Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us
Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us is a Facebook event currently planned for September 20, 2019 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 who later confirmed it was satire and that he won't be held responsible if people actually attempt to raid the military base.[1] Roberts posted the event on June 27, 2019.[1] Approximately 3,000,000 people have responded "going" or "interested" on the event's page.[2][3][4][5][6]
Air Force spokeswoman Laura McAndrews said government officials knew about the event and discouraged people from attempting to enter where armed forces training occurs.[7] Nevada law enforcement also warned potential participants of the event not to trespass.[8]
Background[edit]
Area 51 has been the subject of 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.[9] Conspiracy theorists believe aliens, UFOs, or secrets related to them are stored at Area 51.[10][11] In June 2019, The Pentagon provided a briefing on UFOs encountered by Navy pilots to members of Congress.[12] U.S. president Donald Trump had also been briefed on UFOs.[13]
College student Matty Roberts, the creator of the event, came up with the idea after watching the Joe Rogan Experience podcast on June 20, 2019, where Joe Rogan interviews Area 51 whistleblower and conspiracy theorist Bob Lazar and filmmaker Jeremy Corbell.[14][15] Lazar claimed that he's worked with alien spacecraft when working at an underground facility at Area 51.[15][16]
Facebook event and Internet meme[edit]
Matty Roberts, also known as video game streamer SmyleeKun,[8] created the event on Facebook on June 27 as a joke, not imagining the viral spread the event would receive.[17] The event plans for the raid in Amargosa Valley from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. PDT on September 20, 2019.[1][7][8] The Facebook event writes, "If we naruto run [sic], we can move faster than their bullets. Lets [sic] see them aliens", referring to the unique running style of anime character Naruto Uzumaki, who runs with his arms stretched behind him, head down and torso tilted forward.[5][12][18] Roberts said the event had around 40 signatures 3 days into the event's listing and then suddenly went viral.[1][19] The meme possibly spread first on the app TikTok, as well as Reddit and Instagram later.[20] The Facebook page for the event is filled with thousands of satirical posts discussing the best way to break into Area 51.[7] After the viral spread of the meme, Roberts was worried that he would receive a visit from the FBI.[19][15] The event received 1.6 million "Going" and another 1.2 million "Interested" signatures as of July 18.[15] He is taking the event offline as of July 20.[17]
Rapper Lil Nas X released a music video for the Young Thug and Mason Ramsey remix of "Old Town Road" about the planned raid.[21][22][23] A collection of merchandise related to the event from online retailers was launched.[24] Bud Light will release a special 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.[25][26][27]
Copycat events such as plans to storm a secret vault of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,[28] Loch Ness,[29] and the Bermuda Triangle[30] have also been created.
Government response[edit]
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: "The U.S. Air Force always stands ready to protect America and its assets".[7] TMZ cited anonymous Nevadan law enforcement officials who said government agencies are closely monitoring the reaction to the post, saying anyone found trespassing would be "arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of local and military law.[8] A public information officer at Nellis Air Force Base told KNPR that "any attempt to illegally access the area is highly discouraged".[31] A viral Reddit post showed an Air Force briefing on the Naruto run.[32]
Effect on local business[edit]
Business owners in Rachel, Nevada, the town of 56 people just outside of the base, have made preparations for visitors who want to go to Area 51.[31][33] 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.[5][31][33] Las Vegas businessman George Harris is planning to hire bands to play at an annual festival called "The Swarm".[31] Matty Roberts has also expressed interest in a music festival to be made outside Area 51.[17] 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.[34]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Betz, Bradford (2019-07-17). "Creator of 'Storm Area 51' comes forward after satirical Facebook page takes off". Fox News. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
- ↑ Montanaro, David (July 16, 2019). "'Storm Area 51' social media movement is 'getting somewhat out of hand,' says UFO expert". Fox News.
- ↑ Allyn, Bobby (July 15, 2019). "More Than 1 Million People Agree To 'Storm Area 51,' But The Air Force Says Stay Home". NPR.
- ↑ Matei, Adrienne (July 16, 2019). "1.5 million people have signed up to storm Area 51. What could go wrong?". The Guardian.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Fortin, Jacey (July 15, 2019). "Storm Area 51? It's a Joke, but the Air Force Is Concerned". The New York Times.
- ↑ Boom, Daniel Van (July 16, 2019). "1.3 million want to raid Area 51 to 'see them aliens'". CNET.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Brice-Saddler, Michael. "Half a million people signed up to storm Area 51. What happens if they actually show?". The Washington Post.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Whalen, Andrew (2019-07-16). "Nevada Law Enforcement Already Overreacting To Area 51 Raids' Naruto Runners". Newsweek. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
- ↑ "Area 51 Is the Internet's Latest Fascination. Here's Everything to Know About the Mysterious Site". Time. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ↑ Youn, Soo. "Half a million people pledge to storm Area 51 to 'see them aliens'". ABC News. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ↑ Lou, Michelle. "Forget Area 51. This Oklahoma animal shelter wants you to raid it instead". CNN. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "More than 600,000 people sign up to raid Area 51 military base to 'see them aliens'". The Independent. 2019-07-13. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ↑ Choi, Matthew. "Trump says he was briefed on Navy sightings of UFOs". Politico. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ↑ PowerfulJRE (2019-06-20), Joe Rogan Experience #1315 - Bob Lazar & Jeremy Corbell, retrieved 2019-07-21
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Prior, Ryan. "Meet the guy behind the 'Area 51' page. He's terrified of what he's created". CNN. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ↑ Willingham, A. J. (2019-07-17). "Area 51: A travel guide for the person who signed up for the raid but isn't ready to storm the gate". CNN Travel. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Youn, Soo. "College student floats idea of 'Area 51' festival after joke invitation catches fire". ABC News. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ↑ Phelan, James (2014). The Last 13. ISBN 9781742831961. OCLC 896985116. Search this book on
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Haring, Bruce (2019-07-18). "Area 51 Facebook Prankster Comes Forward For TV Interview, Claims It Was A Joke". Deadline. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ↑ Bryant, Kenzie (July 15, 2019). "The Absolute Joy and Utter Relief of the Teens' Area 51 Conspiracy Memes". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ↑ "Lil Nas X raids Area 51 in new animated "Old Town Road" music video". CBS News. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ↑ Zemler, Emily (2019-07-17). "Watch Lil Nas X Storm Area 51 in Animated Video for 'Old Town Road'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ↑ Maxouris, Christina. "Lil Nas X is ready for the Area 51 raid. And his new 'Old Town Road' music video proves it". CNN. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ↑ Banias, MJ (2019-07-19). "The 'Storm Area 51' Event Has Turned Into a Marketing Stunt". Vice. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
- ↑ Beer, Jeff (2019-07-19). "If the Area 51 raid happens, Bud Light promises to be its official beer". Fast Company. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ↑ Kim, Allen. "Bud Light is offering free beer to any alien that makes it out of Area 51". CNN. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ↑ "Here's why Area 51 is in your news feed". PolitiFact. 2019-07-12. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
- ↑ Tanner, Courtney (2019-07-20). "There's a Utah version of the Area 51 raid. It's called 'Storm the Church Vault.'". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ↑ "There's a Warning for the Thousands Who Signed Up to 'Storm Loch Ness' Because 'Nessie Can't Hide From Us All'". Time. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
- ↑ Croucher, Shane (2019-07-17). "Area 51 raid spawns rival event: "Storm the Bermuda Triangle, It Can't Swallow All of Us"". Newsweek. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 "Bring It! Biz Owners Welcome Million-Person March To Area 51". Nevada Public Radio. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ↑ Valdez, Nick (2019-07-20). "Area 51 Raid Prompts Official Military Lessons on Naruto Running". Comic Book. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 "Tiny Nevada town at the center of 'Storm Area 51'". KTNV. 2019-07-17. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
- ↑ Santos, Rachel (2019-07-19). "Business booms over Area 51 hype". WILX-TV. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
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