Hundreds march to Palo Alto Tesla headquarters, protest administration

Page Mill Road in Palo Alto is frequently dotted with Tesla-drivers, on their way to work at the nearby Tesla Headquarters or simply cruising down the usually quiet Silicon Valley thoroughfare. But those drivers were met with opposition on Friday as protestors took to the street, carrying signs reading “Tank Tesla,” and “Boycott Tesla.” 

Hundreds of people – immigrants rights and health care activists included – marched down Page Mill Road to the Tesla Headquarters Friday, denouncing the federal administration and Elon Musk’s involvement with it. 

Multiple nonprofits like the Peninsula Peace and Justice Center and Bay Resistance, among many others, organized the event in response to the federal government “firing thousands of dedicated public servants,” and proposals to cut funding for Medicaid, Medi-Cal and SNAP food benefits. 

These cuts and tax breaks only assist the ultra wealthy and fund mass deportation efforts, wrote Zeenab Aneez, spokesperson for Silicon Valley Rising, a coalition representing the local workforce. 

“We have been under attack under the new federal administration,” Lucila Ortiz, an organizer of the event, said at the protest. “And so today was a day for us, in solidarity with one another, to show that we will stand up and fight back.” 

As hundreds walked up a lane on the road, guided by banners and upside down American flags, the crowd cheered slogans like, “Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here.” 

Throughout the action, drivers of public buses, Amazon delivery trucks and even Teslas honked and cheered in support, some even pulling over to greet protestors. When the group arrived at Tesla headquarters on Page Mill Road, some workers scurried inside and guards manned the front doors as the crowd shouted “shame!” 

Bob Jung, a local resident wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh, smiled as he held a sign outside the headquarters reading “Fee fi fo fum, look out Tesla, here we come.” 

“Power doesn’t care about people losing their health care, people being slaughtered in Gaza – we need to apply economic and political pressure on them,” he said. 

Outside of the headquarters, some speakers urged the crowd to boycott Tesla and other corporations led by “billionaires,” like Amazon. Other speakers, like San Jose City Councilmember Peter Ortiz, pledged to create local laws against the federal government. 

“I’m going to be introducing a piece of legislation to prevent the city from doing any business that works with the federal administration,” Ortiz said. 

As tensions rise regarding local immigration raids and possible funding cuts, the organizers of the protest said Friday’s march is only the beginning of their public action.

‘Woman of the Year’ takes plea deal for embezzling $700K from nonprofitJanuary 22, 2026 4:14 pm

Menlo Park office building goes for 2025's highest sales priceJanuary 21, 2026 1:09 pm

Woodside man’s molestation trial resumes after suicide attemptJanuary 22, 2026 10:55 am