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The Facebook group, “Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All of Us” has gone viral, growing to over 1.3 million users who have RSVP’d. All of them claim that they will be going the event proposed on September 20, 2019. An additional 1 million people have shown interest in showing up at Area 51 on that day. Is it just a joke, or are people going to show up on the military base? Whatever the case, the story has generated global interest in the media.
The group details as of July 16, 2019, are:
“We will all meet up at the Area 51 Alien Center tourist attraction and coordinate our entry. If we naruto run, we can move faster than their bullets. Lets see them aliens.”
Although a great many social media users may see the whole thing as nothing more than a joke, the military has responded with a serious message. They say Area 51 is the Nevada Test and Training Range, and part of the Edwards Air Force Base. A spokeswoman for the Air Force told the Washington Post that the military is “ready to protect America and its assets.”
“[Area 51] is an open training range for the US Air Force, and we would discourage anyone from trying to come into the area where we train American armed forces,” the Air Force spokeswoman said.
Interest in Area 51 may have picked up after a new Netflix documentary began showing featuring Bob Lazar, a man who claims he worked in Area 51 on alien spacecraft. In the show, Lazar did not claim to have definitely seen an extraterrestrial in person at the base. However, he did suggest that the government knows much more than they are letting on. He also claims the FBI raided his place of work many times looking for evidence of alien technology.
Responding to Facebook group plans, Lazar commented on Instagram. He is clearly against the idea of storming the facility, suggesting there is nothing to be found at the base today.
“I have to comment on this ‘Storm Area 51’ thing. I do understand it was started as a joke by someone, but there are a number of people who are actually planning on showing up. This is a misguided idea. Area 51 is a classified research base. There are no aliens or alien technology located there.”
“The only place there was ever any alien technology was at Site S4, south of Area 51 proper. That was 30 years ago. S4 may have moved decades ago or it’s possible it’s no longer being used for the project.”
“I do not support this ‘movement’. The last time someone tried to get in to Area 51 he was shot. This is not the way to go about trying to get more information. What is good, is the interest in the subject – the science and technology. That is what would immediately change the world we live in.”
See his post below:
If nothing else, the area surrounding the military base about 80 miles northwest of Las Vegas, may see an enormous surge in tourists that day. We hope that nobody ventures near the base, because doing so may put your life at risk.
Although there is a serious side to this story, there is also a hilarious one: the storming of the internet with Area 51 memes. The topic has become a subject for the Daily Show’s Trevor Noah, who posted his commentary to Twitter.
A million people aren’t going to storm Area 51. A million people responded on Facebook, which means seven people are going to storm Area 51. pic.twitter.com/33GMV9dVud
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) July 16, 2019
Some examples of the Area 51 meme craze from Twitter and Instagram below:
That’s just Jimmy. He had to report to work early in the morning to #Area51. Needed sleep. What’s the big deal? pic.twitter.com/a1Rcyw7O4B
— Space Force (@TheSpace_Force) July 16, 2019
View this post on Instagram
#HappinessBeginsTour at the post-raid rave #Area51 pic.twitter.com/QuhLQEfH2w
— kevin jonas (@kevinjonas) July 15, 2019
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Another Simpsons prediction about to come true 😜 #Area51 pic.twitter.com/S2Olho5SYT
— Secret Agent Randy Beans (@lavendxrbones) July 14, 2019
My alien after I teach it to use metal straws to save the turtles #Area51memes pic.twitter.com/58jEIv4IF8
— Jacky (@aquajacky) July 13, 2019
White people appropriating alien culture after liberation #Area51memes pic.twitter.com/g5fr3adpVG
— Chris (@ChrisMatam) July 13, 2019
me after I save an alien but it keeps making jokes about destroying mankind #Area51memes #area51raid #Area51 pic.twitter.com/moPxY6x7RQ
— Joe (@JFlecTV) July 13, 2019
My siblings after I bring my new friend from Area 51 to my house #Area51memes #area51raid #Area51 pic.twitter.com/zhjQsr3xDh
— Brasi 🥀 (@KennyBilski) July 13, 2019
The aliens after we let them out from Area 51 #Area51memes pic.twitter.com/O4dpWVgwyj
— Kate (@ksc3825) July 13, 2019
Alien 1: You really think they gon bust us outta here?
Alien 2: #Area51 pic.twitter.com/U1spSqesQW
— George Dominguez (@George6432) July 14, 2019
My alien when I take it to its first spring break #Area51 pic.twitter.com/y7JIgf2Ykn
— Ken 🌻 (@Kenyaa_sophia) July 14, 2019
Me flying back from Area 51 with my alien disguised as my grandma.#Area51 #Area51memes pic.twitter.com/CfgZwOz8fC
— Jordan Scott (@ScoJo55) July 14, 2019
the friends of my new alien chilling at my house with my dad #Area51 pic.twitter.com/wd6hX7Dnj2
— #Area51 Memes 👽 (@AreaMemes51) July 15, 2019
Wtf is going on at Area 51 #Area51 pic.twitter.com/0VPdYlLuDx
— jameson (@thtsmyjam_) July 15, 2019
My alien after I teach her how to be a social media influencer #area51 pic.twitter.com/2qRtm7sTM9
— Adele Selig (@AdeleSelig) July 16, 2019
Featured image: Area 51 by RJA1988 via Pixabay