What’s Happened at the Area 51 Raid?

The hot topic for 2019? Or just a hoax?

Personally, I thought it was fake for a very long time until I checked my phone on September 20th to see that people were actually making a trip to the middle of nowhere Nevada.

This whole idea started as a Facebook meme according to Vox News, but the incredible thing was how much it grew. The whole point of this raid was to find the aliens that the government kept secret from us, and logistics behind it all was “they can’t stop us all” so obviously this was a sure-fire win. Credited with the starting and planning of the Area 51 meme is 21 years old Matty Roberts.

In July Roberts started a Facebook group for the even set the date for September 20th. When over 2 million people RSVD’d for the even, the FBI decided it was time to put an end to this plan.

The original plan of meeting up in Rachel, the closest town to Area 51, and creating an interactive EDM music festival called “Alienstock” for the supporters of the raid fell through. So instead, the community set up a dance party in downtown Las Vegas to celebrate.

Bud Light even made a special edition green can with an alien on it to have fun with the worldwide internet meme.

And even if the original plan for “Alienstock” fell through, many people still decided to show up to Rachel and have fun with the occasion. Even though the 54 residents of Rachel were not too happy with all the publicity surrounding the event.

From the outside, this whole thing may just seem like a bunch of immature internet users getting together trying to do something illegal and potentially dangerous. But with that said, it’s important to see the power in this mini-movement.

The internet has a bigger influence than ever now, more and more people are paying attention to what’s happening and what’s popular, and with this power and influence comes a community. The people involved in this admittedly immature internet meme made more than a meme, they created a movement or people gathering together because of one common interest.

For those who found the Area 51 Raid unnecessary or stupid, give it a chance. It just goes to show that a lot of good can be done with the power of the internet.

Set up of the failed Aleinstock festival idea.

Picture outside of a convenience store in Rachel, the small town outside of Area 51.