We must confront hate to prevent it from thriving in our Nevada communities

We encourage anyone who believes that casual racism no longer exists in the United States to take a moment and watch a viral video filmed last week in Virginia City. The video features Gary Miller, a white man who lives in Minden but owns property in Virginia City, telling Ricky Johnson, the Black man who filmed the incident, where he can find the “hanging tree.”

Johnson was working as a signature gatherer at Virginia City’s Hot August Nights car show, asking attendees if they would like to sign a petition supporting a ballot initiative petition to cap attorney’s fees in Nevada.

In an interview with Reno’s News 4/Fox 11, Johnson said the incident began when he approached Miller and asked him if he was a registered voter — a prerequisite for signing a ballot initiative petition. That’s when Miller told Johnson to “Get the f*** out of my face, (n-word. Expletive).” Miller then proceeded to explain that “I have a hanging tree in my backyard for n****** like (you),” Johnson said.

At that point, Johnson pulled out his phone and began recording, capturing several minutes of footage as Miller reiterates the “hanging tree” warning and laughs gleefully while telling Johnson, “I don’t make trash, I burn it.” When Johnson tries to explain why those words are so hurtful and offensive, another man, who appears to be wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap, joins in the laughter.

A member of Trump’s MAGA mob participating in a shameful public display of racism and threats of violence should come as little surprise to anyone. After all, Trump and his team encourage such behavior. Earlier this week, in a comment that invoked racist tropes about Vice President Kamala Harris’ Indian and Black heritage, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung tweeted about the need to “make sure (Air Force 2) is deep cleaned because Lord only knows what

@KamalaHarris and her team have done on there.”

That type of blatantly offensive speech almost certainly empowered Gary Miller’s words in Virginia City. As that encounter continued to escalate, Miller’s wife, Janis, eventually intervened, but did so in a way that further escalated an already-troubling interaction. Despite being asked repeatedly by Johnson not touch to him, she moved her body within inches of his, placed her hand on Johnson’s arm and physically escorted him down the street and away from her husband.

All the while, the unwitting crowd looked on, unwilling to step in and support Johnson.

To their credit, the video brought swift condemnation from both the Storey County Sheriff’s Department and many of Nevada’s elected leaders.

Gov. Joe Lombardo was among the first public figures to make a public statement, tweeting Monday that, “I’m concerned and disappointed by this incident in Virginia City this weekend. Racism and hate have no place in Nevada - this behavior must be condemned in the strongest terms possible.”

U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., also posted on X, saying: “Nevada is a proudly diverse, inclusive, and welcoming state. The racist and hateful behavior in this shameful video does not represent who we are.”

Fellow Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto also took to her X account to say: “Racism has no place in Nevada. I’m appalled by the incident this weekend in Virginia City and support the Storey County Sheriff’s investigation.”

But it was Attorney General Aaron Ford, who is Black, who issued perhaps the most compelling statement, which read, in part:

“Such hate does not represent the values we hold here in Nevada, and it should not be countenanced. Accordingly, I have reached out to Sheriff (Michael) Cullen to offer my support in his office’s investigation into this matter.

“I am proud to be a Nevadan, as are the employees from my office who reside throughout our state, including those living in and around Virginia City,” Ford continued. “Nevada is rich in diversity, with people from different backgrounds, and I know us to be welcoming and kind. Many have already voiced their disgust in the actions that took place. I encourage others to likewise denounce the racism displayed in the video.”

We agree. The incident is a stain on Virginia City and Nevada as a state.

Johnson was at a public event, actively engaged in the difficult and too often thankless work of promoting participation in democracy when his physical safety was threatened because of his race. Such threats are unworthy of any level of First Amendment protection, have no place in our society and demand justice.

On Wednesday, Storey County Sheriff’s served arrest warrants on Gary and Janis Miller, as well as their daughter, Tiffany. Gary is charged with violation of the breach of peace, Janis with battery and Tiffany with obstructing and delaying a peace officer. All three charges are misdemeanors.

While we believe that misdemeanor-level charges are appropriate for an incident in which no physical harm was perpetrated, we also encourage Storey County prosecutors to seek the maximum sentences for each charge.

The Millers’ words and actions harken to a dark era in American history that we must never be allowed to return to — an era in which a Black person’s decision to exercise their own rights to exist and be seen in public spaces and participate actively in their democracy posed a risk to their life. An example must be set and a clear message sent that threatening a person due to their race will not be tolerated.

However, the Millers are not the only people involved who should feel shame over this situation. The residents of Virginia City who were present at Hot August Nights should also consider their failure to intervene, which allowed the situation to escalate and left a man who already faced the indignity of threats feeling even more isolated and afraid.

The organizers of Hot August Nights have already said they are reevaluating whether to continue hosting the event in Virginia City moving forward.

As a region that relies on tourism as the primary engine of the economy, we hope that Hot August Nights returns to Virginia City. An entire region’s economy should not suffer due to the callous and hateful words and actions of one family. With that said, the civic leaders, business owners, law enforcement and other active participants in Hot August Nights must do better moving forward. If they expect visitors to continue to visit and spend time and money in their city, they cannot sit idly by as some of those visitors are threatened with harm on the basis of race.