Protesters gather at Rocky Mountain National Park as part of nationwide Protect Your Parks Protest

Protests at Rocky Mountain National Park arose in response to nearly 4,000 federal employee layoffs by the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service, organized by the Resistance Rangers. Hundreds gathered to raise awareness about the impact of these firings on local communities and public lands. The protests aim to raise consciousness across 433 national parks, featuring symbolic actions like upside down American flags. Local leaders emphasize that the park's health is critical to the community's well-being, linking tourism livelihoods directly to park staffing and safety.

The rangers encouraged local protesters to meet at 10 a.m. at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center in Estes Park with protest signs and trash bags to clean up.

Estes Park Mayor Gary Hall expressed concerns about how the layoffs will not only affect the park but also the communities that rely on them for employment.

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