*The name of this interviewee is a pseudonym to protect their confidentiality.
Protesters gathered outside the Tesla store at Stanford Shopping Center this past weekend in response to the shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. This demonstration was a continuation of earlier “Tesla Takedown” protests, which first began in February of 2025 outside Tesla showrooms around the country, and continue to take place every Saturday at Tesla’s Stanford location.
The protests are hosted by Menlo Park activist group “The Wolves,” which organizes other weekly rallies including a “Busting Billionaires” protest at Whole Foods Market in Palo Alto, and a “Rally for Immigrant Rights” at Courthouse Square in Redwood City. The group also promotes a petition advocating for the City of Palo Alto to stop investing in Tesla and other businesses tied to Elon Musk. These movements have been a response to Musk’s work alongside Donald Trump and his now former role leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
While the protest was intended to target Tesla, most signs criticized ICE and President Donald Trump.
Nico Espinosa / M-A Chronicle Demonstrators hold up signs.
“The number one reason I think most people are out here today is because of the recent killing of Renee Good. That has definitely sparked some major outrage. Venezuela was not even a week ago, people were pretty mad about that,” John* said.
Like John, demonstrator Linda, who didn’t share her last name, was motivated to protest in part by Good’s death. “This is not who we are, to kill people, shoot them in the face three times because they’re trying to use their First Amendment rights and not hurting anybody,” she said. “It also gives these ICE agents cover, because that means the next one could [say], ‘Hey, if I shoot somebody in the face, I won’t get punished, they’re going to cover me.’”
Nico Espinosa / M-A Chronicle Protesters from the Raging Grannies Action League hold signs.
The group drew supportive honks from passing cars and high-fives from pedestrians. Despite the mourning of Good, many community members shared smiles, dancing, and appreciation for one another for coming together to speak out.
One protester led chants, singing some and incorporating his guitar. Another demonstrator joined in with his bass guitar. Chants included “hands off Venezuela, hands off,” “show us what Antifa looks like, this is what Antifa looks like,” and “ICE gestapo’s gotta go, hey hey, ho ho.”
Nico Espinosa / M-A Chronicle A demonstrator leads a chant.
Nico Espinosa / M-A Chronicle A demonstrator plays his bass guitar.
Protester David, who did not share his last name, expressed concern for what he called a “grab for power and changing the laws to make the Fifth [Amendment] illegal.”
“It’s almost an inevitable consequence of the ruling that corporations were people, and once corporations could donate unlimited political money. And unfortunately, money buys propaganda and propaganda buys votes,” David said. “Citizens United, I’d like to see repealed.”
Some protesters drew historical comparisons to the actions of ICE and the Trump Administration. “It’s Soviet America, they’re turning us into Russia, some kind of North Korea, China kind of mashup, you know? Surveillance. ‘Yeah, don’t speak your thoughts,’” an anonymous protester said.
“Nazis in Germany were about one third of the population when he started. That’s about one third of the population is MAGA,” David said. “Everybody should be out here protesting. Democracy is too valuable to lose.”
Nico Espinosa / M-A Chronicle A demonstrator in a wheelchair holds a sign.
“I wish people in Germany in the 30s would have [protested], more people,” David added.
After about an hour and 15 minutes, the group circled through the mall, continuing to play music and wave signs before eventually returning to the Tesla showroom. Some bystanders showed support with clapping and high-fives, while others could be heard making remarks like “I just came to shop” or “well they [ICE] are domestic terrorists.”
Nico Espinosa / M-A Chronicle A store employee watches the crowd.
Nico Espinosa / M-A Chronicle Demonstrators walk with flags.
Protestors gradually left the area as people took turns on the guitar and bass, singing songs like “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan and an improvised “[Tesla] Takedown Blues.”
“We’re coming for Trump. We’re coming for the billionaires with the 5% billionaire wealth tax. We’re going to get that on the California ballot for the midterms of 2026. We’re coming for all the sycophants, all the sycophants that have been attached to [Trump] at the barnacle. We’re coming for all those congressional seats, and we’re coming for the senate, in numbers, and we’re mobilizing every single day. This is just the beginning,” John* said.
Nico Espinosa / M-A Chronicle A man advertises his T-shirts.
Nico Espinosa / M-A Chronicle Demonstrators play music.
The next Stanford protest is scheduled for next Saturday. The full calendar is available at thewolves.net.
