I’m not sure. I certainly did not advocate the takeover of the refuge.
There is a legitimate grip against the handling of the Hammonds return to prison.
But 2 wrongs don’t make things right either.
Federal Trials are almost always a slam dunk for the Feds.
“I certainly did not advocate the takeover of the refuge.”
I believe in the right to bear arms and the right to protest. And taking over the fed refuge was not a bad idea. IMO, the idea was to gain national attention and put out a message.
But, it should have been done MLK style. Hold a large rally, several of them. I think their crowd would have grown. Possibly their movement could have spread.
But the introduction of weapons, and making them visible, gave the feds the moral high ground in the eyes of the general public and set the stage for the killing of Finicum.
Let’s say Finicum was killed anyway if the group had no guns, then his death would have fallen into the martyr category, making their movement even more valid.
I also recall reading where they destroyed refuge property. Yes, this is public property, and it does belong to them, but it also belongs to me and every other citizen. Destruction of property was just lawlessness.
In essence, it’s like a little kid poking a big bully with a stick. There can only be one outcome. And with it, as you said, “Federal Trials are almost always a slam dunk for the Feds.”
It could have played out with a much better outcome if a little common sense was used.