Oregon protesters seize federal building
A building in a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon has been occupied by a group of armed protesters who are accusing officials of unfairly punishing ranchers who refused to sell their land.
The building consists of offices of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, and is operated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, located about 30 miles southeast of Burns, in Harney County.
It was seized by a group of activists and militiamen who began their protests Saturday in support of an eastern Oregon ranching family who are facing jail time for a controlled burn which got out of hand.
Dwight Hammond, 73, and his son Steven Hammond, 46, were to report to California prison following a decision by a federal judge that ruled the sentences they had served for arson were too short under federal law.
They were convicted three years ago. The father served three months in jail, while the son served one year.
According to prosecutors, the Hammonds set the fire, which burned about 130 acres in 2001 and 2006, in order to cover up poaching. However, the Hammonds said they had lit fires to protect their property from wildfires and invasive plant species.
Following the Saturday march, the armed protesters broke into the refuge's unoccupied building and refused to leave the premises.
Ammon Bundy, a spokesman for the group, said "We have no intentions of using force upon anyone, (but) if force is used against us, we would defend ourselves."
He said that "the people have been abused long enough," adding "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.”
In December, 2014, Bundy and some militiamen from other states arrived in Burns, some 60 miles from the Hammond ranch.
He has emailed supporters, criticizing the US government for having a failed legal process.
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