Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us is a Facebook event planned for September 20, 2019, 3:00 am to 6:00 am local time, at Area 51, a United States Air Force (USAF) facility within the Nevada Test and Training Range, to raid the site in search for extraterrestrial life. The event was created by Matty Roberts,[1] who confirmed it was comedic and disavowed responsibility for any casualties if people actually attempt to raid the military base.[2] Roberts posted the event on June 27, 2019.[2] Over 2 million people have responded "going" and 1.5 million "interested" on the event's page.[3][4][5][6][7]
In Lincoln County, Nevada, two music festivals have also been planned: Alienstock in Rachel, Nevada, and Storm Area 51 Basecamp in Hiko, Nevada. However, local governments and police fear that even these legal events may be problematic if too many people show up. In mid-September, Roberts announced on his website that Alienstock was canceled due to poor planning, concerns of safety and legality, and lack of infrastructure, adding that he feared a "possible humanitarian disaster";[8][9] he also said the event will be relocated to Las Vegas in reduced form and renamed Area 51 Celebration. However, Little A'Le'Inn owner Connie West has said the original Alienstock plans will proceed, adding in an interview that "there's nothing I can do to stop it".[1] Roberts' lawyers sent her a cease and desist letter regarding the use of the "Alienstock" name.[10][11]
Air Force spokeswoman Laura McAndrews said government officials were briefed on the event and discouraged people from attempting to enter military property.[12] Nevada law enforcement also warned potential participants in the event against trespassing.[13] The event, although purely comedic, has had an effect on businesses both locally in Nevada and around the United States, which are creating preparations for visitors and products for people going.
Area 51 has been the subject of many conspiracy theories regarding aliens since the 1950s, when some individuals reported seeing UFOs at the location of the base, around the time the military started flying CIA U2 spy planes in the area. The CIA declassified documents related to Area 51 and recognized its existence in 2013.[14] Conspiracy theorists believe aliens, UFOs, or secrets related to them are stored at Area 51.[15][16] In June 2019, The Pentagon provided a briefing on UFOs encountered by Navy pilots to members of Congress.[17] U.S. president Donald Trump had also been briefed on UFOs.[18]
College student Matty Roberts, the creator of the event, came up with the idea after watching Area 51 conspiracy theorist Bob Lazar and filmmaker Jeremy Corbell on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast on June 20, 2019.[1][19][20] Lazar claimed to have worked with alien spacecraft when working at an underground facility at Area 51.[20][21]
Facebook event and internet meme
Roberts, also known as video game streamer SmyleeKun,[13] created the event on Facebook on June 27 as a joke, not imagining the viral spread the event would receive.[22] The event plans for the raid in Amargosa Valley from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. PDT on September 20, 2019.[2][12][13] The Facebook event writes, "If we naruto run, we can move faster than their bullets. Lets [sic] see them aliens",[1] referring to the unique running style of anime character Naruto Uzumaki and several other characters, who run with their arms stretched behind them, head down and torso tilted forward.[6][17][23] Roberts said the event had only around 40 signatures 3 days into the event's listing and then suddenly went viral.[2][24] The meme possibly spread first on the app TikTok, as well as Reddit and Instagram later.[25] The Facebook page for the event is filled with thousands of satirical posts discussing the best way to break into Area 51.[12] After the viral spread of the meme, Roberts was worried that he would receive a visit from the FBI.[24][20] The event received 2 million "Going" and another 1.5 million "Interested" signatures as of August 22.[20] Roberts has since made plans to organize a music festival based on the event known as "Alienstock".[26]
Rapper Lil Nas X released a music video for the Young Thug and Mason Ramsey remix of "Old Town Road" about the planned raid.[27][28][29]
Youtuber Johnny Medlar made a remix of Sabaton's song Fields of Verdun named Area 51, with the lyrics changed after its namesake.
Copycat events such as plans to storm a genealogical vault of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,[30] Loch Ness,[31] and the Bermuda Triangle[32] have also been created. In the Netherlands, a left wing meme page known as "Memes for the Masses" created "Storm the Education Implementation Office Headquarters" event as a protest to student loans.[33]
Government response
On July 10, speaking with The Washington Post, Air Force spokeswoman Laura McAndrews said officials were aware of the event, and issued a warning saying: "[Area 51] is an open training range for the U.S. Air Force, and we would discourage anyone from trying to come into the area where we train American armed forces", adding that "[t]he U.S. Air Force always stands ready to protect America and its assets".[12] A public information officer at Nellis Air Force Base told KNPR that "any attempt to illegally access the area is highly discouraged".[34] A viral Reddit post showed what it claimed to be an Air Force briefing on the Naruto run.[35] The FBI is also monitoring the situation and "the [number of people] that may be coming to these events".[1]
The events surrounding the storm prompted the FAA to post two temporary flight restrictions, closing the airspace above two places nearby Area 51 during the days surrounding the planned raid.[36]
Impact
Lincoln County
In August 2019, Lincoln County officials drafted an emergency declaration and a plan to pool resources with neighboring counties, anticipating the region being overwhelmed by a crowd of 40,000 people.[1] The county has just 184 hotel rooms, and officials expected the local cellphone network to be unable to cope with the additional traffic; they also expressed concerns about overcrowding at campsites, gas stations, and public medical facilities.[37] Both planned music festivals were granted permits by the county. County sheriff Kerry Lee stated that an extra 300 paramedics and 150 police officers would be brought in from across Nevada.[1]
The town of Rachel posted a caution on its website, advising attendees to be "experienced in camping, hiking and surviving in a harsh desert environment and have a vehicle in good shape". They advised that the town would likely be unable to provide sufficient food, water or gas to visitors, and expected local law enforcement to be "overwhelmed". The website warned that local residents would be ready to "step up to protect their property", adding that "[i]t will get ugly"[38] and predicting that Alienstock would be "Fyre Festival 2.0".[1]
Business
Business owners in and around Rachel, Nevada, a town of just 56 people just outside of the base, have made preparations for visitors who want to go to Area 51.[34][39] Connie West, co-owner of the Little A'Le'Inn restaurant and inn, has had all 13 rooms of the inn booked and plans to open up 30 acres for camping and might create merchandise for the event.[6][34][39] Las Vegas businessman George Harris is planning to hire bands to play at an annual festival called "The Swarm".[34] Matty Roberts has also expressed interest in a music festival to be made outside Area 51.[22] Kosmic Kae, owner of the shop Aliens R Us in Boulder City, says that even though the shop is 170 miles away from Area 51, business has increased due to fascination regarding aliens.[40]
Other businesses around the U.S. have based products and services on this event. A collection of merchandise related to the event from online retailers was launched.[41] Bud Light plans to release a promotional alien-themed beer label and promised a free beer to "any alien that makes it out" as long as a tweet with the new design gets 51,000 retweets.[42][43][44][45] Fast food restaurant Arby's has planned to deliver food with a special menu to the event.
In Lincoln County, Nevada, two music festivals have also been planned: Alienstock in Rachel, Nevada, and Storm Area 51 Basecamp in Hiko, Nevada. However, local governments and police fear that even these legal events may be problematic if too many people show up. In mid-September, Roberts announced on his website that Alienstock was canceled due to poor planning, concerns of safety and legality, and lack of infrastructure, adding that he feared a "possible humanitarian disaster";[8][9] he also said the event will be relocated to Las Vegas in reduced form and renamed Area 51 Celebration. However, Little A'Le'Inn owner Connie West has said the original Alienstock plans will proceed, adding in an interview that "there's nothing I can do to stop it".[1] Roberts' lawyers sent her a cease and desist letter regarding the use of the "Alienstock" name.[10][11]
Air Force spokeswoman Laura McAndrews said government officials were briefed on the event and discouraged people from attempting to enter military property.[12] Nevada law enforcement also warned potential participants in the event against trespassing.[13] The event, although purely comedic, has had an effect on businesses both locally in Nevada and around the United States, which are creating preparations for visitors and products for people going.
Area 51 has been the subject of many conspiracy theories regarding aliens since the 1950s, when some individuals reported seeing UFOs at the location of the base, around the time the military started flying CIA U2 spy planes in the area. The CIA declassified documents related to Area 51 and recognized its existence in 2013.[14] Conspiracy theorists believe aliens, UFOs, or secrets related to them are stored at Area 51.[15][16] In June 2019, The Pentagon provided a briefing on UFOs encountered by Navy pilots to members of Congress.[17] U.S. president Donald Trump had also been briefed on UFOs.[18]
College student Matty Roberts, the creator of the event, came up with the idea after watching Area 51 conspiracy theorist Bob Lazar and filmmaker Jeremy Corbell on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast on June 20, 2019.[1][19][20] Lazar claimed to have worked with alien spacecraft when working at an underground facility at Area 51.[20][21]
Facebook event and internet meme
Roberts, also known as video game streamer SmyleeKun,[13] created the event on Facebook on June 27 as a joke, not imagining the viral spread the event would receive.[22] The event plans for the raid in Amargosa Valley from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. PDT on September 20, 2019.[2][12][13] The Facebook event writes, "If we naruto run, we can move faster than their bullets. Lets [sic] see them aliens",[1] referring to the unique running style of anime character Naruto Uzumaki and several other characters, who run with their arms stretched behind them, head down and torso tilted forward.[6][17][23] Roberts said the event had only around 40 signatures 3 days into the event's listing and then suddenly went viral.[2][24] The meme possibly spread first on the app TikTok, as well as Reddit and Instagram later.[25] The Facebook page for the event is filled with thousands of satirical posts discussing the best way to break into Area 51.[12] After the viral spread of the meme, Roberts was worried that he would receive a visit from the FBI.[24][20] The event received 2 million "Going" and another 1.5 million "Interested" signatures as of August 22.[20] Roberts has since made plans to organize a music festival based on the event known as "Alienstock".[26]
Rapper Lil Nas X released a music video for the Young Thug and Mason Ramsey remix of "Old Town Road" about the planned raid.[27][28][29]
Youtuber Johnny Medlar made a remix of Sabaton's song Fields of Verdun named Area 51, with the lyrics changed after its namesake.
Copycat events such as plans to storm a genealogical vault of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,[30] Loch Ness,[31] and the Bermuda Triangle[32] have also been created. In the Netherlands, a left wing meme page known as "Memes for the Masses" created "Storm the Education Implementation Office Headquarters" event as a protest to student loans.[33]
Government response
On July 10, speaking with The Washington Post, Air Force spokeswoman Laura McAndrews said officials were aware of the event, and issued a warning saying: "[Area 51] is an open training range for the U.S. Air Force, and we would discourage anyone from trying to come into the area where we train American armed forces", adding that "[t]he U.S. Air Force always stands ready to protect America and its assets".[12] A public information officer at Nellis Air Force Base told KNPR that "any attempt to illegally access the area is highly discouraged".[34] A viral Reddit post showed what it claimed to be an Air Force briefing on the Naruto run.[35] The FBI is also monitoring the situation and "the [number of people] that may be coming to these events".[1]
The events surrounding the storm prompted the FAA to post two temporary flight restrictions, closing the airspace above two places nearby Area 51 during the days surrounding the planned raid.[36]
Impact
Lincoln County
In August 2019, Lincoln County officials drafted an emergency declaration and a plan to pool resources with neighboring counties, anticipating the region being overwhelmed by a crowd of 40,000 people.[1] The county has just 184 hotel rooms, and officials expected the local cellphone network to be unable to cope with the additional traffic; they also expressed concerns about overcrowding at campsites, gas stations, and public medical facilities.[37] Both planned music festivals were granted permits by the county. County sheriff Kerry Lee stated that an extra 300 paramedics and 150 police officers would be brought in from across Nevada.[1]
The town of Rachel posted a caution on its website, advising attendees to be "experienced in camping, hiking and surviving in a harsh desert environment and have a vehicle in good shape". They advised that the town would likely be unable to provide sufficient food, water or gas to visitors, and expected local law enforcement to be "overwhelmed". The website warned that local residents would be ready to "step up to protect their property", adding that "[i]t will get ugly"[38] and predicting that Alienstock would be "Fyre Festival 2.0".[1]
Business
Business owners in and around Rachel, Nevada, a town of just 56 people just outside of the base, have made preparations for visitors who want to go to Area 51.[34][39] Connie West, co-owner of the Little A'Le'Inn restaurant and inn, has had all 13 rooms of the inn booked and plans to open up 30 acres for camping and might create merchandise for the event.[6][34][39] Las Vegas businessman George Harris is planning to hire bands to play at an annual festival called "The Swarm".[34] Matty Roberts has also expressed interest in a music festival to be made outside Area 51.[22] Kosmic Kae, owner of the shop Aliens R Us in Boulder City, says that even though the shop is 170 miles away from Area 51, business has increased due to fascination regarding aliens.[40]
Other businesses around the U.S. have based products and services on this event. A collection of merchandise related to the event from online retailers was launched.[41] Bud Light plans to release a promotional alien-themed beer label and promised a free beer to "any alien that makes it out" as long as a tweet with the new design gets 51,000 retweets.[42][43][44][45] Fast food restaurant Arby's has planned to deliver food with a special menu to the event.
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