Two high-ranking federal officials will travel to Harney County Monday, where they will meet with employees affected by the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupation.
Sally Jewell, U.S. Secretary of the Interior, and Michael L. Connor, U.S. Deputy Interior Secretary, will also meet with community and tribal leaders during afternoon sessions in Burns.
Jewell and Connor will meet with Harney County officials, the High Desert Partnership, the Burns Paiute Tribe and public land management employees. Jewell will also hold a brief media availability about her visit.
“As the community continues to recover from the illegal occupation of theMalheur National Wildlife Refuge, I know that deepening the strong partnerships already in place will be important to the healing process,” Jewell said in a statement. “I’m here to talk to local leaders about what’s working in southeastern Oregon and what opportunities exist to work more collaboratively when it comes to managing our nation’s public lands that belong to all of us.”
Their visit comes about six weeks after the end of a 41-day occupancy of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Armed militants from at least 10 states took over the refuge’s administrative offices on Jan. 2, saying they were protesting the prison sentences handed to two area ranchers.
The occupation ended Feb. 11, with the arrest of the last of the self-styled militants who took over the refuge, which is about 30 miles from Burns. One militant was killed by police in a road-side shooting. A number of other occupiers remain jailed in Portland, where they are facing a variety of federal charges.
— Dana Tims
They’re being sent there to “re-plant the flag”, and reaffirm ownership by the Federal gov’t.
I hope they never make it home.
Hmm. Is it only me or might there be a connection with somebody with the name JEW ell? These days it’s almost effortless to point the finger at who is who in this Jew Zoo.
“As the community continues to recover from the illegal occupation of theMalheur National Wildlife Refuge,…”
By the feds, NOT the ranchers.
Tick, tock…
“Illegal” is magic in that special people scribble words on paper and then what is written has more power over people than God.