WHAT ARE THE "SNITCH FORMS"?
WHAT ARE THE "SNITCH FORMS"?
National Park Service rangers are being forced to put up QR code “snitch signs” at every single national park, asking visitors to report so-called negative information being shared there about past or living Americans.
In addition, the signs tell visitors to report anything that doesn’t emphasize “the beauty, grandeur, and abundance” of the landscape, ie. anything that talks about climate change or threats to the animals or environment.
It’s a park ranger’s job to interpret history in a factual and historically accurate way. Censoring our interactions with visitors to align with administrative priorities is a disservice to the public.
Facts and history exist in truth and are not negative or positive.
It’s absurd.
How do you tell the story of Martin Luther King without talking about racism or racists?
How do you tell the story of Manzanar National Historic Site without talking about the horrors of Japanese American incarceration?
How do you tell the stories of the Joshua Trees without talking about the efforts of scientists and Rangers to save them?
Americans rely on our national parks to tell the truth about our history – the good parts and the bad.
What you can do to help
Link to the “Snitch Hotline”
Go to https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/eo14253.htm to submit your Good Trouble feedback!
Share the link far and wide!
We need your help to protect the critical American stories told by the National Park Service.
We can accomplish this by getting as many of our own comments elevated to the Department of the Interior level as possible.
Don’t forget
There are 433 National Park units!
If you’re commenting remotely, pick a park you know nothing about and look it up.
Learn fun stuff about your public lands while acting to save them!
Need some ideas?
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Comments about parks being understaffed/opposed to staff & budget cuts
Example: “While I was visiting Theodore Roosevelt National Park, I noticed they were very understaffed. There were no biologists protecting the beautiful prairie ecosystem of the park and I was very worried about losing the park’s abundance and grandeur due to the lack of staff”
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Love and support for smaller parks, National Historic Sites, and National Monuments
Example: “Pullman National Historical Park is a vital treasure that preserves an incredible chapter of American history, celebrating innovation, labor rights, and the resilience of a diverse community. By honoring the legacy of the Pullman Company and the historic 1894 strike, the park educates and inspires future generations about the importance of fair labor practices and social progress. Its existence ensures that this pivotal story remains alive, fostering unity, reflection, and pride in how far we’ve come and how much further we can go together. A true national gem worth protecting!”
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Emphasize the need for Regional and Washington Office support (Use #NoParksWithout campaign as an example)
Example: “While visiting Sequoia National Park, I noticed that they really need support from the Washington Office Climate Change Response Program in order to protect the giant Sequoias from loss of habitat due to climate change. Please fund and staff the Climate Change Response Program so that this park can do a better job protecting the Sequoias.”
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Demand more signage about climate change
Example: “Climate change science says there may be no Joshua Trees left in Joshua Tree National Park in the next 100 years. Why isn’t there more signage talking about that?”
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Demand more signage about culture and diversity
Examples:
“I noticed you have no signs at ______ Park about the ______people, the original inhabitants of this land.”
“The signage at this park inappropriately disparages the original Americans who lived here and doesn’t appropriately condemn the illegal aliens that squatted on their land.”
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Leave positive comments about previous visits and experiences and how you don't want that to change
Example: “My family visits Great Smoky Mountain National Park every year and it is a beloved family tradition. The Rangers at the campground and Visitor Center help us plan our visit and make it great! Please re-hire those that were illegally fired. All the parks are understaffed right now and that is easy to fix. Stop firing them. Rehire them.”
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Identifying some historical Americans that weren’t appropriately “disparaged” by park signs
Example: “Robert E. Lee was a traitor to the USA and a slave owner who fought to enslave Americans. Gettysburg National Military Park had insufficient signage disparaging this man and telling us how truly evil he was. It would be appropriate to disparage this monstrous man who fought in opposition to freedom.”
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Criticize Confederate statues
Example: “That 1939 statue at Manassas glorifies Stonewall Jackson by making him look like Mr. Universe. Even his horse is swole. The real Stonewall Jackson had googly eyes and sloped shoulders. His slaves did all his hard work so he probably didn’t have a muscle. Melt it down immediately.”
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Report the inappropriate use of Public Lands
Example: “The National Mall is being shut down on July 14th so that the President can throw a $25 million dollar birthday parade for himself. The price will go way up after the event, because tanks and military vehicles are not made for city streets and will damage the infrastructure of downtown Washington, D.C.”
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Use the form to report ANYTHING that’s disparaging America
Example: “The Secretary of Health and Human Services killed a bear and dumped its corpse in Central Park. That makes Americans look insane.”
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Flood the form with pure nonsense.
Example: “I’m not saying the Lincoln Memorial was built by aliens… but it was aliens.”
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Comments to AVOID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Any comments traceable back to specific park staff– Don’t name names! Try to keep it general so no one gets in trouble.
No threats of violence. Keep it positive. A real human being, likely an NPS employee, has to read these.