Tribal Police Shut Down Climate Change Activists Blockading Burning Man Festival
A group of climate change activists, known as the Seven Circles Alliance, faced intervention by tribal police as they blockaded the only route in and out of the Burning Man Festival in Nevada. The blockade was set up to protest the festival’s consumerism, which the activists argued goes against Burning Man’s counterculture origins. The group stated that their excessive response by the police reflects the institutional violence and police brutality being faced by those actively working for systemic change in the United States, including the climate movement.
According to the Seven Circles Alliance, a responding Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Ranger allegedly threatened them, pointing a gun and stating, I’m going to take you all out. It was later revealed that a civilian had falsely reported that the activists were armed. The blockade lasted for approximately 36 minutes before the police intervened.
Videos posted by journalist Michelle Lhooq and FreedomNews TV showed angry drivers attempting to move the blockade themselves, engaging in heated exchanges with the protesters. The rangers handcuffed the activists, questioning them about weapons. The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe stated that one ranger used his patrol vehicle to clear the debris from the roadway, allowing Burning Man traffic to proceed. The conduct of the involved ranger is currently under review.
Burning Man is a renowned six-day festival known for self-expression and culminates in the burning of a 40-foot effigy. However, the event has faced criticism, with concerns raised about environmental impact and safety issues. In 2019, the Bureau of Land Management limited the festival’s attendance to 80,000 due to excess trash and safety concerns. The festival reportedly produced 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide that year.
In response to these concerns, Burning Man organizers pledged in 2019 to become carbon negative by 2030, committing to a Leave No Trace approach and aiming to become a regenerative force for the planet. The Seven Circles Alliance accused the festival organizers of greenwashing their event in a news release prior to the blockade. They called on Burning Man to shed its apolitical stance and encourage attendees to take direct actions pushing for climate change policy.
The blockade also protested the popularization of Burning Man among affluent individuals who do not embody the festival’s stated values, leading to the commodification of the event. The Seven Circles Alliance emphasized the current existential crisis and stressed the importance of honesty when facing the risk of social collapse.
Five activists were cited and released following the intervention by tribal police. The Tribe Chairman, James Phoenix, has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the incident. The actions of the Seven Circles Alliance have sparked conversations about the clash between counterculture ideals and the evolving nature of festivals like Burning Man.
Despite the disruption caused by the blockade, Burning Man organizers and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe continue to work towards maintaining the festival as a transformative and impactful event while addressing concerns about its environmental impact and social relevance.
