After the Oregon Occupation Journalist Arrested

Washington Post ^ | 2-20-2016 | Leah Sotile

[azkathy]

PORTLAND — On Wednesday, a federal grand jury in Nevada indicted rancher Cliven Bundy for an armed standoff at his ranch in 2014. The indictment lists charges against Bundy, his two sons and another man authorities say helped recruit followers so that the rancher could defy agents trying to remove cattle they said Bundy was illegally grazing on federal lands.

The same indictment also charged Peter T. Santilli, host of a right-wing YouTube show. When the Nevada indictment came out, Santilli, like Bundy’s sons, sat in an Oregon jail, having been indicted earlier this month on felony charges due to the armed occupation of an Oregon wildlife refuge.

Santilli’s case has attracted the support of groups as disparate as the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon and the Oath Keepers, a citizen militia. While other people indicted have argued that seizing the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge was an act of political protest, the case made by an attorney for Santilli and the 50-year-old Marine’s supporters is that he was there as a new media journalist and a “shock jock.”

[Nextrush]

Some of them might be thinking like Pastor Niemoller in Germany and they are right to do so.

The elites-major political parties (Uniparty) have an agenda to shove down the throat of anyone, Right or Left.

We were given the First Amendment for a reason as in times like these.

[azkathy]

Op-ed: Government, Tribune intend to scare ranchers from pursuing rights
BY TODD MACFARLANE
PUBLISHED: FEBRUARY 19, 2016 05:24PM
UPDATED: FEBRUARY 19, 2016 05:39PM
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One of Thomas Jefferson’s most famous quotes that seems to be especially apropos at this point in time is: “When government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.”

I find this quote to be particularly interesting in light of recent events in Oregon, and the Farm Bureau’s Grazing Conference in Richfield on Thursday, coupled with The Salt Lake Tribune’s articles by Brian Maffly about that event and what had become essentially its primary objective: to strike fear in the hearts of ranchers. The dramatic headline of Maffly’s first article about the event was: “Officials meeting with Utah ranchers to find solutions that won’t involve ‘more bloodshed.’”

According to that article:

Thursday’s conference is geared toward “proactive” solutions, rather than the “reactive” gestures gaining traction in some circles.

“We want people to look at a way to address these problems that won’t involve confrontation and lead to more bloodshed,” [Farm Bureau Executive Director Randy] Parker said.

He was referring to the Jan. 26 shooting death of Arizona rancher LaVoy Finicum, who had been imploring Utah ranchers to assert ownership claims to their grazing allotments and to tear up their federal contracts.

There is no question, regardless of prior scheduling and planning, the primary objective of the conference became to discredit the theories of Dr. Angus McIntosh, who has been commissioned by the National Federal Lands Conference to give educational workshops about property rights.

Although the emphasis of those workshops is on ranching, McIntosh makes very clear that the principles also apply to logging, mining, hunting, recreation, access, and affect anyone who may claim any form of “right,” including simple access to lands held by the federal government that are typically referred to as “public land.” In his presentations, McIntosh focuses on important definitions, including statutory definitions to the effect that properly defined “public lands” are those lands “open to entry and settlement.” He makes many distinctions, and discusses the “split estates” that exist in lands held by the federal government, including the forage estate, the water estate, mineral, timber, and access estates.

Both state and federal governments were well represented at the conference to strongly reinforce the message, and seek to rein-in any possible rogue elements. Although none of Utah’s congressional delegation were able to attend the meeting in person, they were well-represented by a full contingent of staff, emphasizing how critical this issue is currently viewed to be.

According to Assistant Utah Attorney General Tony Rampton, and Brian Maffly’s reporting of Rampton’s position:

“McIntosh contends ranchers have established a ‘property right’ to the forage through years of ‘beneficial use’ and easements to move cattle.

“That’s nonsense that will lead to serious trouble for ranchers who buy it, according to Rampton.”

Although, in a “meeting after the meeting,” Forest Service Attorney Terry Padilla seemed to concur with many of McIntosh’s points, and praised the opportunity that had been provided to hear from McIntosh, according to Rampton, any notion that ranchers have any form of “property right” to graze and utilize the forage on their grazing allotments is a myth, because according to Rampton, “No such right exists.”

According to Rampton, any attempt to take any position to the contrary will “have consequences,” and according to Rampton, “will do nothing but harm individual ranchers and destroy their livelihoods.”

Based on the timing, context and manner of the messages communicated by Tony Rampton and Randy Parker, with significant help and inflammation from The Salt Lake Tribune, the message communicated both to ranchers and to the general public could not possibly be more clear. And in my opinion, this is what that message is:

“As ranchers, you have no property rights in your grazing allotments. And the federal government is willing to kill you, and take your cattle, ranches, any claimed property rights and destroy you if you make any attempt to stray from the path dictated by the government.”

That is undoubtedly the message the federal government has been attempting to send for the past several years, and especially within the last two months. And Tony Rampton, Randy Parker and The Salt Lake Tribune have certainly stepped up to the plate to help deliver that message.

In conclusion, let us not forget Thomas Jefferson’s statement: “When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.”

Based on this message, could our situation be any more clear?

Todd Macfarlane is an attorney, rancher, writer and political activist. He represented Mary Bullock and other ranchers in long-standing struggles with the federal government, and he currently represents the LaVoy Finicum Family.

[American in Israel]

The mercury and aluminum in vaccines damage the frontal lobes in the brain. Not only does it cause autism as a side effect, but that is the part of the brain for higher cognation. People with that part of the brain damaged have severely reduced capacity to feel love or have normal relationships with other humans or God. They do however make superior military subjects as their inability to feel empathy makes them superior killers. Those with mild autism make good factory workers.

There is a reason that the bible says beware of pharmakia!

[squarebarb]

You need a logo or emblem taken from that drone footage of Lavoy Finicum with his hands in the air, in the style of Obama’s Hope And Change poster. And put it up with every article you post here.

And thank you.

[Whenifhow]

ping #15

[WildHighlander57]

Azkathy, thanks for that info!

Pinging out!

[WildHighlander57]

Links:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3399929/posts?page=13#13

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3399929/posts?page=15#15

[azkathy]

I have some awesome pictures but have no graphics skills and no time to learn. I need a volunteer. ;)

We went to the funeral of LaVoy Finicum and memorial fundraiser for the family and I have met some of these people personally. Victoria Sharp is an amazing young lady!

[liberalh8ter]

Thank you for the ping!

[LucyT]

Ping to article and # 13 , # 15 .

Thanks, azkathy.

[azkathy]

I just found this, check the date Western States Leaders Gather in Oregon to Support Property Rights and Help Restore rural America.
For Immediate Distribution – Jan 26th, 2016

Fact Finding Mission to Harney County
Legislators and grassroots leaders from the Coalition of Western States (C.O.W.S.) traveled to Harney County Oregon last week, and met with the Harney County Under Sheriff, the County Judge, District Attorney, and a representative of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, at the Courthouse in Burns and later protest leaders at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, regarding the ongoing standoff and the continuing complaints about Bureau of Land Management’s treatment of local ranchers.

During the visit members of the Coalition asked and were assured several times by officials that no violent action was intended against the protesters at the refuge and that a peaceful resolution was sought by all, including specifically the Federal Government. Also, as part of the visit Coalition members were presented with evidence of ongoing BLM abuse of Harney County Ranchers. Members of the Coalition of Western States are still compiling information as part of its fact-finding mission.

Coalition Training in Harney County
The Coalition also sent its legal advisor and Constitutional attorney KrisAnne Hall to Burns, Oregon, last week to conduct educational community meetings on the Constitution, property rights, and how Harney County citizens can begin pushing back against Federal overreach.

More than three hundred citizens attended each of the presentations during the 2-day community event. County Judge and commissioner, Steven E. Grasty, unsuccessfully attempted to prevent the use of public buildings for these community educational events despite the fact that hundreds of similar presentations have been conducted literally all over the country with the support of local elected officials.

The Coalition of Western States has also facilitated follow up training on how citizens can become active participants in their local government. This training will be presented by the Center for Self-Governance a well-respected national organization and has been scheduled for Jan 30th in Burns. The venue is still to be determined because Judge Grasty has stated he will deny any follow up meetings or training the use of public buildings. Coalition of Western States will be reviewing the remedies available to overcome Judge Grasty’s blatant and arbitrary disregard of the Rights of the people of Harney County, Oregon.

The Coalition of Western States condemns in the strongest possible terms the bizarre and unprecedented attempt by Judge Grasty to silence citizens who want to learn about the Constitution and property rights. It is unconscionable that his continued denial of public facilities to the taxpaying citizens of Harney County will force the elderly and disabled to either not attend future presentations and gatherings or attend in venues without heat. Such discrimination against the elderly and disabled should never be tolerated.

Ranchers Organize Against the BLM
Ranchers from Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and Oregon are organizing against BLM abuse and are gathering to sign agreements to cancel contracts with the BLM and demand that the land now controlled by the Federal Government be transferred to the States as was originally intended by the Constitution and various state compacts, followed by the Federal Government up until it reached the western United States.

COWS stands with the ranchers the are organizing against BLM abuse and is researching further what peaceful actions can be taken to restore property rights, constitutional public land management, and Harney County and communities across the Nation.

“The Federal Government has created this situation in the West. The Forest Service and BLM in particular have a long history of fraud and abuse. Together at the local and state level the Coalition of Western States we will put the Federal Government back into its constitutionally designed box and unshackle the spirit of rural America.” – said WA State Representative and Chair, Matthew Shea in statement Tuesday.

Links:
http://cowstates.com
http://krisannehall.com
http://centerforselfgovernance.com

____

The Coalition of Western States represents over 50 legislators, elected delegates and grassroots leaders predominantly in the Western United States dedicated to stopping government overreach. – COWS and it’s members from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Montana, New Mexico stand ready to oppose continued federal overreach and abuse, support the rule of law and restore management of public lands to the States where it Constitutionally belongs.

# # #

For more information email: contactcows@gmail.com

[JimSEA]

A actual journalist might question the disparity in treatment between these demonstrators and “Black lives matter” / “Occupy Wall Street” who violated the law similarly.