Militia members occupy federal building in Oregon after protest
- 8 years ago
A protest in support of Oregon ranchers facing jail time for arson has escalated into an armed takeover of a federal wildlife building and an anti-government call-to-arms.
The protest and takeover is being led by Ammon Bundy and two of his brothers.
The brothers are calling on anti-government militia members from all over the country to join the seize of the headquarters building of the remote Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, some 300 miles southeast of Portland.
The occupation came after an estimated 300 marchers paraded through Burns to protest the prosecution of two Harney County ranchers, Dwight Hammond Jr., 73, and Steven Hammond, 46, who are to report to prison Monday.
The pair said they lit the fires in 2001 and 2006 to reduce the growth of invasive plants and protect their property from wildfires.
The protest and takeover is being led by Ammon Bundy and two of his brothers.
The brothers are calling on anti-government militia members from all over the country to join the seize of the headquarters building of the remote Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, some 300 miles southeast of Portland.
The occupation came after an estimated 300 marchers paraded through Burns to protest the prosecution of two Harney County ranchers, Dwight Hammond Jr., 73, and Steven Hammond, 46, who are to report to prison Monday.
The pair said they lit the fires in 2001 and 2006 to reduce the growth of invasive plants and protect their property from wildfires.