The armed occupiers who took over a federal wildlife refuge aren’t just wreaking havoc on this OR community, the local sheriff said – they’re also altering the refuge to their liking.
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The small group is under pressure from many locals to end the occupation that began January 2.
Ammon Bundy told reporters the documents will be used to “expose” how the government has discriminated local ranchers who use federal land for cattle grazing.
Jewell said federal agencies have partnered well in the past with communities in Harney County and elsewhere in the West.
A lawyer for the Dwight and Steven Hammond, whose conviction for arson triggered the initial protest, said the armed group does not speak for the family.
“I am concerned that the absence of federal prosecution after similar events in the past, such as the 2014 standoff near Bunkerville, Nevada, may have emboldened these individuals to seize federal property in the Malheur standoff”, Heinrich’s letter said.
At community meetings about the situation, some residents in Burns have called for the group to pack up and go home, while others said they were grateful that the occupation has raised the discussion of land management to a broader audience.
It comes on the heels of another emotional community meeting Monday night, where the cries for the occupier to leave grew louder. Officials with the Harney County Joint Information Center declined to comment because of the ongoing investigation.
The day after they tore down 25 or 30 yards of fence erected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (using “borrowed” federal equipment), the militiamen have chose to leave their adopted home for the last 11 days.
“We’re going to send Mr Bundy the bill”, said Mr Gratsy to loud applause, as reported by The Guardian.
The argument is rejected by those who say the USA government is better equipped to manage public lands for all those who want to make use of them.
“These are my public lands, these are your public lands, and what I see is a lunatic fringe of radical extremists who have taken my land over”, said Garrett VeneKlasen, a protester with the New Mexico Wildlife Federation.
“I’ve been told that we don’t know what we’re doing”, Briels said Wednesday, with Bundy standing beside him.
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VeneKlasen says the 17,000 members of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation are against the OR protest. “It is outrageous that these armed militants have taken over a bird sanctuary and are menacing public officials, local residents and vital wildlife habitat”.
