Forest Service Issues Order To Hippie Group
There’s quite a stir in Northern California where the Rainbow Family of Living Light, often known simply as the Rainbows, planned their annual gathering. This year, they chose Plumas National Forest, about two hours north of Reno, as their destination. For those who aren’t familiar, the Rainbow Family has been hosting these gatherings since 1972, drawing crowds as large as 30,000 people.
The Rainbows are a loosely organized group, and they often resist obtaining permits required for large gatherings on public lands. This year is no different. The Forest Service and local officials are not pleased. The Rainbows claim they are just individuals coincidentally gathering in the same place, but officials argue that this creates substantial challenges, including environmental impact and public safety issues.
The sheriff’s office anticipates between 5,000 and 10,000 attendees by July 4th. This influx poses a significant fire risk in a state already plagued by wildfires and raises concerns about waste management, as the Rainbows typically dig their own latrines. Local residents and officials are worried about illegal activities and environmental damage.
Lassen County Supervisor Jason Ingram, who visited the gathering site, reported illegal campfires and water diversions. He and some locals planned to block access roads to prevent more Rainbows from entering the forest. Meanwhile, Native American tribes are concerned about potential harm to sacred sites.
For the first time in over 50 years, the Forest Service issued an order for the Rainbows to vacate the area within 48 hours, citing high wildfire risk due to a Red Flag Warning and concerns about public health and safety. Plumas National Forest Supervisor Chris Carlton emphasized the need for appropriate stewardship of public lands and natural resources.
The Rainbows have been told that failure to comply could result in fines up to $5,000 and six months in jail. Only residents and those with special-use authorization permits are allowed in the area now. Supervisor Ingram praised the decision, highlighting the legal and environmental concerns associated with the gathering.
The situation raises several questions. Will the Rainbows comply, or will they challenge the order, potentially with support from organizations like the ACLU? Can the Forest Service enforce these fines effectively, especially if the Rainbows disregard them? What will happen if thousands of Rainbows decide to stay?
As of now, the 48-hour deadline for the Rainbows to leave the area ends today, so we should know more about the outcome soon. The potential for large-scale noncompliance poses a significant challenge for law enforcement and the Forest Service.
For more context, here are two video clips. The first is a local news report about the Forest Service’s decision to shut down the gathering. The second is a report from Vice on last year’s 50th annual Rainbow Family gathering in Colorado.