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| 'We want Cliven free!': protesters make noise at scene of Bundy court hearing | 'We want Cliven free!': protesters make noise at scene of Bundy court hearing |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The infamous cattle rancher Cliven Bundy was arraigned on a slew of felony charges in a federal court in Las Vegas on Thursday as around 100 protesters, some of whom were armed, rallied outside in support of his anti-government cause. | The infamous cattle rancher Cliven Bundy was arraigned on a slew of felony charges in a federal court in Las Vegas on Thursday as around 100 protesters, some of whom were armed, rallied outside in support of his anti-government cause. |
| Bundy, who spearheaded an armed conflict with the federal government in 2014 when officials attempted to seize his cattle, refused to enter a plea on all of charges, which include armed assault, threats against law enforcement, conspiracy against the government and using firearms to commit violence. | Bundy, who spearheaded an armed conflict with the federal government in 2014 when officials attempted to seize his cattle, refused to enter a plea on all of charges, which include armed assault, threats against law enforcement, conspiracy against the government and using firearms to commit violence. |
| Related: Oregon militia members could face decades in prison over new charges | Related: Oregon militia members could face decades in prison over new charges |
| US judge Bill Hoffman entered a “not guilty” plea on Bundy’s behalf. | US judge Bill Hoffman entered a “not guilty” plea on Bundy’s behalf. |
| Bundy, 69, who evaded charges for nearly two years until his arrest in February, had long refused to pay grazing fees to the government to allow his cattle to use public lands – a dispute that escalated into a standoff that drew hundreds of anti-government supporters to his ranch in Bunkerville. | Bundy, 69, who evaded charges for nearly two years until his arrest in February, had long refused to pay grazing fees to the government to allow his cattle to use public lands – a dispute that escalated into a standoff that drew hundreds of anti-government supporters to his ranch in Bunkerville. |
| His head-to-head with the government inspired another standoff at a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon earlier this year, orchestrated by Cliven Bundy’s sons. | His head-to-head with the government inspired another standoff at a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon earlier this year, orchestrated by Cliven Bundy’s sons. |
| A total of 19 people are now facing serious charges in connection with the 2014 fight in Nevada following a round of arrests last week across the US. | A total of 19 people are now facing serious charges in connection with the 2014 fight in Nevada following a round of arrests last week across the US. |
| The defendants in the Nevada case include Cliven’s sons Ammon and Ryan Bundy, who are also charged with a number of offenses in federal court in Oregon for leading their armed militia takeover of the wildlife refuge in January. | |
| In a rally that began Thursday morning and continued for hours, protesters gathered waving signs and US flags to protest the jailing of the man who has become the poster child in the west of the fight against alleged abuses by the federal government. | In a rally that began Thursday morning and continued for hours, protesters gathered waving signs and US flags to protest the jailing of the man who has become the poster child in the west of the fight against alleged abuses by the federal government. |
| Some protesters were wearing cowboy hats and had handguns on their belts. Many carried signs promoting the first amendment to passing cars and cheered when they honked in support. One sign read: “It is Simple: The Land Belongs to the People.” | Some protesters were wearing cowboy hats and had handguns on their belts. Many carried signs promoting the first amendment to passing cars and cheered when they honked in support. One sign read: “It is Simple: The Land Belongs to the People.” |
| Nearby a woman with a megaphone shouted: “We want Cliven free! When do we want it?” | Nearby a woman with a megaphone shouted: “We want Cliven free! When do we want it?” |
| “Now!” the crowd responded. | “Now!” the crowd responded. |
| Federal prosecutors, however, disagree. Authorities have argued that the rancher, whose home is 90 miles north of Las Vegas, is a flight risk and should remain behind bars. | Federal prosecutors, however, disagree. Authorities have argued that the rancher, whose home is 90 miles north of Las Vegas, is a flight risk and should remain behind bars. |
| In recent days, law enforcement officers have prepared for the onslaught of protesters in an open-carry state, reasoning that flaring tempers between Bundy supporters and their detractors could take a violent turn. | In recent days, law enforcement officers have prepared for the onslaught of protesters in an open-carry state, reasoning that flaring tempers between Bundy supporters and their detractors could take a violent turn. |
| But outside the courthouse before the hearing, there wasn’t a single Bundy critic in sight. | But outside the courthouse before the hearing, there wasn’t a single Bundy critic in sight. |
| Still, officials hung a set of mobile cameras atop a 20-foot pole just north of the courthouse steps, enabling police to identify individuals in the event of a confrontation occurring. | Still, officials hung a set of mobile cameras atop a 20-foot pole just north of the courthouse steps, enabling police to identify individuals in the event of a confrontation occurring. |
| For days, Bundy’s family used social media to publicize the protest for the incarcerated rancher. | For days, Bundy’s family used social media to publicize the protest for the incarcerated rancher. |
| Appearing in court last Friday, Bundy said he wasn’t prepared to make a plea and hadn’t read the 63-page indictment, which outlines extensive allegations surrounding the planning and execution of his protest against the government and the involvement of his sons and other activists. | Appearing in court last Friday, Bundy said he wasn’t prepared to make a plea and hadn’t read the 63-page indictment, which outlines extensive allegations surrounding the planning and execution of his protest against the government and the involvement of his sons and other activists. |
| On Thursday, one protester refused to give his name and pointed to the .45 caliber on this belt. He said he had taken part in the 2014 standoff with federal officers but that he wasn’t afraid that agents would mark him from surveillance cameras. | On Thursday, one protester refused to give his name and pointed to the .45 caliber on this belt. He said he had taken part in the 2014 standoff with federal officers but that he wasn’t afraid that agents would mark him from surveillance cameras. |
| “I don’t care,” he said. “I’m not doing anything wrong. This is public property.” | “I don’t care,” he said. “I’m not doing anything wrong. This is public property.” |
| Nearby, Bundy’s 24-year-old daughter, Bailey Bundy Logue, stood among two other women hand-printing protest signs. | Nearby, Bundy’s 24-year-old daughter, Bailey Bundy Logue, stood among two other women hand-printing protest signs. |
| “What do you want?” one woman asked an activist. | “What do you want?” one woman asked an activist. |
| “Write ‘Whatever It Takes’ on there,” she said, referencing a slogan that prosecutors have cited in their assertions that Cliven Bundy made threats against the government. | “Write ‘Whatever It Takes’ on there,” she said, referencing a slogan that prosecutors have cited in their assertions that Cliven Bundy made threats against the government. |
| Bundy’s daughter saw a reporter taking notes and expanded on her argument. | Bundy’s daughter saw a reporter taking notes and expanded on her argument. |
| “The government is coming after us,” she said. “It’s not just the cattle grazers. It’s the hikers and the bikers and the hunters. They just came for the ranchers first. Everybody’s next.” | “The government is coming after us,” she said. “It’s not just the cattle grazers. It’s the hikers and the bikers and the hunters. They just came for the ranchers first. Everybody’s next.” |
| Bailey said she had a video meeting with her father over the weekend, and that his spirits remained high. He was anxious for protesters to “make some noise” before his federal hearing, his daughter said. | Bailey said she had a video meeting with her father over the weekend, and that his spirits remained high. He was anxious for protesters to “make some noise” before his federal hearing, his daughter said. |
| “He was wearing one of those red jumpsuits, but he said red was his favorite color, so he was happy,” she added. | “He was wearing one of those red jumpsuits, but he said red was his favorite color, so he was happy,” she added. |
| Related: Police say shooting of LaVoy Finicum, Oregon standoff activist, was ‘justified’ | Related: Police say shooting of LaVoy Finicum, Oregon standoff activist, was ‘justified’ |
| At the opposite end of the protest, Las Vegas roofer Rick Pollard said he skipped work to attend the rally. | At the opposite end of the protest, Las Vegas roofer Rick Pollard said he skipped work to attend the rally. |
| “America doesn’t get it. It doesn’t know what’s going on,” he said, waving a large American flag. “These blacks can throw bricks in Ferguson and get away scott-free and an honest man like Cliven Bundy can’t even protect his own property from the federal wolves.” | “America doesn’t get it. It doesn’t know what’s going on,” he said, waving a large American flag. “These blacks can throw bricks in Ferguson and get away scott-free and an honest man like Cliven Bundy can’t even protect his own property from the federal wolves.” |
| He added: “It’s open season on common sense in this country.” | He added: “It’s open season on common sense in this country.” |
| Then he stepped forward, waving a flag, shouting about Bundy supporter and Oregon militia leader LaVoy Finicum killed last month in Oregon. | Then he stepped forward, waving a flag, shouting about Bundy supporter and Oregon militia leader LaVoy Finicum killed last month in Oregon. |
| “Wake up America? The FBI lied, and a man died! Wake up!” he said. | “Wake up America? The FBI lied, and a man died! Wake up!” he said. |
| Cliven Bundy’s trial is set for 2 May. | Cliven Bundy’s trial is set for 2 May. |