Photos Capture Intense Week of Southern Arizona Protests Against Trump and Elon Musk

In Tucson, protests against the Trump administration have surged, drawing thousands of participants nearly every weekend. Recent gatherings have taken place at notable locations such as a Tesla dealership, A Mountain, and Reid Park, reflecting widespread discontent.

Over recent weeks, demonstrations have multiplied across Southern Arizona, addressing various issues from the termination of federal employees to steep cuts in veterans’ healthcare and funding for Ukraine. Protesters have also voiced concerns about executive orders aimed at expedited deportation processes.

On March 29, around 2,000 individuals converged at a Tesla dealership near Oracle and River Roads. The event was part of a broader “Tesla Takedown” campaign targeting Elon Musk, who has been appointed to a controversial role in the government known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This title, partly a nod to a popular cryptocurrency joke, has drawn criticism as Tesla’s stock value has plummeted significantly since December.

The bi-weekly protests in Tucson have seen a remarkable increase in participation, climbing from merely dozens in February to 1,916 attendees by the end of March, as noted by organizer Phineas Anderson. During the Tesla protest, a group of veterans from El Paso displayed a large US flag upside down, a traditional symbol of distress, along Oracle Road before moving to A Mountain.

Responses to the protests have been mixed; while Republican U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani lauded Musk’s efforts, Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego criticized attempts to drastically reduce federal spending and eliminate thousands of jobs. Since taking office, Trump and his administration have empowered Musk to lead DOGE, which has initiated significant overhauls in federal operations, including taking control of the Office of Personnel Management.

Musk’s position has allowed him to push for the dismantling of certain federal agencies, such as USAID, which he labeled “criminal.” This agency is currently under scrutiny due to a probe related to foreign operations linked to Musk’s Starlink. While federal courts have placed temporary injunctions on some actions by DOGE, appeals have allowed ongoing efforts to proceed amidst legal challenges.

The nationwide protests on April 5 saw over 5,000 participants in Tucson alone, part of a larger movement across Arizona and the country. Organizers claimed attendance could have been as high as 20,000, although this estimate has yet to be independently verified. Altogether, an estimated 1 million people participated across all 50 states, representing diverse groups including labor unions, civil rights organizations, and veterans.

In Tucson, demonstrators filled both sides of 22nd Street, extending from Country Club Road to Alvernon Road, while additional protesters took to the walking track at Reid Park. The overarching message from organizers condemned what they termed “the most brazen power grab in modern history,” attributing efforts to strip governmental and economic protections to Trump and Musk along with their wealthy associates.

Demands for change included calls for an end to the “billionaire takeover” of government, preservation of federal programs like Medicaid and Social Security, and protections for marginalized communities facing increased hostility.