Militia members occupy U.S. building in Oregon after protest
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Protesters march on Court Avenue in support of an Oregon ranching family facing jail time for arson in Burns, Ore., Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. Family members were convicted of the arsons three years ago and served time. But a judge ruled their terms were too short under federal law and ordered them back to prison for about four years each.
BURNS, Ore. >> A family previously involved in a showdown with the federal government has occupied a building at a national wildlife refuge in Oregon and is asking militia members to join them.
Ammon Bundy — the son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who was involved in a standoff with the government over grazing rights — told The Oregonian on Saturday that he and two of his brothers were among a group of dozens of people occupying the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
The protest began as a rally in support of Oregon ranchers facing jail time for arson.
Ammon Bundy posted a video on his Facebook page asking for militia members to come help him. He said “this is not a time to stand down. It’s a time to stand up and come to Harney County,” where Burns is located. Below the video is this statement: “(asterisk)(asterisk)ALL PATRIOTS ITS TIME TO STAND UP NOT STAND DOWN!!! WE NEED YOUR HELP!!! COME PREPARED.”
In an interview with reporters late Saturday night that was posted on Facebook, Bundy said he and others are occupying the building because “the people have been abused long enough.”
“I feel we are in a situation where if we do not do something, if we do not take a hard stand, we’ll be in a position where we’ll be no longer able to do so,” he said.
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Bundy said the group planned to stay at the refuge indefinitely. “We’re planning on staying here for years, absolutely,” Ammon Bundy said. “This is not a decision we’ve made at the last minute.”
Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward told people to stay away from the building as authorities work to defuse the situation, the Oregonian reported (http://is.gd/bK7d4E).
“A collective effort from multiple agencies is currently working on a solution. For the time being please stay away from that area. More information will be provided as it becomes available. Please maintain a peaceful and united front and allow us to work through this situation,” Ward said in a statement.
An Idaho militia leader who helped organize the earlier march said he knew nothing about activities after a parade of militia members and local residents in Burns walked past the sheriff’s office and the home of Dwight Hammond Jr. and his son Steven.
Ammon Bundy’s father, Cliven Bundy, told Oregon Public Broadcasting on Saturday night that he had nothing to do with the takeover of the building.
Bundy said his son felt obligated to intervene on behalf of the Hammonds.
“That’s not exactly what I thought should happen, but I didn’t know what to do,” he said. “You know, if the Hammonds wouldn’t stand, if the sheriff didn’t stand, then, you know, the people had to do something. And I guess this is what they did decide to do. I wasn’t in on that.”
His son Ammon told him they are committed to staying in the building, Cliven Bundy told Oregon Public Broadcasting.
“He told me that they were there for the long run. I guess they figured they’re going to be there for whatever time it takes_and I don’t know what that means,” Cliven Bundy said. “I asked him, ‘Well how long can ya, how long you going to stand out there?’ He just told me it was for long term.”
Beth Anne Steele, an FBI spokeswoman in Portland, told The Associated Press the agency was aware of the situation at the national wildlife refuge. She made no further comment.
Some local residents feared the Saturday rally would involve more than speeches, flags and marching. But the only real additions to that list seemed to be songs, flowers and pennies.
As marchers reached the courthouse, they tossed hundreds of pennies at the locked door. Their message: civilians were buying back their government. After the march passed, two girls swooped in to scavenge the pennies.
A few blocks away, Hammond and his wife, Susan, greeted marchers, who planted flower bouquets in the snow. They sang some songs, Hammond said a few words, and the protesters marched back to their cars.
Dwight Hammond has said he and his son plan to peacefully report to prison Jan. 4 as ordered by the judge.
Dwight Hammond, 73, and Steven Hammond, 46, said they lit the fires in 2001 and 2006 to reduce the growth of invasive plants and protect their property from wildfires.
The two were convicted of the arsons three years ago and served time — the father three months, the son one year. But a judge ruled their terms were too short under federal law and ordered them back to prison for about four years each.
The decision has generated controversy in a remote part of the state.
In particular, the Hammonds’ new sentences touched a nerve with far right groups who repudiate federal authority.
Ammon Bundy and a handful of militiamen from other states arrived last month in Burns, some 60 miles from the Hammond ranch.
In an email to supporters, Ammon Bundy criticized the U.S. government for a failed legal process.
27 responses to “Militia members occupy U.S. building in Oregon after protest”
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Always check the building codes to if it is legal.
What happened to “Double-Jeopardy”? (e.g., U.S. v. Koon, 34 F.3d 1416, 1438 (9th Cir.’94).)
We are going to see more of this in the future.
No question!!!
See more of which?
No question about it. We Americans love our Constitution far more than we detest the loathsome, out-of-control bureaucrats who so clearly hate it. Here’s hoping we can keep them non-violent.
Just like the TMT on Mauna Kea! We taking our rights back!
See how quick the knuckleheads are to use the events in Oregon to threaten violence in Hawaii? Phoneguy and Nanakuliguy are letting us know that if we don’t do what they want, they will give us more than stinkeye. That’s why it’s important to act immediately to crush protesters when they go beyond holding signs, singing, chanting etc. and start blocking roads.
“That’s why it’s important to act immediately to crush protesters”
See how quick the knuckleheads are to threaten violence in Hawaii?
Indeed Ken, and you should be at the head of the line–and lay your body down to block the roads.
(Before you go to bed at night; do you look under your bed in search of the Boogeyman? (Are you related to J. Edgar Hoover?)
Looks like 2 more knuckleheads have stepped forward to show their knuckleheadedness.
P.S. KEN, DO YOU WEAR “PRADA”?
Ken you are going off the deep end. Be happy you live in hawaii you would not survive state side. sad man you are
HAWAII NEEDS HELP. OUR HAWAII HAS BEEN OVERTAKEN BY FOREIGN ELECTED POLITICIANS. HAWAII IS LOSING OUR POLITICS AND ECONOMICS TO FOREIGN INVESTORS. HOUSING PRICES ARE SKYROCKETING AND FOREIGNERS ARE BUYING UP ALL OUR REALESTATE SUPPORTED BY FOREIGN POLITICIANS. UNITE HAWAII.
Who are the ones selling out, check who makes the decisions to allow the invasions. Your own city and state representatives pass and agree to allow the investments to go forward. The union and democrats who are the responsible?
Hawaiians are being jailed more often than you know. Their are no good jobs for Hawaiians. They steal our lands, leave us homeless, and put us in jail. They deprive us of our civil rights and keeps us oppressed. Please help Hawaii, we are embarrassed by our elected governor Ige. He sounds like a kermit. Impeach Ige!! Sign the petition. http://Www.facebook.com/impeachige
IMUA, HOWIE! “Ho’o’ minau nui”…
How are they stealing your lands? Lack of life planning led to being homeless. Would be interesting to know how you got yourself into jail. What civil rights are being violated? How are you oppressed? Your statement, “He sounds like a kermit,” what does that mean? A bunch of general statements needing more information.
Well said
“WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!! COME PREPARED”
Bring your lighter. We’s gonna have us a MALHEURGHAZI!!!!!!!11!!!!1!!
Padlock the doors of the building. Check on them in two weeks.
Don’t let anyone in and don’t let anyone out, especially the press. Ignore them and they’ll give up when they get hungry. Then arrest them.
Of course that would be your attitude. Never mind examining the underlying issue regarding the illegal occupation of state lands by the federal government and keep swallowing the bile spewed by media and liberal pundits
America’s ISIS.
The Bundys are freeloaders and crackpots.
Exactly like the 4 knuckleheads who want to bring those tactics to Hawaii.
How is this act of domestic gun terrorism not front page news?