Demonstrators rally in Lisle to oppose Musk’s influence on government restructuring
Photo byScreen Capture/Youtube Video [Creator]
LISLE, IL – Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside a Tesla dealership in Lisle on Tuesday night, voicing their opposition to billionaire Elon Musk’s controversial push to restructure the federal government. With two Cybertrucks stationed behind them, protesters lined the sidewalks of 3200 Ogden Avenue, holding signs that read, “Send Elon to Mars on a Starship rocket” and “This Musk Stop.”
Chants filled the air as attendees shouted, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Elon Musk has got to go” and “Love, not hate, makes America great.” The protest, dubbed “Tesla Takedown DuPage,” was organized by several area organizations, including the Democratic Party of DuPage County, Democratic Women of DuPage County, and multiple Indivisible chapters across Illinois.
“We’re in a full-on constitutional crisis,” said Reid McCollum, chair of the DuPage Democratic Party. “The rallying call was to stand up against Elon Musk. We have nothing against electric vehicles as Democrats, but when you have an unelected billionaire and an authoritarian strongman dismantling our constitution, there needs to be a response.”
The demonstration was part of a growing nationwide movement protesting Musk’s involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an agency tasked with slashing federal jobs and restructuring key government operations. Activists argue the initiative, widely supported by former President Donald Trump, is an attack on democracy.
This protest follows similar rallies at Tesla dealerships in Orland Park, Libertyville, and downtown Chicago. Organizers say they are determined to sustain momentum, with weekly picketing outside the Lisle dealership every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Naperville resident Jenny Miles has been leading local protests for weeks. “I was here by myself … in the snow for like an hour,” said Miles, 52, recalling the early days of her grassroots effort. She later launched a Facebook group that has since grown into a regular demonstration force. “Is it going to make a difference? I don’t know. But at least I’m doing something.”
Among the protesters was 28-year-old Maddie Olivieri, who grew up in DuPage County. “I was really excited to see that there was something happening (near) Naperville,” she said. “We feel far removed from (Chicago), but we can still make a change.”
Not everyone in the crowd was there in opposition. A small number of Musk and Trump supporters attended, including one counter-protester waving a “Women for Trump” flag. The demonstration also drew criticism from Republican leaders.
In a statement released Tuesday, DuPage County Republicans Chairman Kevin Coyne, a former Naperville City Council member, condemned the protest. “It is ridiculous that the DuPage Democrats are harassing and intimidating a local business that has contributed significantly to the village of Lisle’s economy. … This thinly veiled attempt by DuPage Democrats to cancel and scare a local business over political differences is repugnant.”
Tesla opened its Lisle location four years ago, taking over a former Hummer dealership. The company has recently been at the center of political controversy, with Trump openly endorsing Musk’s efforts. Last week, Trump was photographed shopping for a new Tesla on the White House driveway, an apparent show of support.
Despite political divisions, the Lisle protest saw strong support from passing motorists, with cars honking in solidarity. Standing among the demonstrators was Paula Deacon Garcia, a DuPage County Board member and president of the Democratic Women of DuPage County, who described the turnout as “invigorating.”
“There are so many people that (have said), ‘Thank God we’re finally doing something like this,’” Garcia said. “We’re actually being heard. We feel like our voices matter. … You can hear by all the honking that people are on our side.”
