“I want you to know that I think a lot of people in this room want to give you honor, and want to respect the uniforms you wear. Some of the things we have seen out of the park service for the last 23 years have caused us to be ashamed of the uniform you men wear. We don’t want to feel that way... We don’t want to be angry. We don’t want to have to point a finger accusing you. But we do want honor, we want respect. We’re not ignorant savages in this room. We are people that are business people, we are residents, we are neighbors, and we are not going to stand by and see a family like the Pilgrim family or maybe some day any one of us, being picked off and targeted. That is the way we feel, Gary, maybe that is not your heart. But that is what we see— and that is what we’ve experienc¬ed out of the park service for 23 years. We are tired of it. We want to respect you—I want to respect you. And I want you to know that. It’s not that we are angry, we are not hotheads, we’re not bullies, that is not what we are. We are human beings that live in this town, call this town home and I love my neighbors and they love me. I am not going to stand by and see somebody like the Pilgrims be picked on [in a manner that] we believe is wrong. We are not trying to be rebellious, and out of order and bring harm to anyone of you guys. We would not do that. This is my heart…to tell you that.”

Hunter Sharp spent some time telling in detail of his recent trip up McCarthy Creek, and his fears of local residents.

Although most local residents showed support for the Pilgrim family and outrage at NPS actions, a few locals voiced their dislike of the Pilgrims.

After the meeting, many in the crowd took vehicles (including a bulldozer) and went up the disputed road as a protest. The rangers had been notified ahead of time that this was a peaceful protest and that no locals would be armed. As the party headed out, someone reminded the NPS that the group was going to work on the road. Ranger Neeck smiled and said, “Have a safe trip.”