One Oregon Armed Protester Dead, Others Arrested In Clash
The arrest of the leader of the Oregon-based armed militia occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge finally ended the siege that lasted for nearly a month.
But the arrest of militia-backed protest leader Ammon Bundy was anything but peaceful. Bundy and four other accomplices were arrested after law enforcement personnel entrapped them at US Highway 395. The group was supposed to head to a planned community gathering sponsored by residents of John Day City where Bundy was invited as a guest speaker.
As they were asked to pull over, two resisted police orders which resulted to the injury of Ryan Bundy (Ammon Bundy's brother) and the death of LaVoy Finicum in an ensuing gunfight.
"It appears that America was fired upon by our government. One of liberty's finest patriots is fallen. He will not go silent into eternity," the Bundy Ranch Facebook page reads following the news on Finicum's death as quoted in a report by CNN.
For four weeks since January 2, the militia took over the refuge in an apparent show of support to two ranchers jailed for setting ablaze a federal land. Ironically though, the ranchers whom the group claimed to support cautiously distanced themselves from the militia.
There have been recurring events of local hostility towards what they perceive as undue interference by federal authorities.
With protest ringleaders arrested, other militiamen start to flee to escape arrest although at least 10 people are still believed to be holed up in the refuge according to a news coverage by NPR.
"The entire leadership is gone. I wouldn't blame any of them for leaving," remarked Brand Thornton, a Bundy supporter, when interviewed by The Associated Press as mentioned in an article which appeared on The Chicago Tribune.
