Oregon Guv Calls For ‘Swift & Peaceful Resolution’ To Standoff After Arrests

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown outlines her 2016 policy agenda at a press conference at the State Capitol in Salem, Ore., on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016. Brown said she is angry federal authorities have not yet taken action aga... Oregon Gov. Kate Brown outlines her 2016 policy agenda at a press conference at the State Capitol in Salem, Ore., on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016. Brown said she is angry federal authorities have not yet taken action against an armed group occupying a national wildlife refuge in southeastern Oregon and said she plans to bill the U.S. government for what it has been costing Oregon taxpayers. (Molly J. Smith /Statesman-Journal via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT MORE LESS
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Following the arrest of several Oregon militia leaders and the death of one militia member during a confrontation with law enforcement on Tuesday, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) called for a “peaceful resolution” to the militiamen’s occupation of a federal wildlife reserve in the state.

Last week, Brown called on federal authorities to “move quickly to end the occupation and hold all of the wrongdoers accountable.”

In a Tuesday evening statement, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) praised the FBI’s response to the militiamen.

“I am pleased that the FBI has listened to the concerns of the local community and responded to the illegal activity occurring in Harney County by outside extremists. The leaders of this group are now in custody and I hope that the remaining individuals occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge will peacefully surrender so this community can begin to heal the deep wounds that this illegal activity has created over the last month,” the senator said. “The locally elected leaders and state, local, and federal law enforcement are to be commended for their close coordination in working to address this crisis.”

On Tuesday evening, law enforcement arrested five members of the militia leading a standoff at the Malheur Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, including Ammon Bundy, in a traffic stop on an Oregon highway. One of the group’s prominent members, LaVoy Finicum, was killed in the confrontation, according to reports. One other member of the militia sustained non-life threatening injuries. Another three individuals connected to the Oregon standoff were also arrested in Oregon and other parts of the country on Tuesday.

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Notable Replies

  1. “The locally elected leaders and state, local, and federal law enforcement are to be commended for their close coordination in working to address this crisis.”

    Crisis? That’s a little strong, don’t you think, Senator? Incident maybe? Irritation? Silliness?

  2. Avatar for tao tao says:

    What really bothered me was when the bastards started cutting roads through the preserve land. There was no concern for the damage to the plants, fragile soil profile, or erosion that will take place. Nope. This is the reality of people who claim to love the land, but really only love to claim the land. Steal a loader and destroy a few acres so they can drive instead of walk on established trails. And then they say the land is theirs because they improved it.
    The main concern here should be the repair of the damage to and return of the land and the artifacts that both belong to the Paiute People.

  3. Really?? An armed militia disrupting an entire community isn’t a crisis? A group attempting to foment civil war at the financial and emotional expense of that community isn’t a crisis? Well, let’s drop them in YOUR backyard and see how you feel about it then!

  4. Avatar for merf56 merf56 says:

    please … stop calling them “militia”. Call them by what they are: an armed insurgent terrorist gang. Thanks.

  5. Drumpf has called for family members of terrorists to be killed. What method does Drumpf propose for killing LaVoy’s wife and 11 children?

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