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.
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El Capitan had a particularly high number of visitors that day, since many weekenders had come hoping to see the famous “firefall.” This impressive optic phenomenon occurs when the evening sun hits the Horsetail Falls on the east side of El Capitan. It transforms the falling water into what looks like fire. El Capitan’s firefall only happens in late February, when the position of the sun vis-a-vis the falls is just right.
The ‘firefall’ on El Capitan. Photo: Yosemite Resorts
The protesters told the San Francisco Chronicle they were exercising their right to free speech. They wanted to peacefully draw attention to the fact that “public lands in the U.S. are under attack.” Through this act, they sought to inform park visitors who might not be aware of the situation.
Outcry against cuts
The Trump administration has fired 1,000 National Park Service employees as part of its broad effort to downsize government, the Associated Press reported. However, AP also reports that the recent outcry has prompted the Federal government to restore a few positions.
Recently, the Search and Rescue Service at Denali National Park has faced severe cuts that could leave the park with only six rescuers to cover 2.4 million hectares.
