The U.S. Forest Service is asking an unauthorized gathering of the Rainbow Family to leave Plumas National Forest.
People both for and against this gathering have been reaching out all week.
So, on Thursday I took a trip up to the gathering to see what it was like.
After meeting at the Chevron in Janesville, California, directions to the site had me set the trip odometer to zero.Â
From there, directions specific to mileage led through the forest.
The Rainbow Gathering takes place every year in a different location.
Its tradition has gone on for more than 50 years, and some have been a part since the very beginning.
"The night of July 1, 1971, I wrote out the invitation to the first gathering," said Barry Adams as he held his 'plunker', a handmade instrument.
"My father, my uncle, about 30 others got this whole show started back in the early 70's in the place called vortex festival of living light," said Kara Williams, Rainbow Family member.
Each year, the true gathering happens July 1 to July 7.
On July 4, they hold a silent ceremony and pray for world peace.
Anyone is welcome to join.
"All we ask if they do come, come in peace," Adams said. "Respect, respect the land, respect each other and figure out how to be in common ground peace with one another."
The Rainbows claims to be leaderless, and everyone is their own individual.
"I'm an individual and we are individuals as a collective, as an organism, as we are all one, I believe, and I believe that's a beautiful thing," said Cuddlez, another family member.
Some members of the rainbow will show up early to make sure they get their kitchens and infrastructure set up.
During my trip, they took me to their kitchens, which serve the entire community.
They have a trade store where people can exchange items.
Also, they have tons of entertainment at their granola funk theatre, such as music, comedy and dating shows.
They built playgrounds for the kids to play on.
They also have their sky net where people can hang out up in the air.
The crew is pretty inventive. One showed me an espresso machine that was made, along with a propane oven.
This is what some of the Rainbow say this gathering is all about and think there are some misconceptions with what goes on there.
"[They think] it's all about drugs and it's all about delirium and all about people blowing their minds out," said Justin Heriot, Rainbow Family member. "There's plenty of people that come here just to work."
While it's a been a while since controversy has surrounded the gathering, some of the rainbow have plenty of experience with it.
"I've been in five court cases, we had 32 cases over the rainbow," Adams said. "I've spent time in prison over these gatherings."
So, turning to present day, controversy is very relevant right now.
When deciding a location, they meet as a council where anyone is allowed to join to discuss where they should go.
The Forest Service says they did not get word they were coming to the forest until some of them arrived on June 17.
They say this gathering is unauthorized.
"When we say it's unauthorized it means that they have not applied for a special use permit which is required for groups of 75 people or more," said Hilary Markin, Public Information Officer, National Incident Management Team.
The Forest Service gave a deadline for Friday at noon for people to leave, giving about a 48-hour notice.
No one has been allowed into the gathering during this time.
Now, officers have the discretion to give fines or even jail time.
However, the Forest Service says they're hoping everyone leaves on their own.
The Susanville Indian Rancheria said they do not approve of the gathering to happen on their ancestral land.
"We've been in communications with the tribal and that's one of things is what this order is in place for, is to protect not just the natural resources, but the tribal cultural resources," Markin said. "We also have concerns about fire danger."
Some of the Rainbow Family say they understand the concerns of gathering.
"For one, I think people did make a mistake to come here because of the threat of wildfire and the indigenous people," Heriot said.
In regard to the fire concerns, some of the Rainbow say they are taking it very seriously by using only propane and not letting people light fires.
"I am aware there is fire concerns," Cuddlez said. "I am very passionate about that. I personally go around at 2 a.m. in a bear suit asking people to put out fires."
"We've got the propane heaters, and we got people going around saying, 'no fire' 'no fire'," Heriot said.
However, the Rainbow Family has different opinions on being asked to leave.
"So, people are arguing about that, some people are saying 'no second gathering we have our rights we are going to fight for them' and some people are saying 'it's not about that it's about the fire'," Heriot said.
Some who frequent the gatherings say this is the tensest it's been for a while.
"Here urged that extra resistance," said Ryan Smith, Rainbow Family member. "There were sometimes some locals are pretty resistant, but here there is much more of a negative view."
When asked why they don't get the permit, Smith had this to say.
"The first amendment. The first amendment guarantees everyone the right to peaceful assembly, so this is a protest assembling for peace."Â
The Forest Service says that they have the authority to issue forest orders when the national forest land is at risk for safety and health. Which is why they ask for the permit.
Some of the Rainbows say they may pursue legal action.
