Protesters line both sides of Navarro Street to protest in front of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn’s downtown office. Credit: Sanford Nowlin

Nearly 200 people showed up Thursday outside the San Antonio office of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn to stage a noisy protest over what they called his failure to act as billionaire Elon Musk dismantles the federal government.

People with signs reading “Cornyn fiddles while America burns,” “Cornyn, serve the people” and “Nobody elected Musk” lined both sides of the street in front of the Republican senator’s office at 600 Navarro St., Suite 210.

Demonstrators said they fear what’s in store after Musk, a tech billionaire ally of President Donald Trump, seized the government’s payment system and shut down an entire agency. They also said they’re furious Cornyn has shown no interest in stopping or even asking questions about what’s transpiring.

“I feel like we’ve got no choice but to be here,” protester Kevin Sittenauer said. “Especially here in Military City USA, everyone seems to know someone who works for the government. When they see their friends and families under attack, it hurts.” 

Protesters chanted slogans such as “Say no to fascists, say no to Elon.” Credit: Sanford Nowlin

Krystine Rosa joined the protest because she’s terrified of what Trump’s threats and executive orders are doing to the once-welcoming and admired country she loves.

“I’m scared America isn’t the good guy anymore,” Rosa said. “There’s been a sad awakening that this isn’t the America I remember.”

Rosa said this is the first political demonstration she’s ever attended. Her husband had to stay at home to watch their 14-month-old child.

“I wanted to be here so I could let my daughter know I did what I could,” she said.

The Current reached out to Cornyn’s staff for comment but got no response from his San Antonio or Washington, D.C., offices. However, in a Wednesday post on social media platform X, Cornyn left no question what he thought of his constituents’ concerns.

“Sorry to miss these folks from @IndivisibleTeam + @MoveOn protesting my state offices over my support of @realDonaldTrump’s nominees & all the good work @ElonMusk is doing with @DOGE,” the senator said, sharing photos of protests outside his other Texas offices.

“I hate to break it to them, but we are just getting started,” Cornyn continued. “These people are really going to lose it when we extend the Trump tax cuts.”

The progressive groups Indivisible and Move On whom Cornyn name checked had no involvement in staging the San Antonio protest, said Martha Spinks, one of its organizers.

“What you’re seeing right now is a lot of people who are really alarmed,” said Spinks, a local Democratic Party activist. “It’s not just a fear of what Trump what might do. The reality is actually kicking in.”

Spinks and others tried to hand deliver a letter addressing their concerns about Musk’s actions to Cornyn’s office. However, they were informed that Cornyn’s San Antonio office was closed Thursday and unstaffed.

“Is it just me, or does that sounds like taxpayer dollars being wasted?” Spinks added. “I would call the senator missing in action.”

A protester shares his feelings about Elon Musk. Credit: Sanford Nowlin

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This article appears in Jan 22 – Feb 4, 2025.

Sanford Nowlin is editor-in-chief of the San Antonio Current. He holds degrees from Trinity University and the University of Texas at San Antonio, and his work has been featured in Salon, Alternet, Creative...