Wednesday, January 27, 2016

FBI tells Oregon refuge occupiers to leave as authorities set up roadblocks

Law enforcement officers set up roadblocks Tuesday night around the headquarters of the occupied Malheur National Wildlife Refuge hours after one of the takeover's top spokesmen was killed and other leaders were arrested on a highway out of town.  FBI officials told those still at the compound, about 30 miles southeast of Burns, that they were free to leave and should do so. By midnight, few people appeared to have taken up the offer and the lights were still on. Only a few people had left, said Gary Hunt, who arrived Sunday from California to support the occupation. "The rest have decided they're going to hold their ground," he said. Hunt -- a board member of Operation Mutual Defense, a network of militias and patriot sympathizers – left the headquarters late Tuesday and talked to The Oregonian/OregonLive while parked six miles from the refuge. Among those still there was Ammon Bundy's wife, Lisa. She told those at the compound that she took a call from her husband after his arrest and he described some of what happened. Hunt said there was confusion among those remaining at the compound and he wasn't certain who was providing leadership. The protesters anticipate that law enforcement will take action against them, he said. "They've got their observers out," he said. In recent days, it looked as if about 40 people were staying in the buildings, including women and children...more

No comments: