Share
While a crowd gathered outside the Bellagio on Monday to protest US President Donald Trump, one man took advantage of the moment to promote a niche cryptocurrency by kayaking in Strip casino’s famous fountains.
It’s unclear how much attention the stunt managed to raise for the crypto token, though its price did jump temporarily that day before falling again. However, the man was arrested for his efforts and now faces multiple misdemeanor charges.
Kayaker pulls publicity stunt during protest
A report from David Charns of KLAS identifies the accused as Trenton Barnes and states that Barnes entered the fountains with a kayak during the “Not My Presidents’ Day” rally outside the Bellagio on Feb. 17. After Barnes evaded hotel staff trying to remove him from the iconic fountains, police took Barnes into custody according to Charns.
The report goes on to state that Barnes was holding a sign as he sat in the kayak. A post on X from Charns shares that the sign was promoting cryptocurrency despite police documents stating that the sign was related to the protest.
A video shared to TikTok by Sync Media Network appears to show the man holding a sign reading “Vigilante Token” and “$VIGI.”
Protests involving thousands were ongoing throughout the US on Monday for the holiday. Another stunt the same day apparently promoting the same cryptocurrency involved a man scaling the Hollywood sign.
A social media account linked to the currency has claimed responsibility for both incidents.
Protestors have cited “antidemocratic and illegal actions of the Trump Administration” as the reasons for their non-violent actions. Barnes might face more serious consequences if he undertakes similar activity in the future.
Misdemeanor charges pending for Barnes
The KLAS article goes on to say that Barnes faces misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and trespassing and was released without bond pending future hearings. In Nevada, convictions on disorderly conduct can carry fines as high as $1,000 and/or a jail sentence of up to six months. Similar penalties are possible for a trespassing conviction but rare unless a person has prior convictions.
To date, this has been the only publicized arrest connected to protests against the Trump Administration on the Las Vegas Strip. Earlier protests connected to Trump did not result in any arrests.
Amid Trump Administration policies that could potentially affect casinos like the Bellagio, the hotel’s fountains became the backdrop of protests against Trump and Barnes’ publicity stunt. Because of the location’s notoriety, it may serve as the site for more protests in the future.
