Refuge takeover Day 8: ‘Patriot Network’ makes the rounds

A convoy of more than a dozen pickup trucks carrying armed men arrived at a national wildlife refuge in Oregon on Saturday morning, and the men said they were there to assist with security. But they apparently were not wanted, and later headed off to talk to the FBI at the airport and the sheriff at the courthouse.

Some of the men carrying rifles told journalists they were there to help with security for the group that has occupied the headquarters of the refuge for a week.

The Oregonian reported (http://is.gd/gSSbJN ) the men said they were members of the Pacific Patriot Network, a consortium of groups from Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

They arrived carrying rifles and handguns and dressed in military attire and bulletproof vests.

Their leader, Brandon Curtiss, said the group came to “de-escalate” the situation by providing security for those inside and outside the compound.

One of the original occupiers of the refuge, LaVoy Finicum, said the group appreciated the network’s offer of help, but “we want the long guns put away.”

Todd MacFarlane, a Utah lawyer acting as a mediator, said occupation leader Ammon Bundy didn’t want the armed visitors there and was concerned about the perception they conveyed.

The Oregonian reports Bundy told them they didn’t need the security services the group was offering. MacFarlane says Bundy and the other leaders of the occupation were “alarmed” by the arrival of the Pacific Patriot Network members, some of whom were carrying rifles.

In a news release posted Thursday on its Website, the group said it was acting “in response to concerns of federal agencies intervening: at the refuge,” and issued a “call to action to secure a perimeter around the wildlife refuge, its occupiers and the citizens of Harney County.”

“We wish to establish a safety perimeter of protection for the occupiers so as to prevent a Waco-style situation from unfolding during this peaceful occupation,” the group said. “We will serve as a neutral third-party intermediary to prevent bloodshed.”

But The Oregonian reported the group began leaving around 2 p.m., after presenting Ammon Bundy and the others with what a spokesman for the network said were “articles of resolution.” He declined to say what was in it but said the group wants to move the sides toward ending the standoff.

KOIN reported they then headed to the Burns Airport, where law enforcement has staged, and met with FBI officials, presumably to present the same materials to them. Later, Oregon Public Broadcasting said they also visited the Harney County Courthouse, where they waited and eventually met with Sheriff David Ward.

On Friday’s seventh day of the armed militia standoff near Burns, as reporters gathered for another daily briefing, a lone horseman rode across the frosty sagebrush, holding his U.S. flag high in the blue skies.

Self-professed “part-time cowboy” Duane Ehmer of Irrigon rode his horse Hellboy in the hills outside the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, saying he’d traveled six hours to ‘support the cause.”

Soon, new signs of both support and opposition appeared.

Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward issued a statement after Friday’s briefing, where the group made clear they have no intention of leaving — so a planned second meeting Friday was scrubbed, after Thursday’s get-together.

Ward’s statement read:

“During this morning’s press conference, the people on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge made it clear that they have no intention of honoring the sheriff’s request to leave. Because of that, there are no planned meetings or calls at this time. However, the sheriff is keeping all options open.”

Ward had met with Ammon Bundy and other leaders of the refuge takeover at a nearby intersection Thursday afternoon “to discuss a peaceful resolution” to the six-day-old occupation. But the face-to-face meeting didn’t resolve it.

On Friday, more militia’s family, including several children, were on hand and joined the others at the daily late-morning media briefing.

“We’re not the least bit ashamed of our actions,” Ammon Bundy told reporters, repeating that they are here for “love of their neighbor” and plan to stay until the “community can stand on its own.”

How long might that be? As Bundy put it, “Many of you have asked how long will this go? And we say to you, not a minute too early.”

Speaking again about the plight of re-imprisoned father and son Dwight and Steve Hammond, Bundy got emotional, his voice breaking as he said, “What are we do to? Are we just to go home and let these things become the normal?”

On the other hand, Bundy also said he has empathy for Harney County Sheriff David Ward, who he met face to face for the first time Thursday. He said he believes Ward is being influenced from above, as well as dealing with a divided community.

More ranchers have come up to the refuge, such as John Pratt from southern Utah: “We drove the 10 or 12 hours that it takes to get here, and we were welcomed in.”

But not every newcomer is a supporter. Such as Barrett Kaiser, a Montana resident with the Center for Western Priorities, a conservation group based in Denver.

“I’m an American too – I love my country,” Kaiser said. “You want to talk about the Constitution? I feel like my rights are being violated here.”

The group opposes efforts to get federal agencies to turn over land to the states or localities.

“Ultimately, what would happen is, states would sell these lands — for someone like me, I wouldn’t be able to hunt and fish on BLM lands any more.”

He was interrupted several times by Bundy supporters.

“It’s scary being up here,” he said. “The things I’m saying, amongst this crowd — it’s difficult to do. But someone has to stand up. Ultimately, what they are doing is bullying people.”

Then there’s the Burns man who walked up to Bundy after the news conference.

“You say we’re behind you,” he said. “We’re not behind what’s happening now. We’re behind Dwight and Steve.”

“You bet — they’re good people,” Bundy replied.

“You got on TV and you looked into that lens, and you said that the people of Burns are behind you,” the man continued.

“Yeah — a lot of them are,” Bundy said.

“Yeah, but not a majority, as he claims,” the man replied.

Then there’s a Redmond man, Grant (who asked that his last name not be used), who has joined the group after visiting on Facebook and talking to some people he knows in Burns.

He said the group’s message struck a chord, “absolutely, because I can fully relate” to worry about losing ranching land to the federal government.

“I mean, I didn’t have anything like that having happened to me, land being taken away,” Grant said. “But I don’t want it to happen to anyone else.”

So he packed his bags and drove to the refuge.

“I talked to them for about 30 seconds, and they said, ‘You know what? We’ve got a place for you to stay. We’ve got good and lodging.'” Grant said they stay in cabins – he wouldn’t give numbers of those on hand, for “safety reasons.”

“It’s a pretty nice facility, actually,” he said.

Grant said the group still lacks local members: “We need more Oregonians out here,” he said. “We don’t need other people fighting our fight for us.”

Another packed crowd came together Friday evening in Burns at a forum held by the recently created Harney County Committee on Safety, with similar themes from the sheriff’s community meeting two nights’s earlier.

A resident said many in the community are afraid to speak out against the government. A woman said a large segment of the population works for the government “and can’t have an opinion on this.”

The committee itself asked that all federal land be turned over to the state and community, and there was much talk about unifying, improving the economy — and supporting the Hammonds.

But a committee member also read a message for Bundy, which drew cheers: “Thanks for stirring us to action. … Any good out of this event has reached its full potential. … Leave, and peace be with you.”

—

Thursday’s story:

On Thursday afternoon, Ward made known through social media that he had “called a meeting with the folks from the refuge,” at the intersection of Narrows-Princeton and Lava Bed roads.

Ward asked again – this time face to face — that the occupiers “please leave the refuge and respect the wishes of Harney County residents,, but Bundy declined. Nevertheless, the two men shook hands and plan to meet again tomorrow.

“Sheriff Ward is NOT there to make an arrest. He’s there to ask them to leave,” the office said in a Twitter message shortly after 3 p.m.

Around the same time, Gov. Kate Brown issued her first public statement on the refuge takeover:

“To members of the Burns-Paiute Tribe and residents of Harney County who seek a return to normal life: I hear you, and I agree that what started as a peaceful and legal protest has become unlawful. It was instigated by outsiders whose tactics we Oregonians don’t agree with. Those individuals illegally occupying the Malheur Wildlife Refuge need to decamp immediately and be held accountable.”

NewsChannel 21’s Wanda Moore and Kandra Kent were on hand for Friday’s developments and will have reports in our evening newscasts.

On Wednesday, around two dozen local supporters drove up to the occupied refuge on Wednesday to shake hands with Ammon Bundy and show their support.

“I believe what they’re doing is right,” said Burns resident Lindsay Tyler.

Bundy, who has been occupying the refuge since Saturday with a group of about 20 armed men and women, was happy about the visit, the first time a large group of supporters had come up collectively to the refuge.

“They’re feeling free enough to come talk,” Bundy said.

The small community of Harney County is split on the takeover of the refuge, but on Wednesday afternoon, it’s all smiles.

“I want to thank them for standing up for everybody’s rights,” Dale Houck said.

Bundy took it as a good sign.

“They’re not afraid of us,” he said, smiling at the cameras.

Many residents say they support the message, but not necessarily the method of the armed group.

“It’s seems a little bit extreme at first,” Houck admitted. “But how else are you going to get it out there?”

Others agree — the attention to the area’s issues with federal oversight was needed.

“If they wouldn’t have done with the refuge what they did, our voices in Harney County wouldn’t have been heard,” Tyler said.

They support Bundy because he drew attention to the problems they’ve been facing in the community.

“I’m sick and tired of the BLM and the federal government,” Houck said.

It was the calm after the storm at the refuge.

Overnight, the group went into defense mode when rumor spread on the compound that the FBI had warrants out for their arrest and was about to move in for a raid.

In the middle of the night, group members moved heavy construction gear, blocking the road on both ends into the compound.

“We weren’t sure what was coming this way, but we had to be ready for whatever it was,” group member Jon Ritzheimer said.

It turned out to be a false alarm, and on day five of the occupation, there was still no sign of law enforcement anywhere near the compound, and the group is staying put.

“The support of the community helps remind us why we’re here doing what we’re doing,” Ritzheimer said.