from ALT-NPS just now

[dweller]

Last edited Sun Feb 23, 2025, 11:36 PM - Edit history (1)

El Capitan displays a massive American flag upside down—the traditional signal of distress or extreme emergency.




In a striking demonstration, Yosemite National Park employees have hoisted an upside-down American flag on El Capitan, symbolizing distress, to protest recent federal job cuts under #DonaldTrump’s administration. This act coincided with the park’s annual firefall event, aiming to draw attention to the adverse effects of these cuts on national parks and their staff. The recent reductions led to the termination of eleven full-time Yosemite staff members, including essential roles such as the park’s sole locksmith and a biologist, causing uncertainty and displacement due to the loss of employer-provided housing. Visitors had mixed reactions; some supported the message, while others preferred an untouched natural experience. Fired wilderness ranger Jackson Fitzsimmons addressed visitors about the sudden job losses, emphasizing the protest’s goal to peacefully highlight the damaging prioritization of drilling and mining over conservation on public lands. 

The protesters’ statement declared, “These losses, while deeply personal and impactful, may also be invisible to visitors and members of the public—we are shining a spotlight on them by putting a distress flag on El Capitan in view of Firefall. Think of it as your public lands on strike.” This sentiment reflects the growing concern among park employees and supporters regarding the future of public lands amidst policy shifts favoring resource extraction over environmental preservation. The upside-down flag serves as a powerful visual metaphor for the perceived crisis facing America’s natural heritage, urging the public to recognize and respond to the challenges posed by recent administrative decisions. 

Help this information get to more voters. 🇺🇸 A well-informed electorate is a prerequisite to Democracy.—Thomas Jefferson


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[SheltieLover]

1. Kick

[Wild blueberry]

2. Well done!

Thank you.

[malaise]

3. Well done

Rec

[orangecrush]

4. K&R

[Magoo48]

5. Yes, more direct action.

[WarGamer]

6. Here's a link...

https://explorersweb.com/yosemite-climbers-hang-u-s-flag-upside-down-on-el-capitan-in-protest/

On Saturday, a group of climbers hung a huge U.S. flag upside down from the top of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.

The inverted flag is considered a sign of distress or an imminent threat to the country. It was displayed as a protest against the massive job cuts affecting a significant number of National Park workers, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Also, a fired Yosemite National Park Service worker rappelled down El Capitan to protest the cuts, readers posted on X.

[Lulu KC]

7. THAT is dramatic

I've seen flags flown upside down plenty of times, but from El Capitan and hung by employees of the precious NPS? Chill bumps.

[BonnieJW]

10. If you use flag postage stamps,

Be sure to put them on upside down

[Lulu KC]

13. I still have sheets of RBG stamps

And now there will be Betty Whites, but I'll keep it in mind! I love using the RBG stamps when I'm sending something to a very red place. Small statement, but satisfying.

[usonian]

8. FB url. No login needed.

https://m.facebook.com/AltUSNationalParkService/

Home page: https://ourparks.org/

[kimbutgar]

9. This was in our SF Chronicle with a group of people smiling at it!

[ultralite001]

11. This is what RESISTANCE looks like...

This is what COMMON SENSE looks like...

May more groups apply creative ideas across the country (like the projector shows)...



Or MadDogPAC billboards...



How about commissioning a few drone light shows???





America -- We need to get LOUD!!!

[wendyb-NC]

12. Keep it up

Resist, educate the public who visits the Parks. Well done.

[usonian]

14. postimages gives a 404 (not found). I uploaded it to imgbb

Found on FB.
https://www.facebook.com/AltUSNationalParkService/
No login required to see the image.

[dweller]

15. I just reloaded it

To postimage … hope it shows

First time I’ve seen an image taken down there



✌🏻

[cliffside]

16. Image worked for me, thx for posting, people are waking up .... slowly. nt