Around 100 people in Stamford peacefully took part in a nationwide protest against Elon Musk and his electric car company, Tesla, Sunday near a Tesla service center on Commerce Road in Stamford.
Actress and comedian, , organized the rally. The Stamford native said she鈥檚 seen other rallies in New York, and realized her efforts could have an impact in her hometown.
鈥淚t felt like if there was nothing in the area, then I should just just do it myself,鈥� Barone said. 鈥淪o, I'm thrilled with the turnout.鈥�
Barone鈥檚 rally is part of an ongoing campaign called Tesla Takedown. People are encouraged to boycott the company by selling their Tesla vehicles and stock, in an effort to hurt Musk鈥檚 financial position.
Many attendees say they鈥檙e angry over Musk鈥檚 actions including leading an effort to scale back the federal workforce. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a task force created by President Donald Trump, is Musk鈥檚 most well known effort, despite many of the firings being challenged by court orders, and scrutinized by critics.
Tesla showrooms were picketed across the country over the weekend. Barone maintains she鈥檚 always had a visceral dislike for Tesla and said many people now share her view.
鈥淭hey're upset about any number of the atrocities that are happening in this country right now, but this unelected official who is firing people and trying to essentially just bleed the American taxpayer of all the money possible, I think people are really pissed off, and they have a right to be,鈥� Barone said.
Barone and other protesters praised Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of 黑料吃瓜网, for his outspokenness. But she also said many people are losing trust with politicians.
Sad and upset after the presidential election, where former Vice President Kamala Harris lost to President Donald Trump, Barone said her emotions led her to this moment of holding a rally where people were looking to her for direction. The event follows an earlier protest this month,
It鈥檚 also reflecting on her social media presence, although more focused on New York City politics where she now lives..
鈥淚 have a video series called 鈥楶olitics for Hot People鈥�, where I'm really trying to educate people on things that I also don't really know a lot about.鈥�
Michael Sesser, who lives in Fairfield County, joined the Tesla protest in Stamford. Sesser said he voted for State Sen. Tony Hwang, a Republican, last year. But he says Musk鈥檚 actions are an overreach by an unelected official, and have made him change his mind about getting a Tesla.
鈥淣ow almost no one I'm friends with would ever touch that trash,鈥� Sesser said.
Other protesters came from New Jersey, including Grady O鈥橞rien, and her friend, Alessandra Bontia. Many drivers honked in support, while some drivers yelled or cursed at the protesters.
O鈥橞rien said she鈥檚 attended protests in New York, and while they were bigger, she said there was value in protesting in Stamford.
鈥淚t's important to target not just big cities, but also smaller communities, and make sure that you're sharing your voice with people, even in places where it might feel like it doesn't matter as much,鈥� O鈥橞rien said.
