Luke Skywalker
Super Moderator
{vb:raw ozzmodz_postquote}:
Protesters march on Court Avenue in support of an Oregon ranching family facing jail time for arson in Burns, Ore. 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.(Photo: Les Zaitz/The Oregonian via AP)
A protest in support of Oregon ranchers facing jail time for arson has escalated into an armed takeover of a federal wildlife building and an anti-government call-to-arms.
The protest and takeover is being led by<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Ammon Bundy, son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who was involved in a previous standoff with the government over grazing rights, and two of his brothers. The brothers are calling on anti-government militia members from all over the country to join the seize of the headquarters building of the remote<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, some 300 miles southeast of Portland.
"We're planning on staying here for years, absolutely," Ammon Bundy told TheOregonian on Saturday.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>"This is not a decision we've made at the last minute."
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, Ore., the nearest town,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>is located.
The occupation came after an estimated 300 marchers — militia and local citizens both — paraded through Burns to protest the prosecution of two Harney County ranchers, Dwight Hammond Jr., 73,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and Steven Hammond, 46, who are to report to prison on Monday, according to The<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Oregonian.
The pair said they lit the fires in 2001 and 2006 to reduce the growth of invasive plants and protect their property from wildfires. They<span style="color: Red;">*</span>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.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Dwight Hammond has said he and his son plan to peacefully report to prison Jan. 4 as ordered by the judge.
Saturday's protest started peaceful enough, but soon led to taking over the refuge headquarters.
In an interview with reporters late Saturday night that was posted on Facebook, Ammon 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.
Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward told people to stay away from the building as authorities work to defuse the situation, The Oregonian reported.
"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.
On Twitter, news of<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the event quickly spread<span style="color: Red;">*</span>under the hashtag, #OregonUnderAttack, with many users mocking the light treatment<span style="color: Red;">*</span>of the armed protesters by law enforcement, after<span style="color: Red;">*</span>heavily-armed reactions to protesters in Ferguson and Baltimore. Most of the Oregon protesters are white.
"Did I miss the call for the national guard in Oregon? I recall them in Ferguson and Baltimore," TV host Roland Martin tweeted.
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 that 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.
The decision to rearrest the Hammonds has generated controversy in a remote part of the state.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>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.
Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed