A group of armed militiamen who took over Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon say they could occupy the remote wildlife refuge center for years. The militants began the anti-government occupation on Saturday and say they will not leave Oregon wildlife refuge until the state returns the land to the ranchers and local governments.
Ammon Bundy, a rancher who is leading the protest, said on Monday that his group had named itself "Citizens for Constitutional Freedom" and was trying to restore and defend individual rights, Reuters reported.
The occupation of the Malheur wildlife refuge center began after about 300 protesters marched through the nearby town of Burns, then headed to the isolated refuge center. The Guardian reported that only about a dozen armed men were seen around the building and at a lookout tower on the third day of occupation.
The militants' ostensible goal is freedom for two local ranchers, Dwight and Steven Hammond, who were convicted three years ago of starting brush fires on federal land. The Hammonds said the brush fires were designed to prevent larger wildfires and to halt invasive plant species. The father and son served short prison sentences, but a judge ordered them to return to prison for four years because the time they served did not meet minimum-sentencing laws.
The Hammonds turned themselves in early Monday afternoon. They said that they will seek clemency from President Obama, but they would respect the rule of law and report to prison.
The militants say the Hammonds were convicted because the federal government wants their land, according to USA Today. Ammon Bundy accuse the federal government to overreaching, land grabbing and pushing ranchers off their land in Oregon and elsewhere.
Bundy says that the militants also intends to wrest land, such as the wildlife refuge, away from the government. He said it would restore a poor region to prosperity. The federal government owns 85 percent of Nevada land and more than 50 percent of Oregon. Many farmers, ranchers, miners and loggers in western states rely on leases from federal agencies.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said that FBI is closely monitoring the situation, and has offered their assistance to local law enforcement officials who are dealing with the situation. However, agents made no apparent moves to surround the property or confront the group.
Harney County Sheriff David Ward said addressing the protesters that its time for the occupants to leave the wildlife refuge, go home to their families and end the occupation peacefully.
