Jane Cutter at the PSL’s Liberation News:
Fascistic militia march in Burns, Or. prior to takeover of federal property at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
The attention of all anti-fascist people in the U.S. has been drawn to Burns, Oregon in recent days, due to the takeover of a federal building in a wildlife refuge by a group of so-called Patriots/Militia members led by the sons of Cliven Bundy. As of January 4, the Hammonds, the local ranchers whose case was ostensibly the cause for which the Bundys were protesting, turned themselves in to federal authorities to serve out the rest of their terms for arson.
The local sheriff, David Ward, has called on the Bundys and their supporters to leave the area. As of Jan. 6, Ward indicated that the FBI will be pursuing charges against the occupiers after the occupation is resolved; in the meantime he urged the community and people at large to distance themselves from the occupation. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
The Hammonds have distanced themselves from the Bundy takeover, and the takeover has been denounced by most of the Patriot/Militia movement, including the Oath Keepers. The Bundys are millionaires who don’t want to pay taxes (ie grazing fees). In 2014, they used this issue to create a fascist mobilization in Nevada during which video was shot showing militiamen training their weapons on federal authorities. The 2014 standoff emboldened the Bundys because they were able to turn back the Feds at gunpoint without repercussion. The Bundys are also racists, as can be seen by Cliven Bundy’s remarks in April of 2014 in which he asserted that African Americans were better off under slavery.
It is clear that the Bundys are seeking an armed confrontation so they can lead the movement of the ultra-right. As they started their occupation, they called for armed co-thinkers to join them at the building in the Malheur refuge, to remain there and build a base from which to attack the federal government.
Underlining the fascistic character of this occupation the Bundys have been joined by extreme anti-Muslim racists Jon Ritzheimer and Blaine Cooper. The Bundys and their collaborators are hoping to create a confrontation, even become martyrs, in order to build their movement. President Obama, not wanting to play into their hands, has said the Oregon takeover is a local law enforcement matter even though it involves federal property.
Racist double standard
Of course, many people have correctly pointed out the hands-off treatment meted out by law enforcement to this armed right-wing takeover is diametrically opposite to the brutal repression experienced by unarmed and even completely non-violent progressive protesters. The rhetorical question has been posed, “If these were armed Blacks or Muslims occupying a federal building, what would be happening to them?” To ask the question is to answer it.
In 1985, in response to nuisance complaints, a Black organization, the MOVE family, was brutally firebombed, burning alive five children and six adults. When the American Indian Movement occupied Wounded Knee in 1973, they were confronted with “barricades of paramilitary personnel armed with automatic weapons, snipers, helicopters, armored personnel carriers equipped with .50-caliber machine guns, and more than 130,000 rounds of ammunition” from the federal government; several Native people were killed by government forces.
Whose land is it anyways?
The underlying issue of the take-over in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, as well as in the 2014 confrontation in Nevada led by Cliven Bundy, is about their “right” to profit off federal land which they see as “their” land which they believe the federal government has “stolen” from them. Of course, they do not acknowledge that the federal government stole the land from the Indigenous peoples. Specifically in the case of the two Bundy-led stand-offs, the lands in question were literally stolen from the Shoshone and the Paiute nations.
On Jan. 6, Paiute chairwoman Charlotte Rodrique addressed a press conference in Burns, saying: “Armed protesters don’t belong here,” she said. “By their actions they are desecrating one of our sacred traditional cultural properties. They are endangering our children, and the safety of our community, and they need to leave. Armed confrontation is not the answer.”
Ammon Bundy tried to somehow link the militia occupation with issues of Indigenous rights, saying at his own press conference: “I would like to see them [Native people] be free of the federal government as well. They’re regulated by federal government very tightly and I think they have a right to be free like everybody else.”
Rodrique scoffed at this. “For them to say they want to give the land back to their rightful owners – well, I just had to laugh at that…When they talk about returning land, I know they didn’t mean us,” referring to her tribe. “When [the US government] wanted us to give up the land, we didn’t do it. We have never given up our aboriginal rights there. We do as well feel there – because this is still our land.”
Did someone say you are? If it was Dave Terry please ignore him. Otherwise, I am not aware that anyone said you are.
Mr. Myers
How can you be a “Constitutionalist” AND a Christian?
IF, you are a SERVANT of G-d, HOW can you defend the
Constitution as: THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND???
So sorry that you require “Redemption”!
Please put $50.00 in the ‘offering plate’ and go & sin no more.
I forgive you.
I am not a socialist, fascist or libertarian. I am a Constitutionist. I always seek more wisdom and courage to do what needs to be done. By the way, HE isn’t just my G-d, HE is the Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer of ALL. So, I am HIS servant.
Bondurant Jan. 11, 2016
“Do socialists support mandatory prison time for victimless crimes?
https://reason.com/archives/2016/01/11/two-ranchers-two-fires-too-long-behind-b
Quote: From the above cited reason.com
“Still, the prosecution argued, the Hammonds did not get permission from the BLM for the fires,”
Did you read this?
SIR, YES SIR!!
Did you understand what it meant?
SIR, YES SIR!
What does it mean?
SIR, DISRESPECT FOR AUTHORITY, SIR!
What SHOULD Authorities do about it?
SIR, CRUCIFY THEM, SIR!
Clearly, Socialists are just as ‘authoritarian’ as Fascists!
And apparently so are some ‘Libertarians’!
Mr. Myers, pray that your God grant you “Wisdom and
COURAGE!
Yes.
Agreed. And I wouldn’t rule out “fascist” either. Just because they oppose the existing central government doesn’t mean they would not seek to replace it with a theocratic police state that uses lots of government force to enforce their ideas of “traditional” morality.
Do socialists support mandatory prison time for victimless crimes?
https://reason.com/archives/2016/01/11/two-ranchers-two-fires-too-long-behind-b
Andy, “paleoconservative” is one of those ‘weaselwords’ that means nothing or everything, depending on who is using it.
“if anything, those individuals up in Oregon are close to being militant Libertarian.”
Eh…. I wouldn’t say that. More like paleoconservatives, if anything.
Cody, you got THAT right!!!
The problem with neocommunists and Marxists is that they must have the
right color combination of lenses in their glasses, so they can actually SEE
the ‘dialectic’ do it’s number on the material fabric of reality! :>)
‘Fascist militia’?
Fascism is strong centralized government, a police state, and imperialism.
The simpleton PSL doesn’t know what the hell they’re talking about; if anything, those individuals up in Oregon are close to being militant Libertarian.
The federal government has clearly violated the Constitution on several fronts: First, there is the failure to abide by treaties with indigenous nations. Second, the failure to admit the western states on an equal footing. Third, the myriad regulatory usurpations, destroying private property rights on virtually a daily basis. Etc., etc., etc. I can understand the frustration of anyone who has experienced these tyrannical actions. However, to play into the hands of the oppressor is unwise, to say the least. I call upon those in Oregon to STAND DOWN NOW! Your are not accomplishing anything positive. Your are providing justification for those who seek to destroy our Constitution. This is not the path to victory, it is the road to defeat. I pray you reconsider this ill-advised path immediately. Return to your homes and families now. May G-d grant Wisdom and Mercy to all involved.
Neocommunist Jane Cutter of the PSL “Liberation [sic] News wrote:
“Whose land is it anyways?
“The underlying issue of the take-over in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, as well as in the 2014 confrontation in Nevada led by Cliven Bundy, is about their “right” to profit off federal land which they see as “their” land which they believe the federal government has “stolen” from them. Of course, they do not acknowledge that the federal government stole the land from the Indigenous peoples. Specifically in the case of the two Bundy-led stand-offs, the lands in question were literally stolen from the Shoshone and the Paiute nations.”
First of all, there is NO arguement over the fact that the federal government “stole virtually ALL of the land in this country from aboriginal peoples”
Ironically, she ALSO believes (apparently) that due to a statute of limitations, all of this land NOW apparently DOES belong to the federal government, to do with as it chooses without permission or agreement by ANY one!
ON THE CONTRARY, there is absolutely NO provision in the Constitution of the United States for the federal government to “OWN” any land, EXCEPT (as enumerated in Article I, Section 8) that land which is designated for Post Offices and Post Roads, Courts and Tribunals, Forts, Arsenals, dock-Yards AND an area, not to exceed ten-miles square, as may by Cession of particular states AND the Acceptance of Congress to become the Seat of Government of the
United States and to excercise like Authority over all places purchased with the concent of the
Legislature of the State in which it shall be.”
ie. no Federal Parks, no Federal Forests, no Federal Reserves WITHOUT the permission of the STATE LEGISLATURE, in which it is located!!!
NOW, CONSIDER THIS:
The following 12 states are overwhelming occupied by the Federal Government; 5 of which
are over 50% controlled by the Federal Government. Please note that Oregon is #4 (53.1% occupied by the same people who forced many of my ancesters to walk the “Trail of Tears”
from western Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee to Oklahoma Territoryl
Nevada: 84.5 percent
Alaska: 69.1 percent
Utah: 57.4 percent
Oregon: 53.1 percent
Idaho: 50.2 percent
Arizona: 48.1 percent
California: 45.3 percent
Wyoming: 42.4 percent
New Mexico: 41.8 percent
Colorado: 36.6 percent
Washington: 30.3 percent
Montana: 29.9 percent
In the East, ten states have less than two percent of land controlled by the federal government.
Is it any wonder why westerners feel like they are colonies of the Eastern U.S?