A group of militants seized a US federal building over the weekend, and are now refusing to leave it. They’re calling their occupation of Oregon’s Malheur National Wildlife Refuge a “peaceful protest” against big government’s encroachment on local ranchers’ rights. But things may not be that simple.
The leader of the occupation is Ammon Bundy, son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, whose long-standing dispute with the US federal government over grazing fees led to an armed standoff in 2014. Ammon claims to be protesting the persecution of Dwight and Steven Hammond, a father and son who were sentenced to prison for starting fires that spread to public land. The Hammond’s lawyer, however, says they are in no way associated with Bundy’s movement.
Local law enforcement also disputes Ammon’s story. In a statement, Harney County sheriff David Ward said, “These men came to Harney County claiming to be part of militia groups supporting local ranchers, when in reality these men had alternative motives, to attempt to overthrow the county and federal government in hopes to spark a movement across the United States.”
Bundy’s end goal remains unclear. Leading up to the occupation, a Bundy supporter and army veteran said at a community meeting in Burns, Oregon on Friday, “The agenda is to uphold the Constitution. That’s all.”
The militia has vowed to occupy the wildlife refuge for as long as it takes, be it months or years. According to Bundy, marksmen now occupy the fire observation towers at the refuge and he would “absolutely” be prepared to use force, the Guardian reports. Although there’s no sign that authorities have tried to visit the occupied building, Bundy also said that any federal government officials who did would “be putting lives at risk.”
On Sunday (Jan. 3), a protestor told local paper the Oregonian that children were being brought to the refuge building, but the newspaper could not determine if the children were with the protestors.
As of today, it is unknown how many people are still in the government building. But in the early hours of Jan. 4, Bundy posted a Facebook video calling on locals to join his movement.
During the 2014 stand-off between Bundy’s father Cliven and federal law enforcement, members of the armed anti-government group were called ”domestic terrorists” by Nevada senator Harry Reid. Some argue today that the members of this new group should also be called terrorists.