Protesters gathered outside the Tesla showroom in Orland Park on Saturday, calling for a boycott of the company and criticizing CEO Elon Musk for what they described as a betrayal of working people.
The demonstration, held at 8601 W. 159th St., was driven by concerns over Musk’s role in the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce through the Department of Government Efficiency.
Holding signs that read “Stop the Oligarchs,” “Boycott Tesla,” “Working People Betrayed,” “Democracy, Not Oligarchy,” and “No Damn Kings,” the crowd voiced their opposition outside the showroom. One sign spelled out MUSK as “Unmitigated, Audacity, Stupidity, Risk.”
Among the demonstrators was Melanie Michalak, a Tinley Park resident and longtime activist. “First of all, it’s a beautiful day to exercise our First Amendment rights,” Michalak said. “But more importantly, I’ve seen firsthand what happens when individual rights are stripped away. I lived as a student behind the Iron Curtain and have traveled to countries like Hungary and Croatia that have overthrown oligarchic governments. People don’t understand the consequences of losing rights—it can mean something as simple as struggling to buy a loaf of bread.”
She also voiced concern about Musk’s impact on veterans benefits. “The hammer that he’s taken to services, even for veterans, is criminal. I have friends who work in the VA who won’t be able to help veterans in need of emotional or physical care. That is something I can’t condone,” she said.
Bob Cavanagh, a longtime protester, emphasized the movement’s persistence. “We’ve been coming out nearly every Saturday, and it’s all about love from our side. We’re part of a huge movement resisting the autocratic takeover of this country, and our numbers are growing. The attacks on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans’ benefits—it’s shocking and horrifying.”
Cavanagh also responded to claims from counter-protesters downplaying the January 6 attack on the Capitol. “It’s preposterous. There are hours and hours of footage showing what happened. The idea that it was just a peaceful tour is one of the many big lies fueling the Trump side,” he said.
While some reports have noted property damage at Tesla dealerships, Cavanagh stressed that the vast majority of demonstrations, including theirs, have remained peaceful. “We’re here to take action, to speak out, and we’ll keep coming back for as long as it takes.”
Amid the protest, counter-demonstrators waving Trump flags and holding signs that read “Women Vote MAGA” stood nearby, showing support for Musk and the administration’s policies.
John Russell, a counter-protester from Oak Lawn, defended Musk and those backing him. “I come out here to support the people who support Trump,” Russell said. “The opposing side is getting it wrong by touching other people’s property. I don’t like Democrats, but I don’t damage their personal property. These guys don’t like Elon, so they’re damaging dealerships. That’s insane.”
Russell also dismissed claims that January 6 was violent. “There was no violence. The police let them in, and they walked in. A couple of people did a couple of things, but the majority walked in peacefully,” he said.
Another counter-protester, Vince Lopez, a veteran from Tinley Park, said he attended to support fellow Americans. “The country is divided. People came up to me calling me a fascist, a Nazi—those are strong words. I’ve seen protests overseas against us when I was in West Germany. I can feel the hate, even from me, but I’m glad I stood up for myself,” Lopez said, “There are some respectful people on the other side, but I think hate rules at this point. Still, I’m glad I came out, and I plan to come again.”
Teri King, a Manteno resident, said she made sure to arrive early to counter the protest. “I wanted to be here by 9 o’clock because they come in force at 11:30,” King said. “They come in groups of 10, 20 people. So we got here early and took both sides of the street to push them back.”
Randie Purtell, another counter-protester, echoed King’s sentiment about arriving early and reiterated claims that opposing protesters were part of organized efforts. “The group that is coming out here gets funded. They raise money. Not one person here is paid to be here,” King said.
Norma Holm, another counter-protester, said she attended to advocate for the future of her grandchildren. “I want them to have a little bit of the same America that I had growing up,” Holm said. “I think the other side doesn’t understand that turning this country into a socialist nation isn’t about fairness—it’s about control. I’ve had personal friends from Venezuela who lost everything when their country collapsed.”
Holm also recounted an altercation during the demonstration. “I was walking around when an older gentleman, probably in his 70s, took his elbow and hit me on the cheek and ear,” she said. “I told him, ‘You don’t do that,’ but he just laughed and denied it. I ended up calling the police because that’s not right. This is supposed to be a peaceful protest.”
Despite occasional heated exchanges between the two groups, including a brief altercation when a counter-protester dressed as Trump in an orange jumpsuit clashed with a Trump supporter, the demonstration remained largely peaceful.
Verbal disputes occurred on both sides, though tensions were more pronounced among some Trump supporters. However, the situation did not escalate beyond verbal confrontations. Protesters said they plan to continue advocating for a boycott of Tesla and other Musk-owned ventures.
More than 200 demonstrations were planned at U.S. Tesla locations on Saturday as part of the “Tesla Takedown” movement, which called for a “global day of action” against Musk. The campaign wants people to sell their Tesla vehicles and their shares of Tesla stock as a way to denounce Musk, the world’s richest man, whose wealth is overwhelmingly linked to his Tesla holdings.
The post Demonstrators, counter-protesters face off at Orland Tesla dealership appeared first on Southwest Regional Publishing.