Since the group arrived, Ward said some of his deputies had been followed home by unknown individuals, while other law enforcement families left town as a precaution – including his wife.
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“There’s some folks in this room that worked very hard to put together a peaceful rally”, Sheriff Ward said during the meeting.
Ammon Bundy, the group leader and son of Cliven Bundy, was not present at the press conference.
Harney County Sheriff David Ward met Thursday with Bundy.
A member of the group occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters looks on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016, near Burns, Ore. Several people used their time to offer help to the sheriff, saying they would go out to the refuge with him to ask the Bundy’s and their militia to leave.
Such land disputes date back decades in the West. In the 1970s, Nevada and other states pushed for local control in what was known as the Sagebrush Rebellion.
But authorities don’t see a compelling need to take immediate action against the protesters, according to law enforcement sources.
Since then, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has popped up only to say it will let the Harney County Sheriff’s Office sort it out.
Ward told hundreds of people gathered at a community meeting Wednesday evening that the group needed to leave so local people could get back to their lives. “That could be a week, that could be a year”. “We plan on staying”, Bundy told reporters following a meeting.
The meeting, hosted by Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward, opened with a prayer. He said his group could “transfer what we are doing” to a local group of supporters that planned to meet later on Friday.
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. More protestors have trickled in to support the Bundys’ cause in the days since their occupation and many are wondering when it will end.
The group of anti-government protesters – which is calling itself Citizens for Constitutional Freedom – believes the Hammonds have been treated unfairly and exposed to double jeopardy for having to serve multiple sentences. On Wednesday all 36 sheriffs in the state pledged to provide assistance to the county.
The seizure of the refuge caught Finicum’s family by surprise, said his brother, Guy Finicum, who is traveling with the Utah group. Additionally, those in support of the government land protest have been asked to send supplies and snacks to Ammon Bundy and the rest of his militant group, who have no plans to stand down anytime soon.
The father and son were convicted of arson and given five-year prison sentences.
The Hammonds surrendered Monday at the federal prison in San Pedro, California.
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“We’re here for the people of Harney County, we’re here because the people were ignored”, Bundy replied to the sheriff demanding a “redress of grievances” before they pack up and go home.
