Literature Review #3

Summary

The article discusses the 2019 Facebook event, “Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All of Us.” Scheduled for 3 a.m. on Sept. 20 in Amargosa Valley, Nevada, the event was a plan to raid Area 51 and “see the aliens.” The article discusses the effects this event had on The Little A’Le’Inn in Rachel, Nevada, who received numerous calls on the event scheduled on September 20. The article also includes comments from the AirForce, who warned people not to trespass the Area. Additionally, the article briefly mentions the base being a space where spy planes are tested.

Author(s)

Jacey Fortin is a New York Times author who attended Northeastern University in Boston. Fortin previously spent four years writing about Africa, which got published in The New York Times, The Africa Report, and other publications.

Key Terms

UFO enthusiast/conspiracy theorist: a person who believes in the UFO conspiracy theory and believes the base is used to research extraterrestrial life 

Consequences: the punishment, such as force or jail time, trespassers may face if attempting to get into Area 51

Quotes

“The existence of Area 51 was formally acknowledged by the federal government in 2013, when the C.I.A. released a classified report on spy planes that were tested there beginning in the 1950s.” (Fortin)


“As of Monday, more than a million people had responded to the post to say they were going to the September event. More than 900,000 others said they were interested.” (Fortin)


“In response to questions about the Facebook post, Laura McAndrews, an Air Force spokeswoman, said the Air Force does not discuss specific security measures. She noted that ‘the Nellis Test and Training Range is an area where the Air Force tests and trains combat aircraft.’” (Fortin)

Value 

This article shows the passion and enthusiasm people have towards Area 51 and what lies within it. The article highlights the limits people are willing to cross. Undeniably, most of these people may not be serious about “raiding Area 51,” but almost 2 million people were interested; some even called the inn to make reservations. Additionally, the article shows the AirForce’s seriousness with “threats'' such as these. The AirForce had no hesitation in letting people know how highly protected Area 51 is and how severe the consequences may be on trespassing it. 

Citation 

Fortin, Jacey. “Storm Area 51? It’s a Joke, but the Air Force Is Concerned.” The New York Times, 15 July 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/07/15/us/area-51-raid.html.

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