SEATTLE — The backlash against Tesla is growing across the country as protests against CEO Elon Musk continue to intensify.

This weekend, demonstrators gathered outside a Tesla dealership on Highway 99 in Lynnwood, Washington. Similar protests occurred in Virginia, Tennessee and New York City.

In Florida, a man drove his car into a crowd of protesters. No one was seriously hurt and the driver was arrested.

As tensions rise and incidents of Tesla vehicle vandalism increase, some Tesla owners are taking steps to distance themselves from Musk.

Jordan Schwartz is among those owners. Using a heat gun, screw gun and fishing line, he removed the Tesla logos from his own vehicle.

“It’s symbolic, but I think symbols matter,” Schwartz said. “It’s tearing down a flag. It’s raising a flag.”

Since doing his own last month, he’s removed logos for several other people too.

“It gives me great satisfaction,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz purchased his Tesla in 2021 to transition to an electric vehicle. He still believes Teslas are good cars. Despite his disgust with Musk, he has not considered selling his vehicle.

“I don’t see any practical use in selling it,” Schwartz said.

Others have chosen to sell. According to market tracking site CarGurus, Teslas are the most common electric vehicles on the used car market. Used Teslas are selling sellage of about $30,000 — down significantly from the $70,000 average cost three years ago.

Some owners are selling their cars for fear of retaliation. In the Seattle area alone, at least five Teslas have been set on fire.

“I won’t be cowed by Nazis or people on the left,” Schwartz said. “I am doing this because I want to make a statement about my ideology. Not out of fear.”

Schwartz is Jewish and accuses Musk of antisemitism because of recent comments and ties to alt-right political ideas.

Musk denies claims of antisemitism. Earlier this month, he suggested the attacks against his company are politically motivated.

“They basically want to kill me because I’m stopping their fraud, and they want to hurt Tesla because we’re stopping this terrible waste and corruption,” Musk said March 14.

Some Tesla owners have gone beyond removing logos, replacing them with emblems from different car brands.

Schwartz said he would remove the logos for any Tesla owners who would like it done. He also created a do-it-yourself guide.