Anti-government radical Cliven Bundy says three of his sons and about 150 supporters are occupying a U.S. government installation.
A few hundred supporters of two ranchers convicted of arson on federal lands marched in Burns, Oregon this afternoon for about 40 minutes, and when it was over several anti-government “patriot” militia members took over a federal installation. The leaders of the group include three sons of Cliven Bundy, a Nevada rancher who leased federal lands for decades yet refused to pay over $1 million in grazing fees to the government. For weeks in 2014 Bundy Ranch supporters engaged in a heavily armed standoff with federal authorities.
Cliven Bundy is not believed to be part of the takeover directly, but Ammon Bundy, Cliven’s son, has issued a call for fellow militia supporters to join him and what his father claims are 150 men who have taken over a federal headquarters building at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
They claim “the federal government had no authority in Harney County” and they will be there for years to come, and are willing to defend themselves. Another Bundy son, Ryan Bundy, reportedly says they’re willing to kill and be killed:
In response, local authorities have already announced schools will be closed for the next week.
“We’re planning on staying here for years, absolutely,” Ammon Bundy said, the APÂ reports. “This is not a decision we’ve made at the last minute.”
UPDATE:Â Domestic Terrorists In Oregon Standoff Now Have Kids In Federal Building, Want To Overthrow Gov’t.
Many on social media are calling the occupiers domestic terrorists and believe if they were Black the scene would be a lot different.
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Image by Les Zaitz via Twitter
Hat tip: Les Zaitz, John Sepulvado, AP, ThinkProgress, The Oregonian