This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-37795012
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Oregon wildlife refuge occupiers cleared | Oregon wildlife refuge occupiers cleared |
(35 minutes later) | |
The seven defendants in a standoff at a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon have been acquitted of felony charges of conspiracy and possession of firearms. | The seven defendants in a standoff at a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon have been acquitted of felony charges of conspiracy and possession of firearms. |
The six men and one woman were cleared by a jury that had been deliberating for more than a week. | The six men and one woman were cleared by a jury that had been deliberating for more than a week. |
Prosecutors said the defendants, led by brothers Ammon and Ryan Bundy, had kept federal employees from their jobs. | Prosecutors said the defendants, led by brothers Ammon and Ryan Bundy, had kept federal employees from their jobs. |
The defendants and at least 19 others occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in January and early February. | The defendants and at least 19 others occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in January and early February. |
The 41-day standoff highlighted the simmering resentment among rural communities in the US West over federal control of land. | |
The group seized the refuge, established armed patrols and vetted those who visited. | |
After several weeks one of the protesters was shot dead when police and the FBI arrested the leaders of the occupation. | |
Robert "LaVoy" Finicum died during a 26 January traffic stop outside the refuge as the Bundys and several others were detained. | |
During the occupation, Ammon Bundy had held frequent news conferences in an effort to win public sympathy. | |
At trial, the defendants argued they never discussed stopping individual workers from accessing their offices, but merely wanted the land and the buildings. | |
They also said the takeover was a justified act of civil disobedience against an overreaching federal government. | |
The Bundys are still facing charges in Nevada from a high-profile 2014 standoff with federal agents and their father, Cliven Bundy. | The Bundys are still facing charges in Nevada from a high-profile 2014 standoff with federal agents and their father, Cliven Bundy. |
The Oregon stand-off explained | The Oregon stand-off explained |
How did it begin? | How did it begin? |
In October last year, a federal judge ruled that sentences on two Oregon ranchers, Dwight and Steven Hammond, for burning federal land were too short and jailed them for about four years each. | In October last year, a federal judge ruled that sentences on two Oregon ranchers, Dwight and Steven Hammond, for burning federal land were too short and jailed them for about four years each. |
Angered by the ruling, Nevada native Ammon Bundy began a social media campaign backing them and travelled to Burns, Oregon, organising meetings. | Angered by the ruling, Nevada native Ammon Bundy began a social media campaign backing them and travelled to Burns, Oregon, organising meetings. |
His group attracted supporters from across a number of states and Mr Bundy called it Citizens for Constitutional Freedom. | His group attracted supporters from across a number of states and Mr Bundy called it Citizens for Constitutional Freedom. |
On 2 January the armed militiamen took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge - and widened the range of demands. | On 2 January the armed militiamen took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge - and widened the range of demands. |
What were the militia's aims? | What were the militia's aims? |
It was an extension of the Sagebrush Revolution of the 1970s and 1980s that demanded the transfer of federal land in many Western states to local control. | It was an extension of the Sagebrush Revolution of the 1970s and 1980s that demanded the transfer of federal land in many Western states to local control. |
Mr Bundy's own father - a Nevada rancher - had been involved in a protest over cattle-grazing rights in 2014. One policy is to try to persuade ranchers to tear up their federal grazing contracts. | Mr Bundy's own father - a Nevada rancher - had been involved in a protest over cattle-grazing rights in 2014. One policy is to try to persuade ranchers to tear up their federal grazing contracts. |
Although many local residents are sympathetic with its cause, many also oppose the occupation of the refuge. | Although many local residents are sympathetic with its cause, many also oppose the occupation of the refuge. |
Even the local ranchers who are serving the longer sentences distanced themselves from the militia. | Even the local ranchers who are serving the longer sentences distanced themselves from the militia. |
Are militias legal? | Are militias legal? |
The term has a complex history and generally refers to those outside the official military who can be called on in times of need. | The term has a complex history and generally refers to those outside the official military who can be called on in times of need. |
The US constitution refers to the president having command of "militia of several states" and that Congress "can call forth militia" to tackle insurrection and invasion. | The US constitution refers to the president having command of "militia of several states" and that Congress "can call forth militia" to tackle insurrection and invasion. |
Those who form such militias cite the constitution and various references in federal and state law as granting them legality. | Those who form such militias cite the constitution and various references in federal and state law as granting them legality. |