28 August 2023 , 21:29
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As multiple groups of climate activists peacefully protested by stopping traffic entering Burning Man, rangers stormed through their blockades and arrested protestors at gunpoint.
The climate activist group Seven Circles was arrested for trespassing on tribal land on Sunday, after online footage showed around six protestors blocking a rural road using makeshift materials and home-made banners reading: “Burners of the World, Unite!,” “Abolish Capitalism” and “General Strike for Climate.”
This comes after news earlier this week that festival goers were urged to delay their , at the annual event at Black Rock City.
Seven circles said the group says the protest was designed to draw attention to capitalism’s inability to address climate’s ecological breakdown. They caused congestion that spanned miles long.
The climate activist group Seven Circles was arrested for trespassing on tribal land on Sunday (TikTok)A video posted online showed a man in a red, white and blue cowboy hat and sunglasses telling the activists: “You’re on public property. We’ve got to get through.”
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The protesters in turn tell him to call the local authorities as a woman in a sun hat tells him he will eventually get into Burning Man anyway. She then chains herself to a trailer.
A fellow protester said: “This is a democracy, we have a right to protest. Every change in society came from civil disobedience, all of them.”
At that point, cars and trucks can be seen lining up behind the trailer trying to get through, as other drivers start to argue with the protesters.
Rangers from the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Police Department of Nevada drove straight through the blockade and quickly began arresting demonstrators.
One officer got out of the vehicle and ordered a woman to the floor (Instagram/@michellelhooq)One officer got out of the vehicle and ordered a woman to the floor at gunpoint before telling her to stop resisting arrest.
The woman said: “We’re in peaceful protest, please he’s hurting me. We’re not violent.”
Guardian journalist Michelle Hooq claimed on social media that the Rangers attended the protest after receiving a call that ‘’someone in the crowd was going to shoot the activists”.
She added: ''Nevada police arrived. One patrol car rammed through the blockade, nearly hitting the protestors who had chained themselves to the structure. The officer pulled out a gun/taser and threatened to shoot the activists, even putting handcuffs on their legal observer.'
''The majority of the Burners on the road were outraged and did not think this protest was effective at all. This was an eye-opening look for me into how many Burners only appreciate radicalism if it doesn’t inconvenience their fun, as well as the limits of civil disobedience to effect social change.''
Social media for Rave Revolution posted the footage and captioned it: ''Nevada Ranger rammed into the blockade, an officer pulled out his gun and threatened to shoot.'"
Photos from the protest show an XR banner that says ''Ban Private Jets'', as well as other signs which say ''Burners of the world unite'', and ''abolish capitalism''.
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Seven Circles said it's aim is to draw attention to capitalism's inability change from the inside (TikTok)Last year Rave Revolution installed a climate-related art piece at Burning Man, and said that their feedback was excellent so they were looking for an expanded presence in 2023.
An Extinction Rebellion spokeswoman Clare Farrell said: "The dangerous and threatening response to protests on the route to Burning Man show us how violence is being encouraged and inflicted upon peaceful people, standing up in many parts of the world. The message is clear, our earth systems are breaking down and our human systems are making it worse. We need systemic changes including designing an economy that won't self terminate, and resuscitating our democracies which should allow for peaceful demonstration."
Seven Circles said its aim was to draw attention to capitalism's inability to change from the inside.
It said: ''Are we really ready to sacrifice everything for an outdated, unequal economic system? The time to evolve has come.''
Among its demands are that Burning Man leadership advocate for system change on both political and economic levels and ban private jets, single-use plastics, 'unnecessary propane burning and unlimited generator use at the nine-day event.
The Mirror has approached Extinction Rebellion and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Police Department of Nevada for comment.