Demonstrators, such as environmentalists, bird watchers, and sportsmen gather to protest against the occupation of Oregon refuge by armed activists. More than 100 protesters called for the arrest and prosecution of the group of armed activities for taking over the land.
According to Yahoo! News, with the armed group taking over the National Widlife Refuge in Southeastern Oregon, Ammon Bundy and his group are still trying to gather a number of support groups to support them. Bundy has garnered a lot of attention to the dissatisfaction of the ranchers and local townsfolk with federal land-use policies followed by the Western people. However, the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge has also started off to result in the pushback from other people who claim the public lands, including birders, hunters, and also hikers.
In fact, on Tuesday, hundreds of people gathered in Portland to demand Bundy to stop his and his group's occupation of the land and to point out that the federal management makes it possible for all sorts of people to take pleasure of the public lands. The protesters shouted "Birds, Not Bullies," which is a reference to the Malheur refuge's creation in 1908 as a preserve and breeding ground for native birds.
The protest was organized by Oregon Wild, Portland Audubon and the Center for Biological Diversity."This occupation represents a threat to public lands," stated Bob Sallinger with the Audubon Society via The Salt Lake Tribune. He added, "These are not political statements. These are crimes."
Elko Daily Free Press also claimed that more than 100 people attended a same rally conducted on Tuesday in front of the Idaho Capitol. Ann Finley, a member of the Great Old Broads for Wilderness, protested that the refuge is a special place. "I love our free lands, and we're out here today stepping out and saying those lands should remain public," Finley claimed.
For now, the situation at the refuge is being carefully monitored by FBI agents, by Oregon State Police and by the local sheriff. And while a lot of local residents want Bundy and his group to stop the occupation, they insist his views on federal land policies. Bundy's plan to occupy the land may still continue as he tries to win local support and draw attention to his complaints against the federal government.
