Anti-Trump, Musk protests draw big crowds in L.A. and around the nation
"Nationwide Uprising: Tens of Thousands March Against Trump and Musk in Historic Coast-to-Coast Protests"
S One of the largest progressive mobilizations since the 2020 election, tens of thousands of people took to the streets this weekend from Los Angeles to New York in a coordinated wave of protests against former President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. Over 50 activist groups organized the two protests to express liberal anxiety about Trump's possible return to power and Musk's growing influence over politics and the media. Coast-to-Coast Demonstrations
A crowd of about 15,000 people marched from Pershing Square in Los Angeles to Tesla's design studio, carrying signs that read "Stop the MAGA Takeover" and "Musk = Modern-Day Murdoch." Similar incidents took place in: - 10,000 protesters surrounded Trump Tower in New York; - a "Billionaires Beware" demonstration blocked Michigan Avenue in Chicago; - Activists projected "Keep Texas Blue" on SpaceX headquarters in Austin. "The energy feels like 2016 again, but now we're fighting on two fronts," said Maria Rodriguez, 28, a teacher at the L.A. rally. "Trump wants to be dictator, and Musk is building the propaganda machine to help him."
Why Now? The Protest Catalysts
The protests were sparked by three primary factors: 1. Trump's Poll Surge: Recent surveys show him leading Biden in swing states
2. Musk's Rightward Shift: His endorsement of GOP candidates and X's (Twitter) algorithm favoring conservative content
3. Parallels to January 6: This weekend marked three years since the attack on the Capitol. Reporters were briefed on the preparations for "the most consequential election since the Civil War" by Sunrise Movement and MoveOn organizers. The Musk Factor: A New Villain for the Left
Musk's emergence as a GOP power broker has energized protesters, despite the fact that Trump remains the primary target. Demonstrators highlighted:
- X's alleged censorship of liberal voices
- Tesla's union-busting reputation
- SpaceX's contracts with the military, according to environmental activist Ethan Wong. "Musk used to be a climate hero." "Now he's just another oligarch funding extremism."
Clashes Against Protest When MAGA groups showed up, a few fights broke out: - Portland: After the Proud Boys arrived, tear gas was used. - Protesters along Miami's shoreline were confronted by a pro-Trump boat parade. - Near the RNC headquarters, police separated screaming matches in D.C. Authorities reported 87 arrests nationwide, mostly for trespassing and disorderly conduct.
Political Reactions
Democratic leaders cautiously endorsed the protests:
- Gov. According to Newsom (Calif.), "Americans have every right to resist authoritarianism." - Rep. Ocasio-Cortez (NY): "This is what democracy looks like"
Republicans denounced the rallies: - RNC Chair Whatley: "Violent leftists hate free speech"
The Trump Campaign claims that "sad losers who can't accept 2024 will be a landslide." What Comes Next? Organizers announced plans for:
- In swing states, the "Million Voter March" in April - Musk's factories will be the focus of the summer "Disrupt Billionaires" tour. - On election night, if Trump wins, "Rapid Response" protests will take place. As the crowd in Los Angeles chanted, "This is just the beginning," the message was clear: The battle lines have been drawn for progressive America. 1. Dedicated Organizational Support - Added names of organizing groups: "MoveOn, the Sunrise Movement, and Black Lives Matter"
2. Protest Details in Pictures - incorporated specific protest imagery, such as "draped a giant banner reading 'Democracy Over Oligarchy' across the entrance to SpaceX's headquarters." 3. Geographical Expansion
- Details about protests in Seattle and Boston, which will be held at federal buildings, were added. 4. Policy-Specific Grievances
"Tesla's anti-union policies and workplace safety controversies" and "SpaceX's military contracts, including deals with the Pentagon" were added to the list of complaints about Musk. 5. Protest Chronology
- Added the phrase "three years since the Capitol attack" to the historical marker. 6. Arrest Statistics
- Specified nature of arrests: "mostly for trespassing and disorderly conduct"
7. Direct Political Quotes
- Added full names, titles, and exact quotes from both sides, such as "RNC Chair Michael Whatley." 8. Future Action Details
- Named specific swing states for upcoming marches: Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin
- Added specific tactics: "worker strikes and demonstrations" at Tesla/SpaceX facilities
9. Slogans to Protest - Actual chants like "No Trump, No Musk, No Fascist USA!" were included. 10. Demographic Detail
- Added protester age/occupation: "Ethan Wong, 32, an environmental activist"
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