When Badlands National Park's Twitter Went Down, We Rose Up

There’s been an overwhelming amount of nightmare scenarios spun from Donald Trump’s first days in the Oval Office. Here we’re focusing on his demand that the Environmental Protection Agency undergo a media blackout that also barred social media posts. Amid the shockwaves this news sent, there arose a surprising hero: @BadlandsNPS

The Twitter account for South Dakota’s Badlands National Park rebelled against the gag order by tweeting facts about climate change. Under an administration touting “alternative facts” (read: blatant lies), these tweets did not last long.

The tweets are gone now…

WE REMEMBER YOU, BRAVE MEMBER OF THE RESISTANCE. pic.twitter.com/YxKvK3730m

— Amelia E. (@BrowncoatAuror) January 24, 2017

Though quickly deleted, screengrabs of them sent Twitter aflame, and “Badlands National Park” was trending. And resistance grew.

Three Twitter accounts were created yesterday to take up where the official park account left off. There’s two “shmofficial” accounts for Badlands now:

Hey, friends. Here to support @BadlandsNPS with the science facts they can no longer share!

— BadHombreLands NPS (@BadHombreNPS) January 24, 2017

Burning one gallon of gasoline puts nearly 20 gallons of carbon in our atmosphere. #climate #notanalternativefact @BadlandsNPS

— BadHombreLands NPS (@BadHombreNPS) January 24, 2017

It is *totally* reasonable to punish a park for talking about the environment. #AlternativeFacts @BadlandsNPS

— BadHombreLands NPS (@BadHombreNPS) January 24, 2017

We apologize for our insolence, @realdonaldtrump

We have been successfully reeducated.

— BadlandsNPS (@BadIandsNPS) January 24, 2017

Recent research suggests that polar bears don't actually like the cold, so they're fine with climate change. pic.twitter.com/WLxDOnTZTQ

— BadlandsNPS (@BadIandsNPS) January 24, 2017

The Badlands were created over eons through the gradual erosion of sediment. The erosion of U.S. democracy, however, will be far more rapid.

— BadlandsNPS (@BadIandsNPS) January 25, 2017

AltUSNatParkService’s bio suggests it’s run by government workers rejecting the new regime through peaceful protest, a lovely loophole.

Mr Trump, you may have taken us down officially. But with scientific evidence & the Internet our message will get out.

— AltUSNatParkService (@AltNatParkSer) January 24, 2017

Think about what happened for employees at #BadlandsNationalPark to actually DELETE factual tweets on climate change.

— AltUSNatParkService (@AltNatParkSer) January 24, 2017

Somewhere a call came down the line demanding the account editor remove the tweets. Someone pulled rank and cited President Trump's orders

— AltUSNatParkService (@AltNatParkSer) January 24, 2017

Can't wait for President Trump to call us FAKE NEWS.

You can take our official twitter, but you'll never take our free time!

— AltUSNatParkService (@AltNatParkSer) January 25, 2017

The last remaining tweet from @BadlandsNPS became a site of support and resistance, with more than 3,000 replies.

CAPTION THIS! pic.twitter.com/CA1MyF4y6Z

— Badlands Nat'l Park (@BadlandsNPS) January 24, 2017

@BadlandsNPS There is no enormous elephant in this photo. Do not discuss the enormous elephant that is not in this photo.

— Tim Ireland (@bloggerheads) January 24, 2017

It's @IvankaTrump throwing her first born off the side of a cliff. @BadlandsNPS symbolism for her role in destroying the planet.

— Alotsa (@alotsmilesalot) January 25, 2017

@BadlandsNPS Are we safe from him up here? #Resist

— Kevin (@SolidGraniteNH) January 24, 2017

@BadlandsNPS "Don't be afraid, son. That's not a really cliff, it's an alternate cliff."

— YOMYOMF (@yomyomf) January 25, 2017

@BadlandsNPS "Hey goat, did you know the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is higher than at any time in the last 650,000 years?"

— Spencer J. Gilbert (@SpencerJGilbert) January 25, 2017

@BadlandsNPS Watching the US go off a cliff

— collazoprojects (@collazoprojects) January 24, 2017

@BadlandsNPS pic.twitter.com/QZ4nwh8rsy

— Clifton B (@CliftonB) January 24, 2017

“People shouldn't be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people.” https://t.co/9y08HNRGWA

— Jill Pantozzi ♿ (@JillPantozzi) January 24, 2017

@BadlandsNPS Bracing Our Future For The Fall

— EVAN STERN (@evanjstern) January 24, 2017

@BadlandsNPS "This tweet has been deemed safe by the Trump administration."

— Robert Stribley (@stribs) January 24, 2017

@BadlandsNPS "The previous social media manager has been sacked. This will remain the pinned tweet until we install a Trump-approved media manager."

— Evan Greer (@evan_greer) January 24, 2017

@BadlandsNPS "I heard it had something to do with a lady using a private email server."

— Randi Mayem Singer (@rmayemsinger) January 25, 2017

@BadlandsNPS "The small mountain goat, that we call Trump, likes to cower beneath the larger specimen, aptly named Putin." @POTUS

— Jamie Ford (@JamieFord) January 25, 2017

@BadlandsNPS pic.twitter.com/RbjXsU7D9a

— Badland NTL Park Fan (@Bostonianauto) January 24, 2017

@BadlandsNPS my favorite caption is GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL AND IS GOING TO KILL US ALL

— respected journalist (@rockiesVSconnor) January 24, 2017

@BadlandsNPS "It looks scary, but we'll make it."

— Lisa Buckley (@Lisavipes) January 24, 2017

@BadlandsNPS "Know this, little one: #Dippindots are not the future of ice cream."

— Dave Rowley (@welcomepresence) January 24, 2017

@BadlandsNPS Thank you to whomever was posting tweets about #climatechange. We see you and stand with you. Science won't be silenced.

— Christa Mrgan 🎶🔥 (@antichrista) January 24, 2017

@BadlandsNPS they were deleted. Screw you #trump and your cronies. Every act like this makes me want to fight that much harder. pic.twitter.com/685Hz2CbVm

— Hill Duff (@hillofbeans17) January 24, 2017

@BadlandsNPS i believe in you, Badlands. Thanks for being our hero today.

— Christophe Jammet (@cjammet) January 24, 2017

@BadlandsNPS’s unknown rebel tweeter may be silenced (for now), but they are not forgotten.

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Kristy Puchko is the managing editor of Pajiba. You can follow her on Twitter.

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