Oregon under attack? How does this NOT have broader coverage? Crazy stuff... I have posted the text but the link is worth a look for useful additional content (no, I'm not on there payroll!) http://www.news.com.au/world/north-...k/news-story/36b7e7f287e05d3d094343a73820dd24 A GROUP of men in the US storm a federal government building armed to the teeth and declare a plan to occupy it for years. Cue pandemonium, right? Well, not so much. Despite the sensational actions of the group, the response from the American media has been regarded by many as tepid, disinterested and hypocritical. The top trending hashtag on Twitter this morning was #OregonUnderAttack but a bulk of the activity has been from those lamenting the double standards shown by the American media and people highlighting the hypocrisy of the public reaction in general. Here’s what happened: Over the weekend, an armed group of American ranchers took over a building at a national wildlife refuge in Oregon and called on “fellow patriots” to grab their guns and join them in the fight. The takeover followed a peaceful march held by the group in support for ranchers Dwight Hammond, 73, and Steven Hammond, 46, who are scheduled to report to federal prison this week after being convicted of arson. The Hammond ranchers say they lit the fires — which burned 130 acres of federally-leased land — to reduce the growth of invasive plants and to protect their property from wildfires. But the prosecution alleged they did so to cover up poaching. The father and son were convicted in 2012 and have already served jail time (the father three months, the son one year) but now must return for an additional term of about four years after a federal judge overruled the initial sentencing. Among the militant group are three brothers from the controversial Bundy family. The patriarch of the family is Cliven Bundy who was at the centre of a dramatic standoff with federal officials in 2014 over his right to allow cows to graze on federal land. Similar to the situation in Oregon, the Bundy family were joined by armed supporters and the incident turned into a national flashpoint for anti-government sentiment among libertarians. A Bundy family member told local media there are 150 people in the group occupying the wildlife refuge in Oregon, but nearby reporters say the number of men is likely closer to 15. The men say they are willing to use force and violence if authorities try to remove them from their post. “I didn’t come here to shoot, I came here to die,” one of the men told a reporter on the outskirts of the wildlife park. A local school district has announced it will keep schools closed all week due to the standoff. So far no substantial police force has been deployed to the area. Police sheriff Dave Ward told locals to stay away from the park as authorities work to defuse the situation. “I haven’t seen a single law enforcement vehicle out here,” a local reported at the scene posted on Twitter this morning. In response, social media has been ablaze with those flabbergasted by the tepid reaction from authorities and the media. Much of the discontent has been around the language used to describe the group and the media’s reticence to label their actions as a form of terrorism. WHO ARE THE MILITANTS? The group responsible for the armed takeover are made up of several known anti-government militants. The most notable of which are not local Oregon residents, but rather a small group of individuals that travel the country and attach themselves to various local fights against the federal government, typically over land rights. Ryan Payne, an Army veteran from Montana, is among those in Oregon and was also a part of the 2014 Bundy ranch standoff in Nevada and was considered a leader of the incident. Another former military man, Blaine Cooper, is among the group. He too was in Nevada and became known for criticising a fellow militant group known as the Oath Keepers after they left the standoff for fear of a drone attack by the government. He has also reportedly been banned from Facebook in the past after posting videos of drug cartels crossing the US-Mexican border. An ex-marine named Jon Ritzheimer, who is notorious for his hatred of Islam, is also believed to be involved. The Oregon group appears to be led by Ammon Bundy, son of Cliven Bundy. He posted a video on his Facebook page on New Year’s Eve asking for militia members to come help him. He said “this is not a time to stand down. It’s a time to stand up and come to Harney County,” where the federal wildlife park is located. In an interview with reporters late Saturday night, Bundy said he and others were occupying a building at the wildlife refuge because “the people have been abused long enough.” “I feel we are in a situation where if we do not do something, if we do not take a hard stand, we’ll be in a position where we’ll be no longer able to do so,” he said. His concerns were echoed by his brother Ryan Bundy who is also in the group occupying the park. “The best possible outcome is that the ranchers that have been kicked out of the area ... come back and reclaim their land, and the wildlife refuge will be shut down forever and the federal government will relinquish such control,” he told the Oregonian. “What we’re doing is not rebellious. What we’re doing is in accordance with the Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land.” A third Bundy son is also believed to be with the group. Despite their stated desire to avenge the sentencing of the Hammond ranchers, the two men don’t welcome the help. They have deliberately tried to distance themselves from the family and the militant group. “Neither Ammon Bundy nor anyone within his group/organisation speak for the Hammond family,” their lawyer wrote to sheriff Ward, reports CNN. The Hammonds are expected to turn themselves into the authorities and the standoff will continue. US authorities say they are monitoring the situation and formulating a response, but the occupiers say they are willing to fight — and die — to reclaim the land they see as constitutionally belonging to them.
As per CNN: "Armed anti-government protesters have taken over a building in a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon, accusing officials of unfairly punishing ranchers who refused to sell their land." Doesn't even have a "BREAKING NEWS" banner on CNN's site. Those poor animals though, that have to deal with this, lol.
The militia people went to the wildlife refuge to look for those Syrian refugees that they heard Trump talking about.
Well then JayGoogle, Sweet Lou, and Rocket River would be sympathetic to their struggle while most everyone else still wouldn't care.
Kind of like the Indians that took Alcatraz? Oh wait they weren't killed... but that doesn't fit the narrative so... Carry on.
I love how people trot things out from fifty years ago to provide an example of how there's no hypocrisy in that unarmed protesters are continually met with police units armed like the military but anti-government militia dorks armed to the teeth threatening federal personnel and occupying federal buildings are met with crickets. But... Alcatraz! And Shays' Rebellion!
I know that you don't understand the difference between burning down an urban city and taking over a wildlife office out in the middle of rural Oregon....you know, the middle of nowhere, but it makes a difference....and that difference isn't race. Have the next BLM riot on top of Mormon Mountain in central Idaho and no one will care about that either. Burn down Baltimore....things are different.
Both are violations of federal laws. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/930 If you truly believe in rule of law, not men, it shouldn't matter how deserted the locale is. Beyond which the rhetoric displayed here by the armed members "ready to die" and to "use force if needed" doesn't sound like your average peaceful occupation.
still boils down to black and white if BLM had taken over a federal building this would have already been over.The fact that these people have taken over wildlife office is still a crime but there has been no stand like it was in the resent protest by BLM so my question is what's the difference.