BREAKING: Armed militia occupies forest reserve HQ in Oregon, call ‘US patriots’ to arms

A militia has occupied Malheur National Wildlife Refuge HQ in protest of the federal government exercising authority over the pending imprisonment of two Oregon ranchers being accused of arson.

From Oregon Live:

The Bundy family of Nevada joined with hard-core militiamen Saturday to take over the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, vowing to occupy the remote federal outpost 50 miles southeast of Burns for years.

The occupation came shortly after an estimated 300 marchers – militia and local citizens both – paraded through Burns to protest the prosecution of two Harney County ranchers, Dwight Hammond Jr. and Steven Hammond, who are to report to prison on Monday.

Among the occupiers is Ammon Bundy, son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, and two of his brothers. Militia members at the refuge claimed they had as many as 150 supporters with them. The refuge was closed and unoccupied for the holiday weekend.

In phone interviews from inside the occupied building Saturday night, Ammon Bundy and his brother, Ryan Bundy, said they are not looking to hurt anyone. But they would not rule out violence if law enforcement tries to remove them, they said, though they declined to elaborate.

"The facility has been the tool to do all the tyranny that has been placed upon the Hammonds," Ammon Bundy said.

"We're planning on staying here for years, absolutely," he added. "This is not a decision we've made at the last minute."

More information from KOIN6:

A peaceful protest Saturday in support of an Oregon ranching family facing jail time for arson was followed shortly afterward by a militia occupation of a building at a national wildlife refuge.

An Idaho militia leader who helped organize the earlier march said he knew nothing about activities after a parade of militia members and local residents in Burns past the sheriff’s office and the home of Dwight Hammond Jr. and his son Steven.

The parade involved some singing, a few short speeches, flowers and some tossing of pennies at the locked door of the local courthouse.

Ammon Bundy and a handful of militiamen from other states arrived last month in Burns, some 60 miles from the Hammond ranch.

koin.com...

RT has some other information too:

www.rt.com...

Here's some more info, apparently the Bundy's are involved:

The Bundy family of Nevada joined with hard-core militiamen Saturday to take over the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, vowing to occupy the remote federal outpost 50 miles southeast of Burns for years.

The occupation came shortly after an estimated 300 marchers – militia and local citizens both – paraded through Burns to protest the prosecution of two Harney County ranchers, Dwight Hammond Jr. and Steven Hammond, who are to report to prison on Monday.

Among the occupiers is Ammon Bundy, son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, and two of his brothers. Militia members at the refuge claimed they had as many as 150 supporters with them. The refuge was closed and unoccupied for the holiday weekend.

oregonlive.com

It seems this isn't being reported just on RT.com ...

a reply to: daaskapital

It depends on where the arson occurred and the specifics involved.

The local article says the people ordered to report to prison spoke through their attorneys they will report. Locals the militia tried to recruit declined to participate. This looks like they co-opted to prison issue even though the people it involves is not with the militia.

In this instance, and without any further specifics, the militia is picking the wrong fight at the wrong time.

Apparently they're dug in an expecting a protracted stand off..? I wonder how long their food will last?

The militiamen are in Burns, Oregon to support Dwight Hammond Jr. and his son, Steven Hammond. They’re ranchers convicted of arson, who are due to report to prison Monday.

The militiamen broke into the federal building with supplies, including food and a generator. Cliven Bundy spoke to his son, Ammon Bundy, on the phone after they occupied the building.

opb.org

EDIT: I get the feeling that a lot of people are probably secretly in support of this, judging by the comments I've been seeing on social media.

a reply to: MystikMushroom

Thanks for helping out with research! I found that source and another while looking around and posted them without noticing your contribution.

It seems they're serious about it though. They don't rule out violence and say they plan to stay there for a while. It will be interesting to see what comes of this.

a reply to: MystikMushroom

I guess my question is what are they rebelling against? The 2 going to prison seem to be distancing themselves and locals are declini9ng to join them. Its one thing to be a cyber warrior.. its something else entirely to come out of mom and dads basement and join them in person.

a reply to: CB328

How about we stick with what we know and not drag politics into this, especially with your comment and your avatar.

just saying...

A hellfire from a reaper should resolve this quickly

a reply to: daaskapital

They don't want violence but will get violent if they are to be removed? Sounds like they want violence. Remote HQ in the middle of the forest? I would just leave them all up there to hang out until they finally went home to their lives. Not responding to them at all would send a message of not giving a hoot about their protest and avoiding needless violence.

a reply to: daaskapital

Thanks for this post, Daas. I will watch and see how this unfolds.....

originally posted by: muse7
A hellfire from a reaper should resolve this quickly

No, that will cause many hundreds more deaths when people take to the streets in Guerrilla warfare style and begin taking pot shots at anyone in uniform. It will even likely cause a civil war.

Read this entire blog today. It is about the Hammond family and their harassment by BLM.

j) In 2006 a massive lightning storm started multiple fires that joined together inflaming the countryside. To prevent the fire from destroying their winter range and possibly their home, Steven Hammond (Son) started a backfire on their private property. The backfire was successful in putting out the lightning fires that had covered thousands of acres within a short period of time. The backfire saved much of the range and vegetation needed to feed the cattle through the winter. Steven’s mother, Susan Hammond said: “The backfire worked perfectly, it put out the fire, saved the range and possibly our home”.

(j1) The next day federal agents went to the Harney County Sheriff's office and filled a police report making accusation against Dwight and Steven Hammond for starting the backfire. A few days after the backfire a Range-Con from the Burns District BLM office asked Steven if he would meet him in town (Frenchglen) for coffee. Steven accepted. When leaving he was arrested by the Harney County Sheriff Dave Glerup and BLM Ranger Orr. Sheriff Glerup then ordered him to go to the ranch and bring back his father. Both Dwight and Steven were booked and on multiple Oregon State charges. The Harney County District Attorney reviewed the accusation, evidence and charges, and determined that the accusations against Dwight & Steven Hammond did not warrant prosecution and dropped all the charges.

(k) In 2011, 5 years after the police report was taken, the U.S. Attorney Office accused Dwight and Steven Hammond of completely different charges, they accused them of being “Terrorist” under the Federal Antiterrorism Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996. This act carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of death. Dwight & Steven’s mug shots were all over the news the next week posing them as “Arsonists”. Susan Hammond (Wife & Mother) said: “I would walk down the street or go in a store, people I had known for years would take extreme measures to avoid me”.

Bundy ranch blog

The two got 3 months and 12 months respectively. After release, the gov. went back to court to get the entire 5 years sentence, which they did.

.gov report on the arson

originally posted by: Xcathdra
In this instance, and without any further specifics, the militia is picking the wrong fight at the wrong time.

And maybe the wrong way. Have to wonder though. There have been over 20K views on their video. Pretty cold up there for a standoff.

a reply to: Swills

They don't want violence but will get violent if they are to be removed? Sounds like they want violence. Remote HQ in the middle of the forest? I would just leave them all up there to hang out until they finally went home to their lives. Not responding to them at all would send a message of not giving a hoot about their protest and avoiding needless violence.

Wish I could star and applause your post 15 times !

Now THAT is a simple way to easily snuff out a fire, without any cost to the taxpayers whatsoever.

a reply to: liveandlearn

Man that's some BS. Why is the gov't so hell bent on sending them to prison?

a reply to: liveandlearn

They say it was their private property, BLM says it was leased...

Crazy how different the two sides of the story are.

a reply to: Swills

Do you really believe the blog from the people who are the ones in trouble at face value??

Everyone in prison is innocent too, they will tell you all day.

ETA: Maybe I missed some sarcasm?

originally posted by: Swills
a reply to: liveandlearn

Man that's some BS. Why is the gov't so hell bent on sending them to prison?

Seems they want their land.