Harney County To Extremists Everywhere: Please Just Leave Us Alone

A sign tacked outside a Burns. Ore., home reflects growing community sentiment that outsider militia aren't welcome, in mid-December 2015. Self-styled patriots and militia say they are in the area to help ranchers Dw... A sign tacked outside a Burns. Ore., home reflects growing community sentiment that outsider militia aren't welcome, in mid-December 2015. Self-styled patriots and militia say they are in the area to help ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond, convicted of arson for burning federal land. The sign refers to Ammon Bundy, whose father Cliven Bundy was at the center of an armed standoff in Nevada in 2014. (Les ZaitzThe Oregonian via AP) MORE LESS
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After the last four occupiers left the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on Thursday, the Harney County Court said it was “grateful” that the standoff was over, but warned against any continued presence of militia groups in the community.

“Law enforcement will now be able to begin the process of clearing booby traps and processing the crime scene. Let’s be clear, armed occupation of federal property is a crime, it is not a peaceful protest, and the illegal taking of federal property is a matter rightly dealt with by the FBI,” the statement reads.

The Harney County Court emphasized that the occupation was illegal and that any militia presence in the area would prevent officials from addressing concerns over federal lands.

“There are underlying issues that still need to be addressed. Management of federal lands is one we have been working on for years, and we will continue this work. Harney County has made some positive steps forward through collaborative processes, but there is a long way to go,” the statement reads. “In the meantime, the occupation and continued presence of militia groups in Harney County continues to cause division in the county and every community within. Calls for thousands of people to descend on Burns are very troubling. Continued militia presence in Harney County will only serve to delay any meaningful work on the issues that need to be addressed.”

Read the full statement:

The Occupation at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is over. Law enforcement will now be able to begin the process of clearing booby traps and processing the crime scene. Let’s be clear, armed occupation of federal property is a crime, it is not a peaceful protest, and the illegal taking of federal property is a matter rightly dealt with by the FBI.

There are underlying issues that still need to be addressed. Management of federal lands is one we have been working on for years, and we will continue this work. Harney County has made some positive steps forward through collaborative processes, but there is a long way to go. In addition, the re-sentencing of Dwight and Steve Hammond should be dealt with in a legal manner and we will support those efforts.

In the meantime, the occupation and continued presence of militia groups in Harney County continues to cause division in the county and every community within. Calls for thousands of people to descend on Burns are very troubling. Continued militia presence in Harney County will only serve to delay any meaningful work on the issues that need to be addressed.

We are very grateful that the occupation ended peacefully and we look forward to the day when our community is ours, once again.

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