Chaotic video shows police breaking up Burning Man climate protest blocking road and causing traffic jam
A video captured the chaotic moments when tribal police in Nevada dispersed at gunpoint a group of climate protesters who were blocking a road and causing a massive traffic jam for those looking to get to the Burning Man festival. The footage taken Sunday at the beginning of the annual gathering in northern Nevadas Black Rock Desert shows a law enforcement vehicle smashing into a sign that reads, "Burners of the World Unite," and a trailer that had been set up across the road behind it. "We are not violent! Please... we have no weapons at all, we are environmental protesters!" a woman is heard yelling as police handcuff one of the demonstrators. In the buildup to the police response, the same woman appears to have chained herself to the trailer, which members of the public are seen trying to move so traffic can start flowing again. BURNING MAN ORGANIZERS FILE LAWSUIT CHALLENGING A GREEN ENERGY PROJECT IN NEVADA "People are getting hurt because of climate change. Look at what happened in Maui, look at what is happening right now in Canada," she said as tensions were escalating. "Get out of the way!" a woman responded. The video, taken by FreedomNewsTV, begins with people arguing with the demonstrators over the trailer in the road. Leaning up against the trailer are signs that say, "General Strike for Climate" and, "Abolish Capitalism." "We got to get through, help us, we got s--- to do!" a man in a cowboy hat is heard saying as he starts trying to dismantle the trailer. "Youre going to hurt someone," a male protester tells him. "I dont care... there are people with medical problems here and you are causing them to be in the f------ hot sun," he responds. BELOVED PEACOCK IN LAS VEGAS NEIGHBORHOOD FATALLY SHOT WITH BOW AND ARROW As the two sides continue to argue, the male protester then says, "This is a democracy, we have a right to protest! Get the cops! F------ unbelievable," before adding, "This is how we are trying to wake up the community." A person then asks him, "How are we going to change the world doing this, man?" pointing to the scene in the road. "Every change in society came from civil disobedience, all of them!" he says. Police then finally show up with their sirens blaring. "Get out now! On the ground! All of you on the ground now!" an officer says as he exits his Rangers truck with his weapon drawn. "Stop resisting!" a voice then yells as police handcuff a woman. The video footage ends with police picking up the climate protesters signs and tossing them on the side of the road while making more arrests. A timelapse video of the traffic jam showed at least 150 vehicles, including several tour buses, backed up as a result of the protest.