By Kevin Hendricks
Two Sandoval County groups combined forces on March 13 to hold a peaceful protest outside the Tesla showroom on Santa Ana Pueblo.
The Democratic Party of Sandoval County and Sandoval County Indivisible organized the demonstration, which included over 100 people voicing their displeasure with Tesla CEO Elon Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cutting government services.
“We’re incensed. We’re angry about what’s happening in our country, and we know a lot of people feel the same way,” Alexandria Piland, chair of the Democratic Party of Sandoval County, said. “We want to bring attention to the fact that there is a man controlling our country who is gutting some of our most loved and needed institutions, and he wasn’t elected president. He bought the presidency from Trump for millions of dollars, and that’s not okay. Our presidency should not be for sale.”
The protestors gathered on the medians at the busy US 550 and NM 528 intersection for two hours, holding signs denouncing Trump and Musk. Hundreds of motorists passed through the intersection during the protest, with dozens honking in support and others yelling obscenities and backing Trump.
Corrales resident and Sandoval County Indivisible member Terry Eisenbart said her group was protesting because America needs to take a stand.
“We’re out here because it is time for America to speak up and stand up and be heard,” Eisenbart said. “We do not agree with what’s happening with Musk and DOGE and the Trump administration. So we’re out here with many issues, but right now, it’s DOGE.”
Demonstrations at Tesla showrooms have become increasingly common across the country as DOGE has slashed federal funding, resulting in cuts to programs and employees.
The nationwide protests have been mostly peaceful, including Thursday’s demonstration. However, some have resulted in arrests and the burning of cars and charging stations.
Earlier this week, Trump told White House reporters that violence against Tesla facilities will be treated as “domestic terrorism” because “they’re harming a great American company.”
The Santa Ana Pueblo Tesla location was vandalized in February, with photos showing a swastika spray-painted on a Cybertruck and the burnt shell of a Tesla sedan.
State Rep. Derrick Lente delivered a speech on the House floor before the protest. Lente, a Democrat from Sandia Pueblo whose district includes the Santa Ana Tesla dealership, directed the speech at people who don’t respect Native-owned businesses and land.
Lente said the reception was positive for the pueblos’ deals with Tesla two years ago and acknowledged that Musk “today is a polarizing figure in the world.”
“While I’m a member of the Democratic Party, there are things as a Democrat I don’t stand for,” Lente said. “And that is one, when people feel like they have the autonomy and authority to stand on indigenous land — aboriginal, indigenous land — to protest an indigenous business that is doing well and thriving for their community.”
He pointed to the vandalism, saying some people “have become more violent, more defacing in regards to their attempts to burn cars, deface buildings, and that’s not OK on tribal lands. That’s not OK.”
Protest organizers were committed to peaceful protests and respecting native sovereignty and land, staying on the medians and off of the pueblo.
“We respect native sovereignty. We respect their land. We do not want to intrude,” Piland said. “We are exercising our constitutional rights to assemble and to speak freely, and so we’re doing that in the United States on public property.”
Thursday was the first of several planned protests at the Tesla dealership near Bernalillo. Sandoval County Indivisible and the Democratic Party of Sandoval County will demonstrate each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and every Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m.
“We’re going to keep going until we get the results we want,” Eisenbart said. “This is just a sample of what’s going on. You should see Santa Fe, Las Cruces and all over. The Democrats are uniting across the country and it’s happening right here in New Mexico.”
Wow, what a big turnout, I’m so impressed.
Agree with you.
By the way Democrat Party of Sandoval County/NM/Etc…you all have been in control of this state for quite a while now. It’s really going downhill. Many of us successful types who contribute more tax revenue than you could ever hope to may just end up leaving. Good luck guys.
Gee Paul, since you say you have done so well maybe you should give some credit the party in power, ie, the Democrats.
Adios and Good Luck! We are the Land of Enchantment and that means freedom for all to say what they like and not be arrested for it! I hear there is some oceanfront property for sale in Alabama!
Buh bye!
bye
I wonder who’s paying them to protest, George Soros or Mikey Bloomberg?
The Protesters look like Tesla owners. Go figure.
So Democratic Party of New Mexico, you’re telling me that you are ok with the Government spending Billions of dollars of OUR Tax money on ridiculous programs in foreign countries. All this whole we have vetrans living on our streets, illegal immigrants criminals running rampant in the cities of New Nexico, an open border policy that Your party supported that allows human trafficking, fentynal deaths, and know terrorists to cross into our state? Do I read ypu right? You find it wrong to bring this money back into our country to use for OUR infrastructure, programs to help these vetrans who YOU have turned your backs on to line your pockets with these Government spending Programs? All because you’re throwing a childish temer rabtrum because you lost the election. You say the people are speaking out. Let me remind you of the results of the Nov. 5th election when 79% of the people of this country told Your party enough is enough and THEY spoke out against the Oligarchy, your Word not mine, of your party. When are you going to grow up and realize that the American people have had enough of your Bougouise leadership and have taken our Government back.
A proud Republican Vetran of New Mexico
Dump Trump!
And his brown nosers!
I just wonder how many of those protestors drive Tesla’s?
The groups protesting are wrong in how they are stating that the “government is being destroyed” or the “destruction of democracy” by DOGE and Elon. He is working for the people of the US under Trump’s direction to find waste, fraud and theft of taxpayers’ dollars.
He is gutting BUREAUCRACY not DEMOCRACY. The bureaucratic NON-government section of our country is out of control and that is what needs to be reeled in. That is the sole purpose of DOGE. Violence against Elon, his dealerships, and others is absolutely unacceptable. If you agree with badly allocated taxpayer dollars, you should be incensed at what is being discovered. This country is in bad financial shape and our deficit is growing exponentially daily. This is how we save our country. I certainly hope you can see this needs to be done to fix what democrats have been creating for decades.
Watch out folks, wallowing and marinating yourself in hate can lead to psychopathy and losing touch with reality. Watch out for the signs please. I pray these folks would find some peace in their lives.
I’ll try again. What a conundrum for virtue signalling dems. They love electric vehicles but hate Elon Musk. Here’s something about EVs and pollution. Electric cars release MORE toxic emissions than gas-powered vehicles and are worse for the environment, resurfaced study warns
EVs weigh 30 percent more than gas cars, causing tires to wear out faster
The tire tread releases toxic particles 400 times greater than exhaust emissions
This protest and others across the country are just another example of childish behavior from people who are used to getting their way. The country elected Trump and gave him a mandate to eliminate waste in our government. So why go after the man who has been tasked with DOGE by condemning him and his business? Personally, I don’t intend to buy any electric car, but am not going after those who do or try to destroy anyone’s business.
I do thank you for at least making your protest peaceful and respecting Native American property.
These are the same people who must think it’s just great to live here now, last in every category there is. Probably think Deb Haaland will do better. Insanity!