Community members protest to defend democracy

Waving bold, handmade signs and cheering at cars passing by, Palo Alto community members gathered to “Protest Elon Musk’s Illegal Government Takeover,” at noon, yesterday in front of the Tesla showroom along El Camino Real.

The peaceful protest was hosted by Indivisible Palo Alto plus (IPA+), a diverse, action-oriented community of 379 members that aims to defend democracy in the Peninsula and stand against authoritarianism, according to its website. IPA+ promotes activism through connection, where “fun, joy and laughter are essential.” 

Melissa Dinwiddie, founder of IPA+ and Palo Alto High School alum, said that activism and joy can come hand in hand, contrary to what others believe. 

“Often, activism is seen as a heavy lift [and] as something that’s not fun,” Dinwiddie said. “Play and fun is something that feeds our spirits and nourishes, it is also something that tyrants really don’t want. They don’t want us joyful, they don’t want us happy, they want us in despair. … So when we are joyful, we are doing multiple things that [are] actually beneficial to our cause and in direct opposition to the tyrants.”

Dinwiddie said she started the organization because she needed an in-person community to keep herself — and others — motivated and taking action. 

“We started with 12 members in the living room on Dec. 14,” Dinwiddie said. “After the election, I knew that I was going to need an in person community to keep myself and others buoyed-up and taking action. Action defeats despair.”

According to an AP News article, thousands of government employees have been laid off since President Trump’s administration came into office. Dinwiddie said the IPA+ protest aims to call attention to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s actions rather than the company itself. 

“Musk was not elected,” Dinwiddie said. “This so-called Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) is the opposite of efficient. It is destroying all of the government departments that people count on to keep us healthy, to keep us safe, [and] to educate our children. People’s lives are being destroyed as they are laying people off. Think about all the families that are being left without incomes and and without recourse … Musk at the top of this.” 

According to Dinwiddie, united efforts can lead to real, impactful change. 

“It’s so easy to feel like there’s nothing that we can do, but think about a drop of water,” Dinwiddie said. “A drop of water in and of itself can’t really do anything, but water carved the Grand Canyon. If each of us is a drop of water, together, we can be so powerful. All of us acting together, using our voices, standing up, getting in the streets, calling our congress people [and] our senators. That actually makes change.”

J.K., a protestor who asked to be identified by an alias name, said he believes that American democracy is under threat from President Donald Trump.

“This is a show of force,” J.K. said. “Obviously, democracy is being shredded by the villainous MAGA [Make America Great Again] regime. We the people, have got to get it done. We need to take back our government that is being destroyed by some really awful people.”

Dinwiddie said that when people band together and stand against injustice, oppressive leaders can’t succeed.  

“There are things that have happened this week alone that only happened because people raised our voices,” Dinwiddie said. “If enough of us stand up and say no, then actually they can’t do what they want. And it just takes enough people to pull their heads up out of the sand and to stand up and come to protest like this. … We actually have a lot more power than we think we do. The tyrants only have power if we give up.”