22 Tweets About the Occupiers of the Oregon Wildlife Refuge
Leah Jessen /
As armed, anti-government protesters continued to occupy a remote wildlife refuge in Oregon, Twitter had no shortage of commentators assessing the situation.
“If you’re occupying with guns, it’s terrorism,” one observer tweeted.
“Unless you’re left-wing, then it’s ‘social justice,'” another offered.
The group, called Citizens for Constitutional Freedom, said it was protesting to protect land rights and oppose the policies of the federal Bureau of Land Management.
The occupiers remained 30 miles from the nearest town, Burns, having taken over Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The situation began Saturday after a protest in support of father-and-son ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond, who were sent back to prison Monday to serve the remainder of five-year sentences for committing arson on public land.
“The wildlife refuge has been a tool that government has used for many years to take the land and resources away from the people,” Ammon Bundy, a leader of the armed takeover, told “CBS This Morning.”
“The people of this county are being abused and they’re being prosecuted because they’re not willing to sell to the federal government, and it’s just one of those things that just cannot continue.”
The FBI was monitoring the situation.
Although some called the group “terrorists,” Bundy told CNN: “We have no intentions of using force upon anyone, [but] if force is used against us, we would defend ourselves.”
Here are 22 of the tweets commenting on the situation, including Bundy’s, as of Monday evening:
We want the government to abide by the Constitution and play by rules. This is what this protest is about. #OccupyMalheur
— Ammon Bundy (@Ammon_Bundy) January 4, 2016
Here Are Five Facts You Need To Know About The Oregon Standoff: https://t.co/6WxQDPPyqo
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) January 4, 2016
Oregon armed militia-style group names themselves “Citizens for Constitutional Freedom” https://t.co/OQ023FBHHA pic.twitter.com/zzSeXDwKrK
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 4, 2016
It’s up to us, We the People, to restore and defend the Constitution. #CitizensForConstitutionalFreedom
— Ammon Bundy (@Ammon_Bundy) January 4, 2016
So these militia members want to mooch off of federal land. But call others welfare queens. Hmmm. #OregonUnderAttack #RolandMartinShow
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) January 4, 2016
FYI – If you’re occupying govt property with signs, it’s a protest. If you’re occupying with guns, it’s terrorism. #OregonUnderAttack
— Stephen Lautens (@stephenlautens) January 4, 2016
The US gov’t defines terrorism as “acts dangerous to human life that violate federal law.” On that note, #OregonUnderAttack is terrorism.
— Dr. Craig Considine (@CraigCons) January 4, 2016
Wow! Heavily armed takeovers of Federal Property is now considered “Peaceful Protest.” #WhiteSplaining deviant behavior. #OregonUnderAttack
— Dante Boykin (@DanteB4u) January 4, 2016
White House says #OregonStandoff a ‘Local Law Enforcement Matter’ Watch video: https://t.co/R5OtyvH4ii
— Roll Call (@rollcall) January 4, 2016
The #Oregonstandoff is the “hippie riding a unicycle and blowing a kazoo to stop the Iraq War” of right wing protests.
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) January 4, 2016
#Oregonstandoff No looting. No Blocking traffic. No Destroying businesses. No Rioting. No attacking or killing anyone. Take note #BLM
— Axe (@axe2grynd) January 4, 2016
Mr. Bundy, I’ve protested and know protesters. Sir, you are no protester. You’re a domestic terrorist and anarchist. #OregonUnderAttack
— ROH (@RealOldHouswife) January 4, 2016
At first I thought #OregonUnderAttack was a silly tag, but this is truly a right-wing terrorist attack. https://t.co/oMeQCwY3aV
— Michael Oman-Reagan (@OmanReagan) January 4, 2016
Occupying public property is now terrorism. Unless you’re left-wing, then it’s “social justice”. #OregonUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/kllcLwODgM
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) January 4, 2016
Did I miss the call for the national guard in Oregon? I recall them in Ferguson and Baltimore. #OregonUnderAttack
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) January 3, 2016
Justified or not, it’s a protest against government abuse of power. If Oregon is terrorism, then so is #BlackLivesMatter. #OregonUnderAttack
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) January 4, 2016
#OregonUnderAttack armed militia take government building with plans to dispose government because they’re not getting government handouts ?
— ?? Christopher Zullo (@ChrisJZullo) January 4, 2016
FYI – If you’re occupying govt property with signs, it’s a protest. If you’re occupying with guns, it’s terrorism. #OregonUnderAttack
— Stephen Lautens (@stephenlautens) January 4, 2016
#OregonStandoff started as protest vs terror charges 4 ranchers. Will it turn into a mass movement across the USA? https://t.co/DbYAC7HaTG
— Oren Dorell (@OrenDorell) January 4, 2016
Ammon Bundy says he’s confident Feds won’t try to remove them from wildlife headquarters. #Oregonstandoff pic.twitter.com/YkQczLBD7v
— Ian Kullgren (@IanKullgren) January 4, 2016
Unlike other protest that have taken place in this country over the last year and a half we have not put anyone in danger #OregonUnderAttack
— Ammon Bundy (@Ammon_Bundy) January 4, 2016
We have not destroyed any property, businesses, or harmed any citizens. #OregonUnderAttack This is truly a peaceful protest against the #BLM
— Ammon Bundy (@Ammon_Bundy) January 4, 2016