"Now Is The Time To Stand Up": Armed Activists, Militiamen Seize Federal Wildlife Refuge Office In Oregon
On Saturday, militants seized a remote government outpost following a protest by hundreds of angry citizens.
That could very easily be the opening line for a story about a Mid-East country beset by civil war. Instead, it’s a description of what happened in Oregon yesterday.
It all started back in 2001 when Dwight Hammond and his son Steven set fire to leased government land in what they said was an effort to beat back invasive plant species and - ironically - prevent wildfires. They set more fires in 2006 and were later convicted of arson.
(the elder Hammond)
Both men served time in prison but a judge eventually determined that their sentences were too light and ordered them back to jail.
Some folks were displeased with the ruling and staged a protest that saw some 300 people march through Burns, a city of around 3,000. The procession made a stop by the Hammond residence and proceeded to make an appearance at the local sheriff's office as well.
"As marchers reached the courthouse, they tossed hundreds of pennies at the locked door. Their message: civilians were buying back their government," AP recounts. "A few blocks away, Hammond and his wife, Susan, greeted marchers, who planted flower bouquets in the snow [after which they] sang some songs, Hammond said a few words, and the protesters marched back to their cars."
Enter Ammon Bundy.
Ammon is the son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy who famously clashed with the government last year after his cattle were kidnapped by the Feds. Around 400 of Cliven's cows were busy grazing on land Bundy said he owned when the Bureau of Land Managment began to round them up and ship them off to a bovine internment camp at Bunkerville.
The government says the cattle were grazing on public rangeland, which is legal as long as the owner pays a fee. Bundy allegedly racked up some $1 million in such fees and so, the government decided to seize the cows, which the Nevada Bureau of Land Management accused of "trespassing."
Evenutally, the cavalry arrived (literally) as cowboys rode in and broke the cows out of jail. No, really.
Fast forward to November and Bundy's son Ammon was busy trying to come up with a way to keep Dwight Hammond and his son from going back to jail. "Ammon Bundy met with Dwight Hammond and his wife in November, seeking a way to keep the elderly rancher from having to surrender for prison," The Oregonian writes, adding that "the Hammonds professed through their attorneys that they had no interest in ignoring the order to report for prison."
But while the Hammonds have apparently come to terms with their fate, Bundy hasn't and in a brazen move, he and an unspecified number of "outside militants" seized control of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge headquarters, which is a short drive from Burns (where the protest took place).
The federal outpost fell to the militants without a fight presumably because it was deserted for the holidays. Here's more from the Oregonian:
"The facility has been the tool to do all the tyranny that has been placed upon the Hammonds," Ammon Bundy said.
"We're planning on staying here for years, absolutely," he added. "This is not a decision we've made at the last minute."
"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."
"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," Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward said, in a statement. The elder Bundy weighed in as well, noting that the occuption isn't “exactly what [he] thought should happen." "But I didn’t know what to do,” he added. “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.”
Ammon Bundy explained the rationale for the occupation as follows:
Got that? This wildlife refuge office will become "a base place where patriots from all over the country will live and be housed." Although from the looks of it, space is limited so reserve your spots now:
The Guardian apparently stopped by the refuge for a visit:
The occupation appears to have begun at about 2pm. Two hours later, the Guardian approached the refuge, which lies about 60 miles south of the town of Burns and is only accessible via a lakeside road slick with ice and banked with snow.
There were no law enforcement agents visible in the area around the refuge. A man with a goatee beard and wraparound sunglasses stood guard, armed with an AR-15-style rifle, and refused entry to the federally owned facility.
He declined to give his name or affiliation, citing “operational security”. He did confirm, however, that the men – several of whom were openly carrying assault weapons – would be camping on the site. “This public land belongs to ‘we the people’,” he said. “We’ll be here enjoying the snow and the scenery.”
This is as close as I was allowed to get to the armed militia occupying the Malheur Wildlife Refuge HQ. #burnsoregon pic.twitter.com/DPztu0VsVU
— Jason Wilson (@jason_a_w) January 3, 2016
The Guardian was allowed to take a few photographs, and then it was strongly advised to leave the scene. Within hours, police had descended on the remote corner of Harney county, blocking roads and urging members of the public to stay away.
Ammon Bundy, whose father became a folk hero among rightwing constitutionalists after his previous confrontation with federal authorities in Nevada, appeared to be a key figure.
He called for other likeminded US citizens to travel to the refuge in solidarity and to support what he said would be a symbolic showdown between impoverished farmers and overzealous federal authorities.
“We’re out here because the people have been abused long enough,” he said in a video interview posted on his Facebook page on Saturday night.
It isn't entirely clear how these "patriots" plan to last "years" in the small building without supplies but that's probably irrelevant because it's difficult to imagine the oppressors in Washington will let this go on for very long. On that note, we'll close with two quotes, one from The Oregonian and one from US Army veteran Ryan Payne who is among the occupiers.
From The Oregonian: "In phone interviews from inside the occupied building Saturday night, Ammon Bundy and his brother, Ryan Bundy, said they are not looking to hurt anyone. But they would not rule out violence if police tried to remove them, they said."
From Payne: "When local and federal authorities arrive whatever else is going to happen will happen”.
(51 votes)
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Don't forget to buy some ammo, too, before Obama taxes it outa site.
Finally! This makes me feel motivated that the white man is taking things back or control. There is a future for us now.
If these fine men taking control of a govt office are a proxy for America, then I really do believe Trump will cause the voters to get out this year.
These guys just want to control their own lives and destiny. Trump wants to be the guy who tells everybody what to do. I refuse to hire him or anyone else to rule over me. Saves me the trouble of saying, "You're fired."
Why cant we all just listen to a sweet little mullah so we can perfect our sharia livin'?
Fear of the Muslim (or Rebel, or Negro, or Indian, or Hun, or Jap, or Gook) under the bed is the ultimate control lever over low individuals. The need for big government to protect you from Sharia Law (which is just around the corner!) is more than enough to keep you on the reservation.
GAWD, Billy,
I should/wish/expect as many downvote honors that I concur with your statement.
Exactly. The racism gambit. Gets the sheeple every time.
Must have government to protect us from a large violent organization ruling over us!
False flag , again? Expect a hectoring speech by a nervous-looking community organizer with the same psychological profile as an average actor - diva.
Things are so fucked up for them so that they now badly need any and all diversions. And to abolish the 2nd amendment
Gotta admit, there's something more than a little weird about it:
http://commondreams.org/news/2016/01/03/media-coverage-oregon-militia-st...
Yes, it's odd that one event which does not resemble another event isn't handled in the same way as the event which it doesn't resemble.
The rebellious many? Half a dozen gun-nuts trying to start another Waco so they can be martyrs to the cause.
But what cause? Only paranoid right-wing zealots can discern a cause.
Only paranoid right-wing zealots can discern a cause.
Your refusal to examine and analyze this situation is an admission of laziness and stupidity on your part. All events have their causes. You are not required to support an action simply because you can discern a cause which motivated that action. Furthermore no honest, intelligent individual would comment on an event by declaring that he can't and won't make an effort to understand that event.
Russian Humor January 3rd, 2016 by Scotthttp://thesaker.is/russian-humor-january-3rd-2016-by-scott/
WEAVER FEVER
So you think the BLM is right and we should cower to our .gov overlords?
BLM is a corrupt shitbag
They love to "69" with big developers, Cattle & Agri lobbies.
Land swaps, wife swaps, credit default swaps, swaps, subsidies.......
I support the ranchers because the govt has been out of control for a long time.
It's purpose is to be a dangerous menace to society and that's what it is.
BLM is the hand, but the body is the Globalist cabal who are trying to get out Government to federalize and lock up every bit of American land they can. They want to force everyone into the cities where they can be controlled, counted and propagandized. They would love to remove the ability of free-thinking types to escape outside their system.
Last sentence says 'They would'. That's so FDR. Nowadays, it's 'They have'.
Just like the the Nature Conservancy selling tracts to friends and family.
http://tncscandals.blogspot.com
http://www.independentsciencenews.org/environment/way-beyond-greenwashin...
FUCKNO.
Apparently, the whole federalism thing wasn't resolved by The Civil War.
Four Amendments from our Bill of Rights seem to be at issue, or at least on exhibit, up there in Oregon:
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
Maybe the talking time is over. Sentencing people to years in prison for burning some fucking scrub to prevent fires. How do you sentence people, have them do their time, and after it is done- give them a few years more? How does that happen?
These ranchers don't bribe the right politicians.
Free Corzine!
Free Corzine!
Free Pollard!
Free Mozillo while you're at it.
Christine Lagarde too. Orange you Free?
Anyone else notice where Hitlery's left hand is?
Hint: Corzine's glazed eyes and happy smile.
She only needs two fingers for him, not her entire hand to grab his tiny wiener.
Another issue here is how did a jury get cowed into convicting these people of terrorism for burning some dry brush to prevent a fire???
We need to spread the word about JURY NULLIFICATION. If honest and informed people are on jurys, all this shit goes away pronto.
Free the next Hexagramite that will be caught spying on his/her "ally"! They always go free, so just getting a jump.
It's funny, she is all over him, and he looks like he is being polite and tolerating her.
"Oh baybee, I love your money, kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss...."
Because he, like many others have heard the whispers.
Is she?
http://www.fortworthbusiness.com/news/why-insurance-companies-care-about...
With cranberry prices at the lowest in a half century, Nodji Van Wychen has been forced to cut back on fertilizer, staff and pollinating bees just to keep her farm going near Pittsville, Wisconsin. Other cranberry growers are finding it easier to sell the farm to John Hancock Life Insurance Co. and its ever-expanding agriculture group.
"We pretty much cut everything in half," the third- generation farmer said from her home at the family's 110-acre (45-hectare) marsh northwest of Milwaukee. It's the worst environment she's seen since 1959 when farmers dumped their entire crop amid a health scare. Van Wychen doesn't want to sell the operation but admits the future of cranberries may not include family growers. "There are many smaller farmers that are finding that they literally cannot make it," she said.
As cranberry season reaches its zenith over the Christmas holiday, farmers are increasingly selling family-owned cranberry bogs -- the large tracts of wetland where the bobbing red fruit grow -- to larger operators. One buyer name that reigns in these parts is John Hancock, whose agricultural investment group is actively looking for distressed cranberry operations to add to its $2.5 billion in assets.
=========
You can bet your ass it's not just cranberry farms either...
Corporations don't get old and die, and thus don't need to pay to the Federal Government the usurious Estate Tax, 40% of the value of the farm in 2015, every time Farmer John dies and leaves the farm to his children or grandchildren. These same corporations pay our elected, "representatives," huge bribes to keep this competitive advantage over family growers.
It is called fascism.
Of course, mrs_horseman cooked up some fresh-small-farm cranberries to go with our local Christmas ham.
Financial institutions, like China, are converting their paper into hard assets --- farms, residential, commercial.... Too bad they are not load up on gold to the same extent. But any hard asset is good since it's pretty obvious all CBs will continue to devalue over the next 10-20 years.
Wasnt there something in the budget bill (or executive order) that promoted foreign agri investment in the US?
I think that was in China's southern province, known as Australia.
I will find it but did come across this.
http://www.firstam.com/assets/commercial/jack-murray/foreign-investment-...
I just read in the nyt about some Chinaman buying over 150 acres in north texas but he is developing it for 'luxury houses' starting at $2 million, not agri. He said he is targeting wealthy Chinese Mainlanders but it is open to any Americans, "who can afford it."
It will be interesting to see who buys and if ANYONE checks the source of their mainland loot.
>>>"There are many smaller XxXxXxers that are finding that they literally cannot make it."
As most here well understand, this is NATIONAL POLICY. Farmer, tradesman, rancher, small businessman, you really need to become a corporate employee, move to a larger community, or perhaps just sell out and die.
I guess if you can get to $100 million in sales, you can purchase your own Congressvermin, and life becomes smoother. Until that point though, you and your kind are regarded as pests, or road-kill.
The, the.......look on her face...................going to keep us up tonight.
Free Corzine? Why, he wasn't prosecuted? The criminal probe was dropped. He's doing just fine and starting up a new hedge fund last I heard.
This has to be a trolling style, straight man/woman, setting up the spike. I'll check back to see if you get any bites besides me.
<<Free Corzine? Why, he wasn't prosecuted? The criminal probe was dropped. He's doing just fine and starting up a new hedge fund last I heard.>>
Let me help... the Hon. Jon Corzine was prosecuted in full by a well respected and diligent Justice Department, and duly sentenced to hard time plus fines plus punitive damages that took away all his ill-gotten gains and then some, which were restored to the victims of his theft. This is b/c the government cares deeply about justice and the rights of the people, epitomised by their upholding and cherishing of criminal law, and the President being a true outsider is blind to connections and lobbies. Remember how he reduced the number of lobbyists, just as he promised, as soon as he took office? Maybe you missed that news with the closure of Gitmo all over the front pages at the time. That's why we're all living happily ever after, in the Hope and Change new order that so many voters supported in the '08 and '12 elections. A strong Attorney General is a just Attorney General. Mr. Holder, you are missed. Ms Lynch, you have big shoes to fill but the grateful goodwill of the people is on your side.
But a number of us here believe that Mr. Corzine was unfairly treated, given that there are still (a few) connected criminals on the loose, and the fact that they are free means that Mr. Corzine should be free too, in the name of equal justice for all. You see, if only some criminals are persecuted, then that isn't justice, and a law is not a law unless it is equally and universally applied. Others here believe that Mr. Corzine was unjustly accused, since he gave so much support to this fine President, who would never associate with criminals. In any case, the people he allegedly 'stole' from were rich ugly fuckers, who wasted good money on a barbarous relic they had no right to, and could easily afford any loss from their illegitimate holdings. Those people wisely invested in bonds and stocks after learning a valuable lesson, to invest as the wise majority does. They therefore owe Mr. Corzine a debt of thanks, for his actions have taught them much about real investing, and what happens when you trust the wrong people. They should be paying for his legal bills, some of us think, or at least be forced to contribute something to alleviate his current uncomfortable living conditions.
MSM has not been covering Mr. Corzine's just cause and his unfair treatment, b/c they believe that with his arrest, the matter was closed. But it is not closed, and many of us still call for Mr. Corzine's liberty to be restored.
Hope that helps, you silly Rip Van Winkle. On a personal note, please quit reading those alt news sites that you've been reading. Clearly, you are misinformed and have been led astray. I say this out of a genuine concern for your well-being.
Oh, and FREE CORZINE!
http://nypost.com/2014/03/13/jeffrey-corzine-former-nj-govs-son-dead-at-31/
I think you mean the Twice Honorable Mr. Corzine, since he exhibts double the personal honor of any average Senator or Governor.
What the hell is the ghost of J.P. Morgan doing in the photo of Hitlery and Corzine.
Oh....wait.....riiiiight. Even from the grave.....birds of a fascist feather.