Washington, D.C. – March 13, 2025 – Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), faced questioning from Loomer Unleashed after speaking at an anti-Trump protest outside the U.S. Department of Education. The demonstration was organized by the Sunrise Movement, a group recently linked to disruptive protests at Tesla showrooms in New York City.
Following her speech, Loomer Unleashed reporters pressed Weingarten on her participation in an event hosted by an organization connected to last week’s violent Tesla protests. Initially, she declined to respond. However, when asked whether the AFT endorsed such actions, she replied, “They are very peaceful now,” referring to the Sunrise Movement protesters.
Last weekend, the Sunrise Movement, alongside Planet Over Profit and the Hack Club, staged demonstrations at a Tesla showroom in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, where acts of vandalism were reported. Notably, the Hack Club—a global nonprofit supporting high school coding programs—received $4 million from the Musk Foundation in 2023, according to the foundation’s Form 990 filing. The Sunrise Movement and its partners coordinated these protests through ActionNetwork.org.
Financial records reveal further connections to the Sunrise Movement. The Sixteen Thirty Fund, a nonprofit backing progressive causes, contributed $500,000 to Sunrise PAC. The Sixteen Thirty Fund has received funding from prominent Democratic donors, including tech entrepreneur Reid Hoffman, known for past associations with Jeffrey Epstein. Additionally, the Soros Open Society Foundations, led by George and Alex Soros, have provided 66 grants to the fund, according to public records. The Hopewell Fund, another affiliated nonprofit, has also been linked to Hoffman’s contributions.
Looking ahead, anti-Trump activists have planned a series of “Tesla Takedown” protests at showrooms nationwide this weekend. One organizer, Elizabeth Salazar, has a documented criminal history, including assault, disorderly conduct, vandalism, ethnic intimidation, and multiple driving-related violations, such as operating a vehicle without a license and driving on a suspended license.
A “Tesla Takedown” protest is scheduled at the Georgetown Tesla showroom in Washington, D.C., this weekend, with Loomer Unleashed providing on-site coverage.
The involvement of figures like Weingarten, along with financial ties to Soros and Hoffman, has raised concerns about the tactics used by progressive groups in their opposition to President Trump and his allies, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Critics argue these connections suggest a broader willingness among leftist organizations to tolerate or engage in disruptive activism.
