approach to government, stating, "Running a business is very different from running a government."
The protest attracted a diverse group of participants, including long-time activists and first-time protesters. Laura Ryan, a Syracuse resident, emphasized the importance of public demonstrations in voicing dissent and influencing public opinion. The event concluded with police ensuring that protesters remained on public property and did not disrupt the Tesla dealership's operations.
