News

Cliven Bundy Calls For Refuge Occupation To Continue

Oregon Public Broadcasting | By Conrad Wilson

Published February 1, 2016 at 4:51 PM PST

Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy said Monday that the occupation at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge would continue.

In a notarized letter from Clark County, Nevada, Bundy wrote to Harney County Sheriff David Ward that "We the People of Harney County and also We the People of the citizens of the United States DO GIVE NOTICE THAT WE WILL RETAIN POSSESSION OF THE HARNEY COUNTY RESOURCE CENTER. (Malhaur National Wildlife Refuge)."

The letter was also sent by certified mail to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and President Barack Obama.

"Remove all federal and state policing agents out of Harney County," Bundy wrote. "Place a Harney County sheriff guard post at the entrance road of the Harney County Resource Center stopping all from entering or exiting, for a time."

The attorneys for Cliven's son, Ammon Bundy, wouldn't comment on the letter.

But in the last week, Ammon Bundy and his counsel have repeatedly called for an end to the occupation.

“I have asked those people at the refuge to go home,” Bundy told a federal judge in court Friday. “This was never about an armed standoff.”

A person reached at Cliven Bundy's ranch Monday confirmed the authenticity of the letter but said the elder Bundy was only taking calls from "fellow patriots" and militants for the rest of the day.

Ammon Bundy is appealing his detention in federal court Tuesday morning. Last week, a judge denied bail to both Ammon and his brother Ryan Bundy, agreeing with federal prosecutors that they posed a flight risk and are a danger to the community.

<p>A police officer steps in between BJ Soper, of the Pacific Patriots Network, and counterprotesters in Burns, Oregon.</p> — A police officer steps in between BJ Soper, of the Pacific Patriots Network, and counterprotesters in Burns, Oregon.

<p>A local resident from Burns who gave her name only as "Dory" shouts "go home militia."</p> — A local resident from Burns who gave her name only as "Dory" shouts "go home militia."

<p>A militia patch on the arm of a protester in Burns, Oregon.</p> — A militia patch on the arm of a protester in Burns, Oregon.

<p>One of the organizers of the initial protester, BJ Soper of Redmond, speaks through the loudspeaker.</p> — One of the organizers of the initial protester, BJ Soper of Redmond, speaks through the loudspeaker.

<p>Protesters organized by the Pacific Patriots Network were roughly matched in number by locals counterprotesting at the Harney County Courthouse.</p> — Protesters organized by the Pacific Patriots Network were roughly matched in number by locals counterprotesting at the Harney County Courthouse.

<p>Rancher Monte Siegner, from Riverside, Oregon, takes part in a protest in Burns, Oregon.</p> — Rancher Monte Siegner, from Riverside, Oregon, takes part in a protest in Burns, Oregon.

<p>Liz Appelman confronts a protester on the sidewalk in front of the Harney County Courthouse Monday. </p> — Liz Appelman confronts a protester on the sidewalk in front of the Harney County Courthouse Monday.