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Congressman Peter DeFazio is justifiably angry
Eugene area Oregon Democratic Rep. Peter DeFazio went to the floor of the House of Representatives and lambasted the DOJ for their lack of action against the Right Wing extremist that have taken over a wildlife preserve in Burns Oregon.
The lights and the heat are on at the Malheur Wildlife Refuge, illegally occupied by ultra right wing anti-government extremists. But you gotta wonder if the lights are on or is anybody home down there at the Justice Department. Hello. I don’t think there’s anybody there. I believe that this illegal occupation, this destruction of federal property was directly emboldened by the fact that their father of the two leaders, Cliven Bundy, stood down the government two years ago when he owed a million dollars — other ranchers paid their grazing fees, he refuses to do it. And he was grazing in areas that were prohibited. And he stood down the government at the point of a gun, and he’s still illegally grazing and nobody, nobody at the Justice Department has seen fit to raise a finger against him. There is no ongoing prosecution. They haven’t put a lien on his cattle. And he’s celebrated the anniversary of the takeover and said this is how it is done. And now his sons are replicating that in my state of Oregon, where we abide by the laws. Yeah, we disagree over a lot of federal policies, but we abide by the laws. It’s time for the Justice Department to take some action. Wake up down there.
Is it not ironic that this occupation is not garnering the 24/7 news coverage other events of lesser importance are. These are extremists challenging the rule of law for no legitimate reason. Had this been the real owners of the land, the indigenous people, would the U.S. government had stood for that? When many speak about the privilege of some, this is a classic example.
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