Tragic Spiral of Violence Unravels After Northern California Protest

Guerneville, California — A protest in November 2019 has spiraled into an ongoing tragedy, culminating in deaths, severe injuries, and legal battles among participants. The event began as a demonstration against organizations associated with artificial intelligence safety but quickly devolved into chaos, revealing deep rifts within radicalized communities.

The incident occurred on a Friday afternoon when Sgt. Brian Parks of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call regarding demonstrators blocking the entrance to Westminster Woods, a retreat center about eight miles from Guerneville. Arriving at the scene, Parks encountered protesters dressed in black robes and Guy Fawkes masks, who were chanting and carrying flyers that accused the Center for Applied Rationality (CFAR) and the Machine Intelligence Research Institute (MIRI) of misconduct.

Initially designated as a routine protest, the situation escalated when police received reports that one of the demonstrators was armed. Concerned for the safety of a group of children participating in a nearby ropes course, Parks upgraded the incident to a code-3 emergency, bringing additional units to the scene.

Upon arrival, Parks saw three robed figures chanting with printed flyers that detailed accusations against the organizations. He ordered the protesters to the ground, leading to a confrontation characterized by confusion and allegations of discrimination.

As the protest unfolded, authorities incorrectly believed there were firearms among the demonstrators, which turned out to be false claims. Following their detainment, the protesters, who included Emma Borhanian, Gwen Danielson, Ziz LaSota, and Alex Leatham, were charged with multiple misdemeanors, including false imprisonment and willful cruelty to a child.

In the aftermath of the protest, tensions continued to build within the radicalized factions of the rationalist community, and the group, known as “the Zizians,” faced accusations of embodying extremist views. LaSota emerged as a controversial figure, espousing beliefs that intersected radical ethos with a commitment to AI safety and animal rights.

Days before the protest, internal discussions hinted at possible legal action against CFAR for what they perceived as anti-trans discrimination. As tensions boiled over on protest day, LaSota and her compatriots made headlines, and the intended message became obscured by media coverage focused on their unconventional appearance and alleged threats.

Tragically, the events surrounding the protest have led to severe repercussions. One participant was found dead, another remains missing, and subsequent violence erupted when another group member, Leatham, and an acquaintance reportedly attacked a landlord who was attempting to evict them from their precarious living situation.

Curtis Lind, the landlord, sustained life-threatening injuries and later died in the hospital. Leatham and a companion were charged with murder, marking a sharp turn in a narrative initially aimed at protest and change.

As legal proceedings unfold for the remaining members of the group, the community grapples with the implications of their choices and the catastrophic outcomes stemming from what began as an idealistic movement. “This is not what we intended,” commented Parks about the overall situation. “A peaceful demonstration became something else entirely.”

Currently, many questions remain unanswered: how such good intentions could lead to destruction and whether there is a path to redemption for those still entangled in this tragic story.