It’s clear that neither the Federal government, nor the state and local authorities plan to do anything to remove the armed and dangerous criminals and terrorists who have trespassed and vandalized our collective property, the Malheur Wildlife Refuge, while also threatening the safety of law enforcement and federal employees. Why this is so is a mystery to me, but it seems clear that after the standoff at the Cliven Bundy Ranch between domestic terrorist militias and the Bundy family resulted in few if any criminal charges being brought against the active criminal participants at that fiasco, the current crop of violent and unhinged creeps now occupying the wildlife reserve in Oregon felt emboldened enough to actively plan a repeat performance for months.
In the absence of any real leadership from Federal, State and elected officials, perhaps it is time for the rest of us to take a stand by taking a page out of the nonviolent playbook playbook of Civil Rights heroes such as Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis, et alia.
In short, I am proposing that any and all people opposed to Ammon Bundy and the actions of his gang of theocratic, sovereign citizen, white supremacist misfits, organize a peaceful, non-violent march on that part of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge where these miscreants with their toys are holed up snug and warm with their snacks, laughing their asses off at the rest of us.
Why should we do this? Let me count the reasons:
1. We have a greater to right access the refuge as Bundy’s Thugs.
These lands were set aside for the benefit of all Americans, not just a bunch of gun-toting, radical extremists.
Bundy and his terrorist scum have actively violated the law and lost all right to remain at the refuge, and yet there they remain, damaging a valuable natural resource.
2. Government authorities, for whatever reason, have failed to take any action to remove these criminals.
3. The failure of government action encourages further terrorist activity.
See, for example, the influx of new supporters, many of whom are likely responsible for harassing and terrorizing local law enforcement and refuge employees.
4. Bundy and his message is being spread by the media.
Those opposed to his actions, even those who live in the area, are not receiving the same level of attention.
The media continues to refuse, with rare exceptions, to call these the Bundy crew what they are in fact: terrorists and criminals.
5. A non-violent march at the refuge to confront Bundy would draw attention, and give a voice, to the millions of Americans who oppose this lawlessness.
The national media would be compelled to cover this march.
It might even shame the governmental authorities into taking some minimal action, such as shutting off power or establishing a physical barrier to cut of Bundy from the supporters his people are actively working to come and provide assistance.
Let me make it clear. A march such as the one I advocate would put the people who participate at risk. I understand that very well. Nutcases with guns scare most people, as well they should. No one can guarantee what these idiots and lunatics would do if faced with a large crowd of unarmed people protesting their unlawful occupation of the refuge and demanding either they leave immediately or that we be permitted access ourselves to monitor the damage and crimes they are committing.
However, doing nothing encourages only extremists to take further actions, actions that will inevitably lead to violence. We have already seen other militia supporters of Bundy arrested for making bombs and threatening police on social media. Bundy’s surrogates are actively actively further support from their fellow travelers on the extreme right without any apparent action by law enforcement.
The time is now to stand up and in a peaceful, non-violent manner, show Ammon Bundy and his ilk that we as Americans will not be bullied, nor will we continue to tolerate the danger he and those who emulate him pose to our society. To show that he and his motley gang of wannabe theocrats and “sovereign citizens” do not represent the vast majority of Americans, even those who identify as conservatives. That we, as American citizens demand they vacate the refuge immediately and end their harassment and intimidation of local law enforcement and federal employees. That we stand for the rule of law, not the rule of the self appointed vigilante thugs.
I would be willing to go to Oregon myself with others, though my health is poor, to participate in a non-violent march as described above. I do not have the skills necessary to organize such an event, but I bet we have people here at Daily Kos who do. We can make this happen if enough of us want to. Former Occupy protesters, hunters and wildlife lovers, environmentalists — and in general anyone who respects the rule of law — should be among our allies in this effort.
Freedom, especially freedom from the fear of criminals and terrorists who seemingly operate with impunity in this country because of the privilege of their skin color and/or religion, is not an easy thing to win back once you surrender the right to protest.
Doing nothing but mocking their extremism online is not the answer. It didn’t stop them last time, and it won’t stop future outbreaks of domestic terrorism. We, collectively as citizens, need to do more. A non-violent march of as many people as possible on the Maltheur Wildlife Refuge to confront Ammon Bundy would be a good start.
Thanks for your consideration,
Steven D