Disabled Vet Doxxed for Tesla Takedown Protest Isn't Scared

Jacob Whitaker, a disabled vet featured in Jake Tapper’s “The Outpost: An untold Story of Valor," is planning a Tesla Takedown protest this Saturday, which led to him being doxxed. He's not scared.

The Daily is journalism that you can count on about issues that matter to you. Please consider supporting our work by becoming a subscriber.

It's Going to be Alright'

Bravery comes from all corners these days. Sometimes it's unlikely, and sometimes it comes from people like this guy.

Meet Jacob Whitaker: a disabled vet whose LinkedIn says he was featured in Jake Tapper’s “The Outpost: An untold Story of Valor” and earned a Combat Action Badge.

He’s planning one of many hundreds of Tesla Takedown protests around the country (and internationally) on Saturday, but the one he’s planning is being trolled by far-right activists who doxxed him and are trying to intimidate him.

Whittaker told the Idaho Press that his Tesla Takedown protest is an act of support for his fellow veterans, whose earned benefits and jobs are being undermined by Elon Musk.

"I'm a disabled vet and 30% of the federal workforce is made up of vets like me. I'm a little upset with what's going on," said Whittaker. "I care a lot about my brothers and sisters who served with me and I do not agree with the way things are being handled."

For this organizing, which he has been very clear to say is meant to be peaceful and in fact he says he’s been in touch with the local police department and will hold a safety meeting ahead of the protest, Whitaker has been met with fierce opposition.

Far-right extremist groups “have called for a counter protest and after party.” One of them is the Idaho Liberty Dogs put out the call for "patriots from across Idaho" to come to the dealership "to stand against any vandalism from individuals protesting Elon.”

Are they really concerned about vandalism? The Tesla Takedown protests have been organized to be peaceful. The language stresses this. They repeatedly say they are against vandalism. The acts of individuals vandalizing Teslsas have not been shown to be related to the Tesla Takedown protests.

But fair enough, Elon has a nation of eager bootlickers and if they want to spend their Saturday protecting his property from a disabled veteran who is standing up for other vets, then so be it. It is, after all, supposedly a free country.

But what is not okay is doxxing and intimidating someone who is exercising their free speech rights. Rights they for which they fought and sacrificed.

Whittaker said he has gotten pushback and has been doxxed on Facebook by the Idaho Liberty Dogs. "They went after my information. … That would be an effective tactic on a lot of people — but that didn't work with me," said Whittaker. "I'm not afraid of people who think that bringing weapons (to an event) is the answer. I'm not that kind of person."

Some of the 50501 organizers have expressed safety concerns about Whitaker’s event because of these counterprotests, and others have suggested it was a false flag. The counter protesters often have the goal of inciting violence so that they can publicly pin it on the original protesters, thereby smearing the peaceful movement.

They often want the movement to be seen as violent so that it can be silenced.

With the federal government led by Elon Musk bearing down on free speech and pointing to protesters as the problem, people need to be aware of potential threats to their own safety to weigh for themselves.

Whitaker will be there, no matter what, he says.

He is Not Afraid

“It’s going to be alright,” Whitaker wrote above the Idaho Press story.

Whitaker responded to the counterprotests by posting on BlueSky, “Some notes for Sat: -A counter-protest will take place at the same location. Don't engage or get involved with them. -Bring signs. -Don't bring Nazi iconography, let the counter-protest be that -Seriously, keep it peaceful, keep it safe. Do that and we will be fine.”

It’s telling that the far-right is now hounding a disabled veteran with their infamous harassment tactics because he is protesting the mass firings of veterans.