Tribal Ranger’s Actions Under Scrutiny for Confrontation with Climate Activists Blocking Route to Burning Man; Investigation Ongoing

The behavior of a tribal ranger is currently under investigation following an incident on Sunday in which he brandished a weapon at environmental activists and forcefully navigated his patrol vehicle through their roadblock on the way to the annual Burning Man counter-culture festival in the Nevada desert.

The occurrence took place along a rural stretch of highway located within the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe reservation in the northwestern region of Nevada. The protest, aimed at raising awareness about climate change, brought traffic to a halt as attendees were en route to the Black Rock Desert, situated to the north of the reservation, for the opening day of the Burning Man event.

A press release issued by the tribe’s chairman, James J. Phoenix, portrayed the incident as a ranger utilizing his patrol vehicle to eliminate “debris” obstructing the roadway, after the climate activists declined to vacate the area.

However, social media videos depicted the ranger deliberately colliding his vehicle with the blockade—a metal framework of a travel trailer to which certain protesters had affixed themselves—before then proceeding back toward the activists. During this time, he declared through a bullhorn, “I’m going to take you all out!”

On Tuesday, Phoenix chose not to respond to inquiries from The Big Big News, which included details about the agency responsible for overseeing the review of the ranger’s actions and whether the weapon aimed at the activists was a firearm or a Taser.

“First and foremost, we are addressing the situation,” Phoenix commented.

Subsequently, the ranger, whose identity remains undisclosed, disembarked from his vehicle, produced his weapon, and commanded the demonstrators to assume a prone position on the ground, as indicated by video footage captured from various angles. As he approached a woman in the process of lowering herself to the ground, he grasped her arm, causing her to descend fully and then kneeling on her back.

Additional protesters can be heard in the videos repeatedly affirming their lack of weaponry and commitment to nonviolence.

“We possess no arms,” Emily Collins, one of the activists who had fastened herself to the blockade, exclaimed.

Seven Circles, the coalition that orchestrated the protest, denounced the ranger’s conduct as excessive, as highlighted in a statement released on Tuesday.

“The disproportionate reaction exemplifies the systemic violence and excessive use of force that is being demonstrated towards those actively engaged in instigating structural transformations within the United States, encompassing the climate movement,” the statement underscored.

As per the tribe’s chairman, rangers issued citations to five of the demonstrators, hailing from New York, Washington, California, and the European nation of Malta. The chairman did not disclose the nature of the citations.

Collins and her partner, Tom Diacono, embarked on a journey from Italy to partake in the protest, opting to forgo this year’s Burning Man festival after having attended it for numerous years.

“The planet is ablaze,” Diacono stated. “Continuing with the festivities while the planet pleads for change appears rather paradoxical.”

Diacono narrated that they positioned the travel trailer across the two-lane highway and strategically placed signs around their barricade, which included a demand for the prohibition of private jets. While Diacono expected some festival attendees to become disgruntled due to traffic disruptions, the events that transpired during the demonstration took him entirely by surprise.

“If I were tasked with envisioning a hundred potential scenarios,” Diacono reflected, “law enforcement ramming us with their truck certainly wouldn’t have been among them.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Activist Confrontation

More about Activist Confrontation

• Tribal Ranger Confronts Climate Activists at Burning Man Route
• Video Footage of Tribal Ranger Incident
• Burning Man Festival
• Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe
• Seven Circles Coalition
• Climate Activism and Awareness
• Systemic Change Advocacy
• Activist Demands for Environmental Action
• Law Enforcement Response to Activism
• Impact of the Incident on Burning Man
• Investigation into Tribal Ranger’s Conduct