Son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy among protesters occupying wildlife refuge
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(BURNS, Ore.) — An unknown number of protesters have broken into and seized control of a federally owned building that represents the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon.
According to The Oregonian, the protesters include at least one of the sons of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy.
The Oregonian adds that the building, closed for the holidays, was the site of a protest over the imprisonment of a pair of local ranchers who were convicted of arson. The pair allegedly burned federal land. Militiamen claim that the federal government has no authority in Harney County, Oregon, and the pair should not have been prosecuted.
Cliven Bundy, in a post on Facebook, urged the pair to turn themselves into the county jail to obtain protective custody while an investigation into the charges against them was launched.
Protesters had earlier thrown pennies at a locked courthouse door, The Oregonian says to signify “buying back” the government to serve the people.
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