Newly released documents show the four remaining occupiers at an OR wildlife refuge are facing charges.
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Four anti-government activists still occupying a US wildlife refuge in OR have been indicted, along with 12 others previously arrested on charges of impeding federal officers during a month-long armed standoff at the compound. That’s where police shot and killed Arizona rancher Robert “LaVoy” Finicum during a confrontation.
The indictment says “one or more of the conspirators” involved in the occupation “traveled to Harney County, Oregon to intimidate and coerce the population of Harney County, Oregon, in order to effectuate the goals of the conspiracy” and “threatened violence against anybody who attempted to remove them from the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge”.
The holdouts have said they are not leaving without a guarantee that they won’t be arrested.
Also at the funeral was Ammon Bundy’s father, Cliven, a Nevada rancher who was at the center of a 2014 armed standoff with federal authorities over grazing rights on government land. They say the only use of force was by police who shot and killed Finicum during a January 26 traffic stop. It also says they warned the local sheriff of “extreme civil unrest” if their demands were unmet, among other acts of intimidation.
While the remaining protesters linger at the refuge, security surrounding the facility as well as nearby reserves, has been increased as a precautionary measure with fear of other similar protests occurring.
While the people in custody in OR were scheduled to appear in a federal courtroom in downtown Portland on Wednesday, they were removed from the court’s schedule at the last minute when the indictment was filed.
William Fry is the father of David Fry of Blanchester, Ohio, one of the holdouts at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
His death led to protests this week by those supporting the occupation, while local residents rallied to urge the holdouts to leave, further dividing the strained community.
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“We’re not able to provide any specifics at this time, but can confirm that due to the evolving situation in eastern OR, all service stations are on alert and being advised to take appropriate caution”, Gavin Shire, a spokesman for the agency, said in an email response.
