The trial in the Bundy brothers’ Oregon standoff case–when armed activists led an occupation of a wildlife refuge for 41 days–is getting closer. On Wednesday jury selection started and the first statements are scheduled to begin on September 13. The case already has plenty of attention online.

They’ve been charged with conspiracy to impede federal officers and possession of firearms in a federal facility. In total 26 people were charged but only seven are going to trial now. Seven more are going to trial early next year and the rest have already pled guilty.

The Shoes

Journalists were live-tweeting from court on Wednesday, fascinated with the nature of the case. The Bundy brothers’ lawyer had argued that his clients need to be allowed to wear cowboy boots, because they are cowboys.

2a. Mumford first giggled a bunch about the jail issued shoes, calling them “urban loafers.” Jdg Brown: “I do not find it comical at all”

— Leah Sottile (@Leah_Sottile) September 7, 2016

2c. Ammon Bundy: “I prefer to be wearing boots.”

— Leah Sottile (@Leah_Sottile) September 7, 2016

The Background

It all started when two farmers, a father and son, were convicted for arson on government land in 2001. Dwight and Steven Hammond claimed they started a controlled fire on their land to get rid of weeds and brushwood that could cause wildfires, but that they lost control over the fire. They turned themselves in in January of this year and were given the minimum sentence of five years, but this caused some local supporters to start protesting. The leaders of the protests were the sons of Cliven Bundy, who had a separate previous standoff with federal authorities in Nevada. Bundy claimed the government was just trying to punish the Hammonds for not selling their land. The government, on their hand, said the Hammonds tried to cover up poaching activity with the fire.

Currently on trial (and pictured below) are Ammon Bundy, Ryan Bundy, Shawna Cox, David Lee Fry, Jeff Wayne Banta and Neil Wampler. Kenneth Medenbach is missing from the picture below.

Jury selection begins for #OregonStandoff trial #LiveOnK2 https://t.co/9swhvvHq6o pic.twitter.com/tLzyfXXsAR

— KATU News (@KATUNews) September 7, 2016

The protesters didn’t give up, and instead occupied a federal building until they got what they wanted. The group, led by the Bundys, started calling themselves Citizens for Constitutional Freedom and one of their viewpoints was that the government owns too much land and misuses that land. The fact that the group was opposed to the government and was armed led some to call them domestic terrorists. But they continue to paint themselves as cowboys and freedom fighters.

A picture from the courtroom illustrates the jury selection.

NOW: 31 potential jurors vetted by Judge Brown. Asked how much media exposure they had to the case. #Oregonstandoff pic.twitter.com/V1kEyyP4LN

— Eileen Park (@EileenParkTV) September 7, 2016

Most of the arrests were made during a traffic stop on January 26, in which the spokesperson for the new movement, LaVoy Finicum, was fatally shot.

What’s Next?

The trial is expected to take even longer than the occupation did. The protesters claim they were just using their First Amendment rights to peacefully protest, and their Second Amendment rights to carry licensed guns. The brothers’ father, Cliven Bundy, is also facing trial in Nevada, because of another standoff near his cattle ranch in 2014. That trial will take place in February in Nevada.

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

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We’re not even a full month into the new year yet, but without a doubt the armed Oregon protestors (aka terrorists) occupying a federal wildlife refuge building are poised to go down as the most mocked protest of 2016.

Why?

Well, for several reasons:

1. Their prolonged efforts to force the freedom of two local ranchers convicted of arson are pointless.
2. The federal government clearly has no intention of handing over federal lands to local authorities, per their request.
3. They forgot to bring the one essential thing they’d need to keep their lengthy stand going–food.

The OR militants have updated their wish list. pic.twitter.com/ZmDB3XC4Ag

— JJ MacNab (@jjmacnab) January 9, 2016

After realizing their error, the Oregon militiamen desperately took to social media to beg supporters for snacks. Once they presumably started receiving care packages from sympathizers, the protestors expanded their wish list to include luxuries like shampoo, french vanilla creamer, digital cameras, oven cleaner, and cigarettes.

People responded by sending dildos instead.

Oregon militia member Jon Ritzheimer scolded the sex toy-givers in a Facebook video message, in which he dramatically flung a pile of dicks on the floor.

Ritzheimer wrote,

It’s sad that there are people who would spend this kind of money on this rather than spending it to do good in the world. I’m done living in fear of an oppressing force.

Clearly, this guy can’t take a joke.

But package senders shouldn’t take it too personally, since he’s probably more pissed about the $70,000 a day a judge says he’ll order the group to pay in order to reimburse Harney County for security costs related to the ongoing occupation.

I’m still baffled as to why authorities aren’t being more aggressive in expunging the armed ranchers. However, recent reports claim the standoff could be nearing its end as occupiers prepare to hold a meeting explaining their exit strategy.

Needless to say, if these guys want to preserve what’s left of their dignity and their wallets, they should pack up their protest (and dildos) and head home.

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Oregon Militiamen Ask for Snacks, Get Dildos Instead appeared first on Law Street.

What do you get when you combine dozens of armed white terrorists and bored employees trolling Twitter the Monday after New Years?

Some puntastic trending hashtags, that’s what!

After news broke that dozens of armed ranchers were occupying a national wildlife refuge in Oregon on a vague mission to fight federal “government tyranny,” it didn’t take long for Twitter users to begin mocking the homegrown terrorists with the clever hashtag #YallQaeda.

We’re not sure who exactly to credit with coining the term, but whoever they are should know that the internet thanks them. Other creative users followed suit with more Jihadist puns such as: #YeeHawdists, #YokelHaram, and my personal favorite #VanillaIsis.

If you don’t have time to surf the web and weed out the inevitable really racist tweets, we’ve collected some of the best from the hashtags for your viewing pleasure below.

Every successful revolution starts with takeover of closed visitor center with gift shop. #OregonUnderAttack #YallQaeda

— Lars Petticord (@fatdownjacket) January 3, 2016

Wow this is really making me sympathetic to the plight of Oregonian ranchers who burn our federal lands to conceal deer poaching. #YallQaeda — summer (@summersumz) January 3, 2016

If your master plan is to overthrow the world’s most powerful government and you attack a remote bird sanctuary you might be #YallQaeda

— annie post (@apwriter) January 4, 2016

White people demanding that land that never belonged to them be returned to them, which is just the white-est. #YallQaeda — Daniel La Spata (@therealDFLS) January 4, 2016

Stop Mobilize and listen #VanillaISIS back w/ a brand new militia BLM grab the land so tightly Illegally graze my cattle nightly #YallQaeda — Tristan R. Salazar (@trslzr) January 3, 2016

The emergence of #VanillaISIS in Oregon sparks fears of radicalizing disaffected hipsters in Portland. — Khaled Bey (@KhaledBeydoun) January 4, 2016

Sorry folks. No coffee being sold this morning. The #YeeHawdists say our Starbucks beans are too liberal for consumption. #YallQaeda — Malheur Gift Shop (@MalheurGiftShop) January 4, 2016

Don’t worry Oregon I’ve got this one covered. #YallQaeda pic.twitter.com/76vCf0NZiL — Philip H. Beauregard (@fundatoris) January 3, 2016

Dumb dumb dumb da da dumb dumb. Dumb dumb dumb dumb da da dumb dumb #VanillaIsis baby! — W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) January 3, 2016

The difference between a militiaman and a terrorist #YallQueda #YokelHaram #BLM pic.twitter.com/OHcmgXhJBN — Peacebird (@Peacebird9) January 4, 2016

Apparently I owe Hillary an apology. Turns out I’ve been featured prominently in several #YallQaeda and #VanillaISIS recruitment videos — Donald J. Drumpf (@RealDonalDrumpf) January 4, 2016

True fact: #YeeHawdists believe that when the die defending their homeland, 72 Vestal strippers named Brandi await them in heaven #YallQaeda — Drew Gibson (@SuppressThis) January 4, 2016

“What do we want? Ambiguous land rights! When do we want it? After we takeover a forest!” – #YallQaeda #VanillaISIS and the #YeeHawdists — ñïčk (@dongleganger) January 4, 2016

#YallQaeda #YeeHawdists #VanillaISIS next thing you know, Shania law pic.twitter.com/3SKZwY2rUh — Kas Thomas (@kasthomas) January 4, 2016

Whoever came up with #YallQaeda and #YeeHawdists–you are welcome in my house. — Maureen Johnson (@maureenjohnson) January 4, 2016

If all of those fantastic Vanilla Ice puns left you craving a bit of 90s nostalgia, feel free to liven up your post-holiday slump with the global hit that skyrocketed him to one-hit-wonderdom. Happy Monday everyone!

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

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