Hot August Nights organizers launch crackdown after footage showing TikToker being racially attacked goes viral

ORGANIZERS of a famous summer event have spoken out after a disturbing video of an argument between a black man and a group of white men went viral.

Leaders of the Hot August Nights annual occasion launched a major crackdown after a TikToker uploaded an apparent clip of him being racially attacked.

tiktok/@unclerickyd1

Tiktok/unclerickyd1

tiktok/@unclerickyd1

hotaugustnights.net

This video showed an altercation at the rock and roll themed event in Virginia City, Nevada , located about 35 minutes outside of Reno.

One of the white men allegedly told the TikToker to find the “hanging tree” as his other white friends laughed.

TikTok user Uncle Ricky ( @unclerickyd1 ), the black man in the incident, shared the video, which has now been viewed over 1.1 million times.

Hot August Nights organizers confirmed that they revoked the registrations for the people shown in the confrontation.

“We want to clarify that there were no Hot August Nights representatives, volunteers, or staff present in the video or involved in the situation,” organizers said in a statement, according to ABC affiliate KOLO-TV .

“The individuals wearing Hot August Nights badges are event participants.”

Event organizers added that they would reevaluate the venue used each year.

“We are committed to ensuring integrity and safety at all our events and will take action to remove individuals who diminish or harm others,” the group added.

The Storey County Sheriff’s Office also added that it had opened an investigation into the incident.

This sheriff’s office said it did not “condone or support racism, inequality, or hate speech.”

The start of the shocking video showed Uncle Ricky asking a 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 responded.

This man then balled his hands up into fists as a white woman appeared to tell the white man that she agreed with Uncle Ricky.

The white man seemed to ignore this and walked back to his folding chair on the sidewalk.

Full statement from Hot August Nights organizers

Regarding the incident in Virginia City on Friday, August 2, the individuals featured in the viral video have been identified, and their Hot August Nights registrations have been revoked. We want to clarify that there were no Hot August Nights representatives, volunteers, or staff present in the video or involved in the situation. The individuals wearing Hot August Nights badges are event participants.

Following the event, Hot August Nights will further evaluate the Virginia City venue. We are committed to ensuring integrity and safety at all our events and will take action to remove individuals who diminish or harm others.

We believe taking these steps is crucial to demonstrate to our participants, volunteers and our attendees that such behavior will not be tolerated.

For questions, email info@hotaugustnight.netor call 775-356-1956.

Source: Hot August Nights

“He’s a crying motherf**ker,” the white man said as he seemed to mock Uncle Ricky.

“I’m doing a job and I did not disrespect you, not once,” Uncle Ricky said.

The incident continued as some other white men appeared to laugh at Uncle Ricky.

Uncle Ricky shared his heartbreak and anger in the video’s caption.

“This is what i had to go threw today!!” he wrote.

“Ive never felt so humiliating and disrespected in my life. #racism at his best.”

Uncle Ricky has since posted a follow-up TikTok video in which he thanked people for their messages.

“I just want to tell everyone thank y’all for all of y’all support,” he said.

VENUE RESPONDS

The event, which has run since 1986, was created to revitalize the small mining community.

Virginia City’s Firehouse Saloon, the business where the argument occurred, responded following the shocking video.

The company said it was not “affiliated” with the people in the clip.

However, one of the women in the clip appeared to be wearing a T-shirt with Firehouse Saloon’s name on it.

Alamy