In a distressing encounter, a Black man collecting signatures for a ballot measure faced a potential hate crime in the historic town of Virginia City, Nevada. Ricky Johnson, who was visiting the area from Houston, Texas, found himself confronted by a man who allegedly directed a racial slur at him, coupled with a chilling remark about a “hanging tree.” Shaken by the incident, Johnson documented part of the confrontation on video, sparking immediate outrage from both local and state officials.
Recounting the ordeal, Johnson described his lingering fear. “I’m still shaking every time I think about it,” he admitted during a phone interview as he prepared to fly back to Houston. The video of the August 2 incident, which Johnson posted on social media, prompted swift action from the community. The organizers of the Hot August Nights classic car event, taking place at the time, quickly revoked the registrations of those identified in the footage.
Storey County Undersheriff Eric Kern confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with interviews conducted and the case now in the hands of the district attorney. Kern noted the possibility of a hate crime enhancement under review. “There is an enhancement we are looking at,” he explained.
Although Johnson’s camera was not yet rolling when the first racial slur was hurled at him, he caught the heated aftermath on his TikTok video. In the recording, Johnson can be heard asking the white man to repeat his earlier statements. The situation escalated into a loud, profanity-laden argument that spilled into the street. A woman, claiming Johnson was on her property, repeatedly appears in the video, where Johnson asks her not to touch him.
Throughout the investigation, Kern confirmed the cooperation of all parties involved. The Storey County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement condemning racism and hate speech, emphasizing their commitment to a thorough and unbiased investigation. “But I want to say that in general, in Virginia City, this is not something that happens here,” Kern added. “It’s really a sad thing but it’s an isolated incident. It has caused a lot of negative impacts on all sides because people are getting a negative opinion. People are calling businesses.”
The office of Storey County District Attorney Anne Langer did not comment on potential charges. However, County Manager Austin Osborne emphasized the aberration of such behavior, describing it as “abhorrent and inexcusable” and unreflective of the community’s values.
Expressing his concerns, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, himself Black, offered support to Storey County in investigating what he unequivocally labeled a “hateful, racist incident.” His sentiments were echoed by Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, who took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to denounce the incident, stating, “Racism and hate have no place in Nevada — this behavior must be condemned in the strongest terms possible.”
Virginia City, known for its historical attractions and bustling with tourists, was once Nevada’s largest city during the silver rush of the mid-1800s. The town, where Samuel Clemens famously adopted his pen name Mark Twain, now grapples with the fallout from this deeply troubling incident. The Virginia City Tourism Commission condemned the behavior, reinforcing its commitment to inclusivity and respect.
Johnson had been working for Advanced Micro Targeting Inc., a Texas-based company specializing in voter outreach, to gather signatures for a Nevada state ballot initiative aimed at capping attorney fees in personal injury cases. Reflecting on the incident, Johnson shared his sense of entrapment and fear, noting that while he had faced racial slurs before, this experience felt uniquely isolating and menacing. “To be actually in the middle of that and you have no way out. You feel like you’re being surrounded by all these people. I felt closed in,” he said.
