Storm Area 51

Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us, also known as the Raid on Area 51, was an American Facebook event and series of music festivals that took place on and around September 20, 2019, in the desert surrounding Area 51, a United States Air Force (USAF) facility within the Nevada Test and Training Range.

Storm Area 51
Part of Area 51 conspiracy theories
Clockwise from top:
  • Alienstock 2019
  • Alamo residents sell margaritas to Alienstock attendees
  • Crowd gathered at the back gate of Area 51 on the night of the 20th
  • An attendee of the Storming poses in front of Area 51's main gate
  • Lincoln County Deputies stand guard at the back gate to Area 51
DateSeptember 17–21, 2019 (2019-09-17 – 2019-09-21) (3 years ago)
Durationapproximately 96 hours
VenueLittle A'Le'Inn (Rachel)
Basecamp (Hiko)
LocationLincoln County, Nevada, United States
Also known asArea 51 Raid
TypeMusic festival
ThemeUfology
CauseFacebook event
MotivePlaying along with a joke, Internet fame, genuine ufology enthusiasm
Participants
  • 150 (main event)
  • 1,500 (festivals)
Non-fatal injuries2 (rollover crash near Rachel)
Arrests7

The event, created as a sardonic shitpost by Matty Roberts on June 27, 2019, asked Facebook users to band together and raid the site in a search for extraterrestrial life that conspiracy lore claims may be concealed inside.[1] More than 2 million people responded "going" and 1.5 million "interested" on the event's page, which subsequently attracted widespread media attention and caused the event to become an Internet meme. Roberts later stated his intentions for the event had been purely comedic, and disavowed responsibility for any casualties had there been any actual attempt to raid the military base.

On the day of the event, only about 150 people were reported to have shown up at the two entrances to Area 51, with none succeeding in entering the site. Two music festivals were planned to coincide with the event: Alienstock in Rachel, Nevada, and Storm Area 51 Basecamp in Hiko, Nevada. An estimated 1,500 people attended these festivals, according to state and local law enforcement. Air Force spokeswoman Grace Manock stated government officials were briefed on the event and discouraged people from attempting to enter military property. Nevada law enforcement also warned potential participants against trespassing. The event had an effect on businesses both locally in Nevada and around the United States, which prepared products for visitors and those attending the event.

Background
Main articles: Area 51 and UFO conspiracy theories
The main gate of the Nevada Test and Training Range, colloquially known as Area 51.

Area 51 is a common name given to a United States Air Force (USAF) facility in the Nevada Test and Training Range. Opening in 1955, the facility functioned as an aircraft testing and development facility during the Cold War. The facility is kept highly classified, protected from unauthorized entry by warning signs, electronic surveillance and armed guards.[2] The CIA declassified documents related to Area 51 and recognized its existence in 2013.[3]

Area 51's intense secrecy has caused it to become the subject of many conspiracy theories regarding the presence of aliens on the site.[4] These began in the 1950s, when some individuals reported seeing UFOs at the location of the base. Conspiracy theorists believe aliens, UFOs, or information related to them are stored at Area 51.[5]

Facebook event and Internet meme
A photograph of an attendee taking a photograph of a photography prohibition sign at the main gate of Area 51

Matty Roberts was a Bakersfield resident, and a moderator of the Facebook page Shitposting cause I'm in shambles.[1] "Shitposting" is the act of posting content online with intentionally ironic or poor quality.[6] Matty devised the idea of creating the Storm Area 51 event after watching Area 51 conspiracy theorist Bob Lazar and filmmaker Jeremy Corbell on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast on June 20, 2019.[7][8][9] He created the event on Facebook on June 27, 2019.[10][11][12]

The event was planned to take place in Amargosa Valley from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. PDT on September 20, 2019.[10][13][14] The Facebook event wrote, "If we naruto run, we can move faster than their bullets. Lets see them aliens",[7] referring to the distinctive 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.[15][16] Roberts stated the event had only received around 40 responses three days into the event's listing, before it suddenly and unexpectedly went viral.[13][17]

The resulting meme quickly spread to other social media applications such as TikTok, Reddit, and Instagram.[18] The Facebook page for the event was filled with thousands of satirical posts discussing topics like means of breaking into Area 51.[14] The meme's virality caused Roberts to worry that he would receive a visit from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.[9][17] The event received 2 million "going" and another 1.5 million "interested" signatures as of August 22.[19]

Rapper Lil Nas X released a music video for the Young Thug and Mason Ramsey remix of "Old Town Road" about the planned raid.[20] Copycat events such as plans to storm a genealogical vault of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,[21] Loch Ness,[22] Bermuda Triangle[23] and the Vatican City's archives[24][25] were also created.

Response
A map that details the US military land in Southern Nevada, showing Rachel, Hiko, Alamo, Armargosa Valley, and Las Vegas

Government

On July 10, speaking with The Washington Post, Air Force spokeswoman Laura McAndrews stated 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".[14][16] A public information officer at Nellis Air Force Base told KNPR that "any attempt to illegally access the area is highly discouraged".[26] The FBI also stated that they would be monitoring the situation and the number of people that would come to the events.[7]

The events also prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to post two temporary flight restrictions, closing the airspace above two places nearby Area 51 during the days surrounding the planned raid.[27] The Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS), the military's public relations office, made a Twitter post on September 20 depicting military personnel and a B-2 stealth bomber with the caption "The last thing #Millennials will see if they attempt the #area51raid today". The tweet was later deleted, and the DVIDS issued an apology.[28]

Local
A tow truck hauling a crashed UFO, an art installation at the Little A'Le'Inn

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.[7] The county had 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.[29] County sheriff Kerry Lee said an extra 300 paramedics and 150 police officers would be brought in from across Nevada.[7]

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".[30] 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.[30] The website warned that local residents would readily protect their property, predicting that Alienstock would be "Fyre Festival 2.0".[7][31]

Businesses

Business owners in and around Rachel, Nevada, a town of just 56 people just outside of the base, made preparations for visitors who planned to go to Area 51.[26][32] Connie West, co-owner of the Little A'Le'Inn restaurant and inn, had all 13 rooms of the inn booked and planned to open up 30 acres for camping, also stating she would possibly create merchandise for the event.[16][26][32] Las Vegas businessman George Harris planned to hire bands to play at an annual festival called "The Swarm".[26] Kosmic Kae, owner of the shop Aliens R Us in Boulder City, stated that even though the shop was 170 miles away from Area 51, business had increased due to fascination regarding aliens.[33]

Other businesses around the U.S. based products and services on the event, and a collection of merchandise related to the event was launched from online retailers.[34] Bud Light planned 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 showing the new design received 51,000 retweets.[35] Fast food restaurant Arby's had planned to deliver food with a special menu to the event.[36]

Gathering and music festivals
A protest sign at Storm Area 51 satirically suggests global warming should be "supported" to clear the Earth for alien colonization

While the event was intended as comedic, some took it seriously, and traveled to areas surrounding the facility.[37] Beginning on September 19, the day before the planned event date, people were reported to be showing up and camping around Rachel in preparation for the raid.[38]

The Lincoln County Sheriff estimated that about 1,500 people showed up at the festivals, while about 150 people made the journey over several miles of rough roads to the back gate of Area 51.[37] Some camped overnight outside the perimeter of the base while others arrived to gather and take selfies near the front gate before leaving.[39] One person attempted to enter the facility and received a warning, while six others were arrested for crimes including public urination, alcohol-related offenses and indecent exposure.[40] Near Rachel, two people were injured in a rollover crash which resulted in one victim being airlifted to Dixie Regional Medical Center.[41]

Two music festivals were announced in the county in response to the event's popularity: Alienstock in Rachel, Nevada, and Storm Area 51 Basecamp in Hiko, Nevada.[30][42] Local governments and police feared that even these legal events could be problematic if too many individuals attended.[30]

Wily Savage, a West Hollywood rock band, performing during the final day of the Alienstock music festival. All musical acts volunteered their performances for the event.

Event creator Roberts pulled out of Alienstock 10 days before the festival, leaving other organizers and booked entertainers to run the event.[30] Roberts claimed his last-minute departure with $70,000–$100,000 in sponsorship money and donations was "due to poor planning", and he instead joined an alien-themed party already planned in Las Vegas, although the Little A'Le'Inn owner Connie West continued with the name Alienstock in Rachel, Nevada.[30] Roberts's lawyers sent her a cease and desist regarding use of the name, but West was in possession of all of the Alienstock permits and ignored the legal threats.[43]

After the raid, Keith Wright, a promoter for the Area 51 Basecamp event, stated the event was a failure.[44] Connie West, who organized Alienstock, declared her event a success.[45] The event's aftermath saw several pending lawsuits surrounding the festival and Roberts's call to breach the government facility.[46] Although much less than the estimated 30,000 attendees expected before Roberts's departure—and a press campaign claiming Alienstock was canceled—the event was thought to have brought the largest influx of people ever to visit Lincoln County at the same time.[37]

See also
  • World Contact Day
  • World UFO Day
  • Josh fight, another real-life gathering originating as an Internet meme
  • Suntukan sa Ace Hardware, a mock fight originating as an Internet meme turned into a promotional event for a hardware store

References
  1. Frank, Allegra (September 20, 2019). "The totally wild, true tale of a meme about aliens that almost inspired a real raid on Area 51". Vox. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  2. "What is Area 51 and what goes on there?". BBC News. September 19, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  3. Aguilera, Jasmine (July 21, 2019). "Area 51 Is the Internet's Latest Fascination. Here's Everything to Know About the Mysterious Site". Time. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  4. Youn, Soo (July 12, 2019). "Half a million people pledge to storm Area 51 to 'see them aliens'". ABC News. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  5. Lou, Michelle (July 19, 2019). "Forget Area 51. This Oklahoma animal shelter wants you to raid it instead". CNN. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  6. "How spammers nearly destroyed the biggest 'Simpsons' meme page". The Daily Dot. August 24, 2016. ... but that doesn't quite speak to the essence of 'shitposting', which encompasses content of aggressively, ironically, and of trollishly poor quality. Incoherent jokes, hasty Photoshopping, mashups, irrelevance, errors in spelling or grammar—all are hallmarks of the shitpost ...
  7. Nevett, Joshua (September 13, 2019). "Storm Area 51: The joke that became a 'possible humanitarian disaster'". BBC News. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  8. "Bob Lazar & Jeremy Corbell". The Joe Rogan Experience. No. 1315. June 20, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  9. Prior, Ryan (July 18, 2019). "Meet the guy behind the 'Area 51' page. He's terrified of what he's created". CNN. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  10. Whalen, Andrew (July 16, 2019). "Nevada Law Enforcement Already Overreacting To Area 51 Raids' Naruto Runners". Newsweek. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  12. "Alien Stock being planned after Facebook event goes viral". WFTX. August 9, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  13. Betz, Bradford (July 17, 2019). "Creator of 'Storm Area 51' comes forward after satirical Facebook page takes off". Fox News. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  14. Brice-Saddler, Michael (July 12, 2019). "Half a million people signed up to storm Area 51. What happens if they actually show?". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  15. Cockburn, Harry (July 13, 2019). "Storm Area 51: More than 600,000 people sign up to raid secretive military base to 'see them aliens'". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  16. Fortin, Jacey (July 15, 2019). "Storm Area 51? It's a Joke, but the Air Force Is Concerned". The New York Times. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  17. Haring, Bruce (July 18, 2019). "Area 51 Facebook Prankster Comes Forward For TV Interview, Claims It Was A Joke". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  18. Bryant, Kenzie (July 15, 2019). "The Absolute Joy and Utter Relief of the Teens' Area 51 Conspiracy Memes". Vanity Fair. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  21. Tanner, Courtney (July 19, 2019). "There's a Utah version of the Area 51 raid. It's called 'Storm the Church Vault.'". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  22. Locker, Melissa (July 22, 2019). "There's a Warning for the Thousands Who Signed Up to 'Storm Loch Ness' Because 'Nessie Can't Hide From Us All'". Time. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  23. Croucher, Shane (July 17, 2019). "Area 51 Raid Spawns Rival Facebook Event: 'Storm the Bermuda Triangle, It Can't Swallow All of Us'". Newsweek. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  24. Sommer, Liz (September 25, 2019). "Vatican Raid: Redditors Plan To 'Storm' The Secret Archives". StayHipp. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  25. "Vatican Archives Raid". Know Your Meme. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  26. Schoenmann, Joe (July 17, 2019). "Bring It! Biz Owners Welcome Million-Person March To Area 51". KNPR. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  27. Slotnick, David (September 16, 2019). "The airspace around Area 51 is being closed by the FAA ahead of the planned 'Storm Area 51' event". Business Insider. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  29. "Area 51 events in Nevada prompt emergency crowd planning". Associated Press. August 20, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  30. McCluskey, Megan (August 15, 2019). "It's Happening. Here's Everything We Know About Storm Area 51's 'Alienstock' Festival". Time. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  32. Bartels, Joe (July 16, 2019). "Tiny Nevada town at the center of 'Storm Area 51' internet craze". KTNV-TV. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  33. Santos, Rachel (July 19, 2019). "Business booms over Area 51 hype". WILX-TV. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  34. Banias, MJ (July 19, 2019). "The 'Storm Area 51' Event Has Turned Into a Marketing Stunt". Vice. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  36. Moreira, Gabrielle (July 26, 2019). "Arby's plans to bring 'the meats' to viral 'Storm Area 51' raid". KSAZ-TV. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  37. Baynes, Chris (September 21, 2019). "Storm Area 51: Hundreds of people gather at US military base to 'see them aliens'". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  38. Richwine, Lisa (September 19, 2019). "Alien enthusiasts gather in Nevada desert near secretive Area 51". Reuters. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  39. ""Storm Area 51" hoax draws hundreds to events outside secretive U.S. Base". CBS News.
  41. Akers, Mick (September 21, 2019). "Two injured in rollover crash near Alienstock festival". Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  42. Frank, Allegra (September 20, 2019). "Storm Area 51 weekend has arrived. Here's what's actually happening". Vox. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  44. "Area 51 Basecamp canceled; Alienstock still on for Saturday". Las Vegas Review-Journal. September 21, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  45. "Storm Area 51: They stopped 'all of us,' but couldn't kill the memes – National | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. September 23, 2019.
  46. Miller, Cody (September 24, 2019). "Not over, yet: Complaint filed over Alienstock against 'Storm Area 51' creator, partners". KSNV. Retrieved December 4, 2019.

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