United States

Armed Oregon Protesters Urged to Leave as Occupation Enters 4th Day

An armed occupation of a federally owned wildlife outpost in remote Oregon rolled into its fourth day Tuesday, even after the two men at the center of the unrest disavowed the protest.

The group, which calls itself the Citizens for Constitutional Freedom, seized the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday. It was empty at the time because of the holidays.

They have been calling for the release of Dwight Hammond, 73, and his son Steven, 46, two ranchers who were convicted of setting fires that spread to government land. The occupiers have also vowed to remain in the building until federally owned land is returned "back to the people."

The ringleaders are Ammon and Ryan Bundy — sons of Cliven Bundy, the Nevada rancher known for another standoff with the federal government in 2014.

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