For the past few weeks, the occupation of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge has been on everyone’s radar. This week, the standoff may be coming to an end, as local law enforcement arrested several of the movement’s leaders on Tuesday, in what turned out to be a fatal altercation.

The seven people arrested were the leader of the movement, Ammon Bundy; his brother, Ryan Bundy; and several others including Brian Cavalier, Shawna Cox, Peter Santilli, Joseph O’Shaughnessy and Ryan Payne. The militia members were taken into custody at a highway stop, like the one pictured below, set up by local law enforcement and FBI in the areas surrounding the Wildlife Refuge.

Just passed @FBI & @ORStatePolice checkpoint @KTVZ #ORstandoff #KTVZ pic.twitter.com/E0N8Tm0ZPh

— Lauren Martinez (@LaurenKTVZ) January 27, 2016

The arrested occupants are being held in Multnomah County Jail, which is a little more than five hours outside of the reserve where the militia currently occupies. Since Tuesday, additional arrests and voluntary departures have left as few as five people at the wildlife refuge, according to a video posted by one of the remaining individuals.

Perhaps the most controversial part of Tuesday’s arrest is the death of Robert “LaVoy” Finicum, a 55-year-old member of the takeover. Weeks before his death, Finicum  told reporters, “There are things more important than your life and freedom is one of them.” He warned that he would rather die than be taken to jail, sending an ominous warning that ended up ringing true Tuesday night. During the arrest, Ryan Bundy was also injured by a bullet, although it is unclear as to who shot him or how. All of the men and women taken into custody are being charged with conspiracy to impede federal officials by use of force, intimidation, or threats.

The FBI is attempting to shut down the operation by placing more roadblocks around the refuge and not allowing anyone in, except land owners. All law enforcement officers in the area are encouraging those who are still gathered in the refuge to leave. Several of the people who were holed up in the refuge have decided to follow that advice, as most of the leaders of this movement have been arrested and the fire behind the cause is beginning to dwindle.

Many of the journalists at the scene of the occupation left the reserve after receiving word from the FBI that they could not be guaranteed any kind of protection by law enforcement. Reporters were active on twitter, announcing the ominous warning given by the FBI:

Leaving refuge. @FBI warns media no protection #ORstandoff @KTVZ pic.twitter.com/ojWTEUgB4V

— Lauren Martinez (@LaurenKTVZ) January 27, 2016

.@OPB has left the compound entrance, along with @KGW, @KOINNews @fox12oregon and several journalists. We determined it’s not safe.

— John Sepulvado (@JohnLGC) January 27, 2016

.@OPB was told by FBI that we were on our own — essentially stuff is going down and we need to move.

— John Sepulvado (@JohnLGC) January 27, 2016

A lot of the details from this story remain fuzzy–no one has released specifics about Tuesday’s roadblock altercation and authorities still haven’t officially released Finicum’s name as the man who was killed in the shooting, though he was identified by his daughter. Oregon Governor Kate Brown voiced her opinion that she is ready for the situation to be resolved, saying, “Federal authorities must move quickly to end the occupation and hold all of the wrongdoers accountable. The spectacle of lawlessness must end.”

Who knows how much longer the occupants will, or can, hold out, but as tensions rise, it seems unlikely that the situation will be able to continue as it is for much longer.

Read More: What’s Going on in Oregon? Domestic Terrorism in the Beaver State

Alexandra Simone

Alex Simone is an Editorial Senior Fellow at Law Street and a student at The George Washington University, studying Political Science. She is passionate about law and government, but also enjoys the finer things in life like watching crime dramas and enjoying a nice DC brunch. Contact Alex at ASimone@LawStreetmedia.com

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Today in the category of “news I thought was a joke but actually is real” we have people watching a puddle in the UK via Periscope, a Canadian company that sort of solved that debate about how dogs wear pants, and Oregon terrorist Ammon Bundy compared himself to Rosa Parks. Happy Wednesday, everyone.

In case you aren’t caught up on your crazy people in Oregon news, here’s the skinny. Over the weekend a group of armed men took over a wildlife reserve in Oregon. Fellow Law Streeter Alexis Evans wrote a good rundown of exactly what’s happening there, but long story short: there’s a standoff in which the armed “militia members” are demanding vague things about the Constitution and federal land and no one really knows when this is going to end (although law enforcement is developing a plan to deal with the situation.)

The entire thing has been bizarre and upsetting to say the absolute least, but it got even more bizarre and upsetting last night, when the ringleader of the group Ammon Bundy tweeted this:

We are doing the same thing as Rosa Parks did. We are standing up against bad laws which dehumanize us and destroy our freedom.

— Ammon Bundy (@Ammon_Bundy) January 6, 2016

That’s right–he compared their armed takeover of a federal building to Rosa Parks, who is basically the poster lady for peaceful resistance. Bundy’s group has made it clear that they’re willing to be basically the opposite of peaceful, given that they’ve said that, “if force is used against us we will defend ourselves.” Unsurprisingly, people are not happy with Bundy’s delusional comparison, and took to Twitter with some sarcastic and poignant responses.  

Newly discovered photo of the #RosaParks bus-jacking of 1955… #OregonUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/zlgKuluHye — Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) January 6, 2016

#AmmonBundy should bone up on his history; particularly in the area of civil rights. #RosaParks didn’t seek change via a gun-toting militia.

— Elgin Charles (@ElginCharles) January 6, 2016

Did someone named Rosa Parks get a $500000 government loan, arm herself, take over federal property & demand snacks? https://t.co/HE9RqazRj6 — sfpelosi (@sfpelosi) January 6, 2016

A list of people who should compare themselves to Rosa Parks: 1. Rosa Parks

— Virginia Montanez (@JanePitt) January 6, 2016

White people, we need to finally all agree that there is no context in the universe where we can compare ourselves to Rosa Parks. Just stop. — Andrew, 2016 Edition (@Truly_Defective) January 6, 2016

Cliven Bundy: “You know, black people was better off being slaves.” Ammon Bundy: “Shut UP, dad, we’re TOTES Rosa Parks!”

— GAIL SIMONE (@GailSimone) January 6, 2016

Rosa Parks and Ammon Bundy actually have a lot in common both human same number of arms and legs weakness for hats — Adam Serwer (@AdamSerwer) January 6, 2016

So, Ammon Bundy did accomplish one thing with his Rosa Parks comparison–he made himself even less likable. 

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Delusions of Grandeur: Ammon Bundy Compares Himself to Rosa Parks appeared first on Law Street.

Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) has taken a new, innovative approach to dealing with the insane conspiracy theorists in his state. He appears to have joined them.

Since President Obama was elected in 2008, a number of particularly unhinged individuals have spouted theories that he’s going to enact some sort of martial law, or take over the country. It’s a fringe theory, to be sure, but one that has permeated many facets of the extreme right wing side of the internet. Go ahead, google “Obama martial law.” I’ll wait here patiently, while you get sucked into the crazy wormhole. The theories all boil down to one particular idea–Obama wants to remain President, so he’ll declare martial law and take over. This will, apparently, be the end of the United States as we know it.

One of the places where this conspiracy theory has taken hold is in deeply conservative Texas. So when the federal government announced that there will be a series of training exercises held by the United States military in a number of Southwestern states, including Texas, it raised red flags for some. Some very, very red flags.

Operation Jade Helm 15 will involve 1,200 special operations forces. It’s designed to help these special forces practice their readiness skills, and will take place in various sites across Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Nevada and California for two months this summer.  While in some cases it will not be immediately obvious that this is a military operation, as some of the forces involved may be blending in as civilians, only public land will be used, or private land if the government has gotten permission to use it. Practice operations like this are a relatively normal practice for our military, and happen on a fairly regular basis.

However, the  people waving those very red flags seem to think that it will lead to tyranny, martial law, and takeover by the federal government.

Operation Jade Helm 15 Huge Step Closer Towards Permanent Military Presence On Main Street http://t.co/w4eKQcwXF7

— Now The End Begins (@NowTheEndBegins) April 30, 2015

Some are even purporting that the protests in Ferguson and more recently, Baltimore, are a set-up for more extended martial law in Texas and around the country. Again, not only is this completely bonkers, but it does a complete disservice to the very real issue in our country of police militarization and abuse. 

Obama is taking over Democrat-held cities via martial law like ISIS is taking over places in the M.E. via #SocializedTerrorism @CyberMommie — Kickin’ It Crews (@imcrews) April 28, 2015

The riot in Baltimore is exactly what operation jade helm 15 was about to prepare for martial law where we the people are the enemy

— Kevin Lancour (@kevinlancour30) April 28, 2015

In light of this totally irrational paranoia and terror, Governor Greg Abbott decided to get on board and stoke his citizens’ fears by ordering the Texas Militia to monitor Operation Jade Helm 15. Abbott elaborated in a letter to Major General Gerald “Jake” Betty his reasoning for the monitoring, stating:

During the training operation, it is important that Texans know their safety, constitutional rights, private property rights and civil liberties will not be infringed.

In response to Abbott’s horribly misguided call, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest spoke for many of us when he bluntly stated: “I have no idea what he’s thinking.”

Abbott stating that he will be monitoring Operation Jade Helm 15 so that Texans know that their rights will remain in tact can mean one of two things. The first that he could be acting like a dad who will check in the closet for monsters so his child will go to sleep, even though the father knows that there are no monsters in the closet. That’s an unflattering picture to paint of a chief executive of a state–that he thinks his citizens are so idiotic and immature that they can’t simply be told that there is no monster in the closet.

Or, by ordering the forces to keep an eye on the operation, Abbott is telling his citizens that their worries are warranted and that there’s a chance that their rights won’t remain protected. By doing so, Abbott is legitimizing the conspiracy theorists who are freaking the fuck out about a relatively normal military practice operation. That’s not so great either, because that tells me that the head of our second biggest state thinks there’s a chance, however infinitesimal, that the federal government could be coming to take over his state.

I don’t care what side of the aisle you’re on, I think we’re all a little too old for conspiracy theories and monsters in the closet. Too bad Governor Abbott doesn’t agree.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

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