Armed group leaves occupation at Bundy’s request

While the occupation of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in OR continues, the media are using any word but the right one when referring to the occupiers.

Locals of Burns, Oregon – the small rural city populated by roughly 2,700 people that is nearest to the wildlife refuge – have been eyeing the new strangers with unease as local schools and public buildings closed during the week-long occupation.

Sheriff Ward has repeatedly said the occupation has to end and violence be avoided.

The group, led by Ammon Bundy, declined Sheriff David Ward’s request during a meeting Thursday, but the sheriff planned to talk with the group again Friday. The meeting was recorded and posted on YouTube.

Ward also said his wife’s tire was flattened, his parents were followed, and he had another message for the occupiers: “You don’t get to threaten me because you disagree with me”.

The Bundys say they want the federal government to turn over its land holdings in the area to local authorities and that they will leave after they have accomplished their goal.

Ammon Bundy has been demanding that federal land in Oregon’s Harney County be turned over to local residents to be managed. “We’re here because the people have been ignored”.

The militia groups said they would not join the occupation but would instead sleep in their cars or local hotels and be on armed patrol of the periphery of the wildlife refuge’s property. There’s so far been no evident police presence outside the snowy, desolate wildlife refuge, though reporters have come and gone.

A man stands guard after members of the “3% of Idaho” group along…

“I think people are afraid”, Sam Glerup, 61, the owner of a local vehicle towing and automotive shop called Sam’s Service said to the Daily News. “Whatever the feds determine to do with that refuge stuff down there, right now is a good breaking point”.

During a press conference on Friday morning, Bundy seemed to soften his position slightly, saying: “We will take that offer but not yet and we will go out of this county and out of this state as free”.

“We are moving on to present them (the articles of resolution) to other government agencies”, he said.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has urged the protesters to leave, as have members of the Burns-Paiute Tribe, which used to live on the wildlife refuge land.

On Saturday, a rally began support of Harney County ranchers Dwight Hammond Jr. and Steven Hammond, who were to report to prison Monday on arson charges on land they leased for cattle grazing. The Hammonds were convicted of arson three years ago and served no more than a year.