On Wednesday night, residents attended a community meeting to air their views about the two dozen or so armed men holed up at the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge south of Burns.
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The takeover of the federal Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern OR by armed anti-federal-government zealots might seem like a fresh crisis, but in fact we’ve been here before. Ward told the hundreds gathered at the meeting he hoped the community would put up a “united front” to peacefully resolve the conflict. The sheriff’s office said via Twitter that Ward asked Bundy to respect the wishes of local residents and leave the area.
“To members of the Burns-Paiute Tribe and residents of Harney County who seek a return to normal life: I hear you, and I agree that what started as a peaceful and legal protest has become unlawful”, the governor said in a statement Thursday. A community meeting was scheduled for Wednesday.
“Church leaders strongly condemn the armed seizure of the facility and are deeply troubled by the reports that those who have seized the facility suggest that they are doing so based on scriptural principles”, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said in a statement Monday.
Bundy reiterated that his group will leave when there’s a plan to turn over federal lands to locals. The Burns Paiute accused the Bundy-led group of “desecrating one of our sacred sites”.
Mr Bundy said he felt a “desire and an urge” to go to Burns, Oregon, where he had never been before, and explained this to his wife before setting off. He met and talked with Steven Hammond about the accusations of arson and the prison sentencing.
Bundy’s protest at the refuge is a continuation of long-running arguments that federal policies for management of public lands in the West are harming ranchers and other locals.
“During this morning’s press conference, the people on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge made it clear that they have no intention of honoring the sheriff’s request to leave. We say to you, ‘not a minute too early, ‘” Bundy said, according to the Associated Press.
The federal government controls about half of all land in the West. For example, it owns 53 per cent of OR, 85 per cent of Nevada and 66 per cent of Utah, according to the Congressional Research Service. “We are standing up against bad laws which dehumanize us and destroy our freedom”.
The Hammonds, who have distanced themselves from the group, were convicted of arson three years ago and served no more than a year. After they had completed their sentences and were released, an appeals court ordered the Hammonds back to prison to serve the full five-year terms required by the law. Malheur also differs from federal showdowns in 1992 with anti-government activists at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, and in 1993 with the Branch Davidian cult at Waco, Texas, both of which involved disastrous violence.
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“Until we know and understand that the people are going to end up on top here, we plan on staying”, he said.
