Nevada
TikToker racially attacked by man who told him where 'hanging tree' is
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.
3
3 3
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.
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.
“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.
“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.
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.
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.
“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.