‘Hope for Harney County’ rally held in Prineville

There was a statewide call for action Saturday, coordinated by The Rural Organizing Project in the wake of the week’s developments in the refuge occupation near Burns, including the fatal shooting of LaVoy Finicum.

Groups and individuals across Oregon said they were hoping to send a message to militias.

One such event occurred in Prineville, with the message; “Hope for Harney County.”

A few dozen people lined the street in front of the Crook County Courthouse, rallying against militias and asking for a quick resolution to the ongoing standoff in Harney County.

“We don’t want militias to be controlling our government anywhere in Oregon, or rural Oregon,” said Human Dignity Advocates of Crook County member Kim Kambak.

Demonstrators say they also want to show their support for those closest to the situation.

Fellow group member Barbara Fontaine said, “We are so proud to live in the same state as the people of Burns and Harney County.”

The day of action also was aimed at getting communities involved, and making sure changes are made peacefully.

“What happened in Burns turned into a dialog that was really one-sided, and some of us felt like we couldn’t participate, because of the threat of violence,” Kambak said.

A leader of the initial takeover also is calling for an end to the occupation by the last four people at the refuge.

Through his lawyer, Ammon Bundy sent a taped message from jail to the remaining occupiers.

“To those at the refuge, please stand down,” Bundy said. “This was never meant to be an armed standoff. We only came to expose abuse and educate people about their rights that’s protected by the Constitution of the United States. Please don’t make this something it was never meant to be.”

The demonstrators around the state hope their message of peace spreads.