A DISTURBING argument between a Black man and a group of white people at a large summer event in Nevada has been caught on video.
The clip shows a Black man yelling at a white man for allegedly telling him to find the “hanging tree” and then laughing before the Black man is ushered off the property.
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A Black man said he was racially accosted by a white man and several other spectators at an event in Virginia City, Nevada this weekend in a TikTok videoCredit: tiktok/@unclerickyd1
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The Black man who took the video, TikTok user Uncle Ricky, claimed that the alleged attacker told him to go find ‘the hanging tree’Credit: tiktok/@unclerickyd1
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As Uncle Ricky caught more white spectators laughing on video, TikTok users said the scene looked like it came out of a horror movieCredit: tiktok/@unclerickyd1
The altercation occurred earlier this weekend at a Hot August Nights event in Virginia City, Nevada, located about 35 minutes outside of Reno.
TikTok user Uncle Ricky (@unclerickyd1), the Black man in the video, shared the upsetting viral clip that has already been viewed over 650,000 times.
At the start of the video, Uncle Ricky can be heard asking the white man in a black t-shirt to repeat what he had said about “where the hanging tree is at.”
“In your backyard,” the white man responds, balling his hands into fists.
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It appears a white woman tries to tell the white man that she agrees with Uncle Ricky, but she is ignored and pushed aside.
The white man soon sits back down into a folding chair set up on the sidewalk before two other white women exit the nearest shop to encourage Uncle Ricky to leave the sidewalk and the sitting men due to the commotion.
The younger woman can be heard saying that the white man is her father, while the older woman tries telling Uncle Ricky to calm down and go away.
After the clip went viral, internet sleuths claimed to have identified the white man and older woman as a couple from the nearby town of Minden, according to local news site The is Reno.
CITY OFFICIALS CONDEMN RACISM
City officials quickly posted a response to the video condemning the behavior.
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“Earlier this weekend, an incident occurred in which individuals were harassed during an event, and comments were made that were hateful and racist,” officials wrote on the social media platform X.
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“We want to make it clear on behalf of the Virginia City Tourism Commission that we find this behavior abhorrent and inexcusable.”
“Virginia City is an incredible historic town with vibrant events and a welcoming atmosphere. We stand wholly against any acts of hatred, racism, or violence,” representatives added.
“Virginia City is proud to be a town that invites all individuals, and we are working closely with our merchants and event partners to create a community that is inclusive and open to all.”
SUMMER NIGHTS HEATING UP
According to the event’s history page, Hot August Nights is an annual celebration that started in 1986 to revitalize the small mining town during the slow and steamy month of August.
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Over the last forty years, the event has ballooned into a popular community gathering that attracts thousands of spectators and includes dozens of activities organized by area businesses, artists, and others.
The alleged owners of Virginia City’s Firehouse Saloon, the business where the argument occurred, said they were not “affiliated” with the people in the video.
But one of the women in the clip is wearing a shirt bearing the company’s name.
Local reporters report that since the video went viral, the owners have received a “firestorm” of comments online.
In a follow-up video on TikTok, Uncle Ricky thanked people for supporting him and said he was working in Virginia City when the “hurtful” incident occurred.
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COMMUNITY ENRAGED, AND AFRAID
Thousands of people have since posted comments denouncing the argument and racism in general, comparing the argument to a scene from a horror flick.
“It’s like something out of a horror movie when they all come out and surround him with smiles on their faces and the high-pitched, overly sweet voices. I hope he gets justice and they get jail time,” one person commented on TikTok.
“I felt like I was watching a horror movie. This is the scariest thing I’ve ever seen,” a second added.
Several people said they felt fear after watching the clip.
“I’m Mexican looking at a screen & I’m hyperventilating I’m so sorry. I cannot imagine the feeling,” one person wrote.
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“They were like a mob. This was so scary. I am so sorry you went through this. I wish I was there to cuss them out with you!!” another posted.
A request for comment from The U.S. Sun was not immediately addressed by Uncle Ricky or the organizers of the Hot August Nights event.
The white man and women accused of racism in the video could not be reached for comment by The U.S. Sun.
On weekday mornings, Nevada Sports Net will recap three big headlines of the day in its Morning Download. Read below for today’s topics.
1. Wolf Pack to hold ‘topping off’ ceremony at Fieldhouse construction site
On Monday, Nevada athletics is scheduled to hold a “topping off” ceremony at its Fieldhouse construction site as progress continues on the all-sport facility west of Mackay Stadium. The “topping off” feature the final beam being placed atop the fieldhouse structure. Groundbreaking on the $28 million Fieldhouse was held in August with the project going vertical last month. The Fieldhouse, which Nevada has sought since the early 2000s, will give Wolf Pack football an indoor practice space and also provide the remainder of the Wolf Pack’s teams a place to train during high-heat summer or cold-winter days. The space also will serve as the home to the school’s intramural and club sports teams. The project, largely being funded by a new $3.50 per-credit student fee, is expected to be completed this summer or fall. The 72,000-square foot facility will be paid via a sublease that is projected to cost $64.1 million through the final payment in 2056. We got footage of the build earlier this month.
2. Hawaii begins major demolition of Aloha Stadium
A portion of Hawaii’s Aloha Stadium was demolished Thursday as the state prepares to build the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District. Officials completed a controlled collapse of the upper section of the stadium using a technique called “tripping” to remove the support structures, causing the upper deck to fall. Smaller portions of the demo started in mid-February with a planned completion date of December. The state will build a new 30,000-seat Aloha Stadium surrounded by an entertainment district that is expected to be completed in March 2029 at a cost of $650 million, with half of that money coming from private investors. You can see drone footage of the demolition below.
3. Nevada’s Lilly Urban wins javelin at Mt. SAC Relays
Nevada’s Lilly Urban won the javelin at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., on Thursday with a heave of 56.60 meters, besting her toss at last year’s national championships. Teammate Hallee Hughes placed second at 50.57 meters. Last year, Urban finished 11th in the javelin at the NCAA Championships with a mark of 55.27 meters, earning second-team All-America honors. Meanwhile, at Thursday’s Bryan Clay Invitational, Aubrey Thompson posted a personal-best performance in the 10,000 meters, finishing 12th with a time of 37 minutes, 25.38 seconds. In the 3000 steeplechase, Natalie Roberts clocked a time of 10:59.09, finishing 97th. The Wolf Pack will return Friday for the bulk of its competition.
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Palo Verde’s softball team, No. 1 in the Review-Journal’s Class 5A rankings, defeated No. 3 Shadow Ridge 5-3 Thursday at Shadow Ridge.
Alexis Kearnes went 3-for-4 with two RBIs for Palo Verde (12-1, 12-1 5A Southern League). Georgia commit Taylor Johns at a two-run home run for the Panthers.
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Devaeh Crawford had two RBIs for Shadow Ridge (14-5, 11-3).
Palo Verde next plays at Green Valley at 3:30 p.m. Monday. Shadow Ridge plays at Centennial at 3:30 p.m. Monday.
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A cold front moving into Southern Nevada will bring strong wind, cooler temperatures and several days of unsettled weather.
Thursday and Friday are First Alert Weather Days, with the strongest wind expected late Thursday night into early Friday morning. A Wind Advisory will go into effect at 11 am Thursday through 5 am Friday.
EN ESPAÑOL: Un frente frío trae vientos fuertes y temperaturas más frescas al sur de Nevada
On Thursday, southwesterly wind will increase throughout the day, before shifting out of the north. Gusts will reach 30 to 40 mph across most areas, with higher gusts in elevated terrain. The high in Las Vegas will reach 82° Thursday.
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The strongest wind will follow the front, with northerly wind strengthening late Thursday into Friday morning.
The front will also bring cooler air into the region, dropping temperatures from top to bottom on Friday. The high will drop to 69°, with the wind backing off to more of a breeze by Friday afternoon.
Conditions will improve over the weekend as high pressure builds. Highs will reach 78° Saturday and 86° Sunday with lighter wind.
Another system arrives early next week. Monday and Tuesday are also First Alert Weather Days, with highs of 87° and 80°, bringing renewed wind and a slight chance of showers by midweek.
