This weekend, thousands of protesters are expected to gather outside Tesla showrooms, dealerships, and charging stations worldwide as part of the "Tesla Takedown" movement, a peaceful demonstration against Elon Musk's role in slashing government spending. However, the protests have sparked a backlash, with authorities and Musk himself conflating peaceful activists with masked vandals and terrorists.

The distinction between peaceful protesters and violent vandals is rapidly fading, particularly on social media and in Washington. President Donald Trump has labeled attacks on Tesla as "domestic terrorism" and threatened to send "terrorist thugs" to prisons in El Salvador. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has pledged to prosecute "those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes," despite evidence suggesting that the attacks were carried out by "lone offenders."

Musk's decision to accuse at least one peaceful protester of "committing crimes" on X has further fueled the public discourse that equates protest with vandalism, and vandalism with terrorism. This conflation of peaceful protest with violent acts has raised concerns among civil rights advocates, who warn that it could lead to peaceful protesters facing consequences meant for extremists.

According to Mike German, a former FBI special agent and fellow at the Brennan Center's Liberty and National Security Program, "Terrorism is a problematic concept in law enforcement because it is by definition differentiated from other violence by its political nature." German notes that this can result in counter-terrorism measures targeting the civil rights of people engaged in First Amendment-protected activity, rather than the people who are committing acts of violence.

The Tesla Takedown protesters have consistently preached nonviolence at rallies and on their website. The movement's stated goal is not to physically harm Tesla or Musk, but rather to encourage people to sell their Teslas, sell their stock, and stop buying new Teslas. Natasha Purdum, a New Jersey-based organizer, explained that the movement aims to hit Musk "in the spot that it matters" – his wealth – by driving down Tesla's stock price.

Musk's wealth, largely due to his Tesla stock, has allowed him to spend $44 billion to buy Twitter and donate over $260 million to the America PAC that helped Trump clinch the election. German warns that local police may work with terrorism taskforces to monitor Tesla Takedown protests, potentially leading to surveillance and other forms of monitoring.

The FBI declined to comment on whether the agency is taking any special action this weekend. Meanwhile, Musk and the Trump administration have ramped up their rhetoric, with Musk vowing to "go after" those behind the protests and Trump suggesting that the attacks on Tesla property were coordinated to intimidate Musk.

Civil rights advocates and protesters are urging caution, with Purdum advising protesters to prioritize their wellbeing and follow local regulations. Stephanie Frizzell, a Tesla Takedown organizer from Dallas, emphasized that the movement has always been and will remain nonviolent, and that the goal is to defend free speech and democracy.

As the protests approach, it remains to be seen how authorities will respond. One thing is clear, however: the conflation of peaceful protest with vandalism and terrorism has sparked a heated debate over free speech, civil rights, and the role of government in regulating dissent.