Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy’s three sons and “about 150” militiamen have occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge HQ in Harney County, Oregon. They are protesting the pending imprisonment of two Oregon ranchers accused of arson, arguing the federal government has no authority in local cases.
“We’re going to be freeing these lands up, and getting ranchers back to ranching, getting the loggers back to logging, getting the miners back to mining where they could do it under the protection of the people and not be afraid of this tyranny that’s been set upon them,” Ammon Bundy, who appears to be the leader of the group, said in a Facebook video posted by Sarah Dee Spurlock on Saturday.
Bundy appeared to be standing at the scene of the takeover, surrounded by several men in military-style uniforms with rifles and hand-held radios.
The Bundys and their armed supporters occupied the federal property after splitting from a peaceful Saturday morning protest in Burns, Oregon. Ryan Bundy is also quoted saying “they’re willing to kill and be killed if necessary.” Children are reportedly among the people at the scene.
He also said “The best possible outcome is that the ranchers that have been kicked out of the area, then they will come back and reclaim their land, and the wildlife refuge will be shut down forever and the federal government will relinquish such control,” he said. “What we’re doing is not rebellious. What we’re doing is in accordance with the Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land.”
Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward: “After the peaceful rally was completed today, a group of outside militants drove to the Malheur Wildlife Refuge, where they seized and occupied the refuge headquarters. 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.”
Beth Anne Steele, an FBI spokeswoman in Portland, told AP the agency was aware of the situation at the national wildlife refuge but made no further comment.
In the video below Ryan Bundy also said that they are prepared to stay years if necessary to achieve their goal.
Ammon Bundy, one of the armed protesters building who has taken over a building in a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon, speaks with CNN over the phone.
People have also taken to twitter to voice their opinion by using the hashtag #OregonUnderAttack
Source- RT, The Oregonian
Comments are closed.