MALHEUR NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, OREGON \u2013 A group of armed militia members, including three sons of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, have taken over the headquarters of the refuge in response to the resentencing and incarceration of two ranchers who were convicted of arson four years ago, and have threatened to kill any law enforcement authorities who try to remove them. The occupation has been particularly punctuated by many voicing outrage online about the lackluster media coverage given the still-ongoing situation, unlike the coverage of similarly volatile events concerning the Black Lives Matter movement or terrorism involving Muslim extremists.<\/p>\n
According to Oregon Live<\/a>, the occupation came just after a protest in Burns, Oregon Saturday by approximately 300 militia and local residents paraded against the prosecution of two Harney County ranchers, Dwight Hammond Jr. and Steven Hammond, who are to report to prison on Monday. The Hammonds were convicted of arson<\/a> stemming from them setting a series of fires on lands in 2001 and 2006 managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), on which the Hammonds had grazing rights leased to them for their cattle operation. Because they argued during sentencing that the five-year mandatory minimum terms were unconstitutional and the trial court agreed, Dwight Hammond served three months, while his son Steven served one year. In October, a federal judge in Oregon ruled their terms were too short under U.S. law and ordered them back to prison for about four years each. The building was closed for the holiday weekend and no employees were inside.<\/p>\n The occupation is reportedly being led by Ammon Bundy, who\u2019s father Cliven led a similar standoff with militia members at their Nevada ranch when federal agents attempted to arrest him for failure to pay back taxes. That event became a rallying point for many on the right until racist statements prompted a drop in support for Bundy, he remains free today as do those who went to the rally to fight the agents despite several laws being broken. Bundy is joined by two of his brothers, and an unknown number of militia members. “If we do not make a hard stand, we will be in a position where we won’t be able to as a people,” he said, according to ABC News<\/a>.<\/p>\n Oregonian reporter Ian Kullgren tweeted that one of the other brothers, Ryan Bundy said to him on the phone that while they do not want bloodshed, \u201cHe said they’re willing to kill and be killed if necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n I talked to Ryan Bundy on the phone again. He said they’re willing to kill and be killed if necessary. #OregonUnderAttack<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ian Kullgren (@IanKullgren) January 3, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n“After the peaceful rally was completed today, a group of outside militants drove to the Malheur Wildlife Refuge, where they seized and occupied the refuge headquarters,\u201d Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward said in a statement. \u201cA collective effort from multiple agencies is currently working on a solution. or the time being please stay away from that area. More information will be provided as it becomes available. Please maintain a peaceful and united front and allow us to work through this situation.”<\/p>\n\n