Anatomy of a Standoff
The Occupiers of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Headquarters
OnJanuary2,alooselyorganizedgroupofarmedanti‐governmentextremistsledby
AmmonBundyseizedcontroloftheMalheurNationalWildlifeRefugeheadquartersbuildings
locatednearthetownofBurnsinremotesoutheasternOregon.Theydiditbecausetwolocal
ranchers,DwightandStevenHammond,hadbeenorderedtoreporttofederalprisontoservea
sentenceforarson.Thiswasapunishmenttheextremistsdeemedunjust,astheHammondshad
alreadyservedsentenceshandeddownduringaprior(butsubsequentlyoverturned)sentencing.
Sinceseizingtheheadquarters—emptyatthetime—theextremistshaverefusedtoleave
andhaveinsteadusedsocialmediaextensivelyinanefforttogathersupportfromotherright‐
wingextremistgroupsandindividuals.Mainstreammediaoutletshavealsoflockedtothescene,
interviewingmanyoftheparticipantsinthetakeover.
Afterseveraldays,theextremistsfinallygavethemselvesaname:Citizensfor
ConstitutionalFreedom.Butwhoarethese“Citizens”andwhataretheirbeliefsand
backgrounds?ExpertswiththeAnti‐DefamationLeague’sCenteronExtremismhaveattemptedto
identifyasmanyoftheparticipantsinthetakeoveraspossible,watchingandreadingmany
interviewsandscouringhundredsofprofilesandvideosonsocialmedia.
Thisidentificationisnotaneasytask,assomeparticipantshaveavoidedattentionorused
pseudonyms,whileotherpeoplewhohavebeenattheheadquarterswereonlyvisitorsandnot
participatinginthetakeoveritself.Moreover,somehaveleft—notalwaysannouncingtheir
departure—whilenewarrivalscontinuetoappearonthescenefromtimetotime.Sothis
analysismustbeconsidereda“besteffort”toshedlightonaconstantlyevolvingsituation.
1
PORTRAIT OF THE OCCUPIERS
TheCenteronExtremismhasidentified30differentadultindividualsasapparent
participantsintheinitialtakeover,laterarrivalswhojoinedthefirstoccupiers,oron‐scene
allies/spokespersonsforAmmonBundyandtheCitizensforConstitutionalFreedom.Notallof
thesepeoplearefull‐timeoccupiers;some,forexample,havestayedinhotelswhilespendingalot
oftimeintherefuge.Othershavetaken“timeouts”frombeingoccupierstodealwithpersonal
issuessuchasfamilyandemployment.
Individualsknowntobecuriosity‐seekersormerevisitorswerenotcountedhere
(althoughitispossiblethatoneormoreofthemarginalfiguresinthebelowlistmay
inadvertentlyfallintothiscategory).Alsonotincludedhereareindividualsorgroupswhotried
toinsertthemselvesintotheOregonstandoffinonewayoranother,asvariousextremistgroups
andindividualshave.Childrenofextremistspresentattherefugearenotincludedhere.
SupportersandalliesoftheoccupiersbasedoutsideoftherefugeandtheBurns,Oregon,area,are
alsonotincludedhere.
Examiningthebackgroundsoftherefugeheadquartersoccupiersallowsseveralkey
aspectsoftheoccupierstocomeintomuchsharperfocus.
Theimportanceofthe2014BundyRanchstandoff.BeforeAmmonBundyengagedin
thestandoffovertheMalheurrefuge,hewasinvolvedwithanevenlarger—andmorehostile—
standoffwiththegovernmentsparkedbyhisownfather,NevadarancherClivenBundy.Cliven
Bundyhadalong‐runningfeudwiththeBureauofLandManagement(BLM)overhisrefusalto
paygrazingfeesforgrazinghiscattleonfederalland—activitieshehasengagedinforover20
years.In2014,theBLMbegantorounduptheillegallygrazingcattletoremovethemfrom
federallyadministeredland.However,membersoftheBundyfamily,accompaniedbyacoterieof
anti‐governmentextremists,confrontedtheofficialsandofficersoftheBLMandotheragencies
withweapons,precipitatinganarmedstandoffthatlastedabouttwoweeks.Intheend,theBLM
backeddownandreleasedthecattle,apparentlyinordertoavoidbloodshed.
2
ClivenBundyandotherparticipantsinthestandoffbelievedthattheyhadachieveda
considerablevictoryoverthehatedfederalgovernment.Intheyearandahalfsincetheendofthe
standoff,variousBundysupportershavelookedforotherflashpointsandpotential
confrontationalsituationsintowhichtheycouldinjectthemselvesand,inasense,replicatethe
Bundystandoffelsewhere.ManyoftheseprospectiveconfrontationswerelocatedinthePacific
Northwest,givingtheregionahighprobabilityofexperiencingsomesortofshowdownor
confrontation.AccordingtoaninvestigationbyTheOregoniannewspaper,AmmonBundyand
RyanPayne,thelatterakeyfigureinthe2014standoffaswell,selectedtheHammondsasthe
causearoundwhichtheywouldplananaction.WhentheHammondsdeclinedtocooperate,
BundyandPaynesettleduponseizingthenearbywildliferefugeheadquarters.
Ofthe30participantsinthe2016OregonoccupationidentifiedbytheCenteron
Extremism,morethanhalf(17outof30)appeartohaveactuallyparticipatedinthe2014Bundy
RanchstandoffinNevada,asurprisinglyhighpercentage.Theproportionwasevenhigherfor
thosetakingpartintheinitialtakeover.Inotherwords,theOregontakeoverwasadeliberateand
directsequeltotheBundyRanchstandoff,aconsequenceofthefederalgovernmenthaving
quicklybackeddownduringthatconfrontationandnottakingactionsince.Inasense,Ammon
Bundy“gottheoldgangtogether”foranewconfrontation,onethatwouldtheoreticallybuild
uponthesuccessofhisfather’sconfrontation.
Theideologicalbackgroundsoftheextremists.Theparticipantsinthetakeoverhave
neverbeenfromjustoneextremistgrouporevenextremistmovement.Collectively,mostmajor
segmentsoftheextremerightarerepresentedamongtheoccupiersinsomeformorfashiontoat
leastsomedegree.Moreover,extremistsmaysometimesadoptthebeliefsofmorethanoneright‐
wingextremistmovement,aslongastheyarenotincompatible.
Still,theoccupiersarenotarandomcollectionofright‐wingextremists.Therewas
insufficientinformationonsevenofthe30peopleidentifiedtobeabletodrawanyconclusions
abouttheirideologyoraffiliations.However,whenoneexaminestheprimaryideologyofthe
3
remaining23,itbecomesquiteclearthattheytendtofallintooneoftwotypesofright‐winganti‐
governmentmovements:theso‐called“Patriot”movementandtheSagebrushRebellion/Wise
Usemovement.
Abouttwo‐thirds(15of23)oftheextremistsseemtohavethe“Patriot”movementastheir
primaryorientation.The“Patriot”movementisacollectivetermforagroupofanti‐government
extremistmovementsandgroupswhoshareabeliefthatsomesortofconspiracyhasinfiltrated
allorpartofthegovernmentandturneditintoanillegitimate,tyrannicalgovernment.The
“Patriot”movementhasthreemainsegments—themilitiamovement,thesovereigncitizen
movement,andthetaxprotestmovement—eachofwhichhasadifferentversionoftheconspiracy
anditseffects.
Thesegmentintowhichvirtuallyallofthe“Patriot”occupiersfallisthemilitiamovement.
Themilitiamovementconsistsofanumberofgroupsandindividualswhobelievein“NewWorld
Order”conspiracytheories:thattheUnitedStatesgovernmentiscollaboratingwithashadowy
globalistconspiracyknownastheNewWorldOrdertoslowlystripAmericansoftheirrights—
startingwiththeirrighttobeararms—inordertodisarmAmericansandabsorbthemintothe
tyrannicalNewWorldOrder.Americans,whetherbyformingparamilitarymilitiagroupsorby
joiningotherrelatedgroupssuchastheOathKeepersortheThreePercenters,needtoriseup
againstthistyrannyliketheAmericanrevolutionariesroseupagainsttheBritish.
Somemediareportshavereferredtotheoccupiersassovereigncitizensratherthanmilitia,
buttheCenteronExtremismhasbeenabletodocumentonlyoneoccupierwhoclearlysubscribes
tothebeliefsofthesovereigncitizenmovement—andeventhen,itwasnothisprimaryideology.
Callingtheoccupiersa“militia”issomewhatmoreaccurate,inthatmostparticipantshavethe
ideologyofthemilitiamovement.However,manyhaveneverbeeninvolvedwithanactualmilitia
groupandtheCitizensforConstitutionalFreedomisnotitselfamilitiagroup.
Theremainingthird(eightof23)oftheoccupiersappeartohavetheSagebrush
Rebellion/WiseUsemovementastheirprimaryideologicalfocus.Bothterms(onearisinginthe
1970s,theotherinthe1990s)refertoananti‐governmentideologythataroseprimarilyinthe
4
westernUnitedStatesovertheissueoffederalstewardshipofpublicland.Inallthewestern
states,thefederalgovernment,ratherthanthestateorindividualcitizensorbusinesses,has
alwayshadownershipofmuch(orevenmost)ofthelandinthestate.Thegovernmentallows
considerablecommercialuseandexploitationofthispublicland,suchasranchingandmining,
withregulationstoprotecttheenvironment,balancedifferentbusinessinterests,andsoforth.
Manywesternersareresentfulofthewaythisfederalstewardshipishandled,orthefactthatthe
landisinthehandsofthefederalgovernmenttobeginwith,orboth.Often,theyfeelthatadistant
bureaucracythatknowsorcaresnothingaboutthelocalsituationoreconomyismakingdecisions
thatadverselyaffectthem.Themostextremeproponentsofthisideologybelievethatthefederal
governmentdeliberatelytriestonegativelyimpactranchersandminersandisengagedin
attemptsat“landgrabbing”totakeevenmorelandforthefederalgovernment.Suchconvictions
haveresultedineverythingfromtenseconfrontationsoutinthewildbetweenfederalofficialsand
localstoactsofviolencesuchasofficesbeingbombed.
Thesetwoanti‐governmentideologiesarenotincompatiblewitheachotherandmanywho
wereattheBundyRanchstandoffin2014sharedtheirideologicalbeliefswitheachother.In
additiontoanti‐governmentmovements,adherenceorsympathytootherright‐wingextremists
movementsorbeliefscanbefoundamongmanyoftheoccupiers.Ahandfulhavehadaffiliations
withtheanti‐immigrantmovement,withsomehavingeventakenpartinvigilanteborderpatrols
alongtheArizona‐Mexicoborderorelsewhere.Almostaquarteroftheparticipantshave
expressedsomesortofracism,anti‐Semitism,oranti‐Muslimbigotry,withthelatterbeingthe
mostcommon.Anti‐Muslimbigotryhasbeenincreasinginthe“Patriot”movementinrecent
years,soitisnotsurprisingtofinditspresencehere.
Thelackoflocalparticipation.TheresidentsofHarneyCounty,wherethestandoffis
occurring,havelargelybeenhostiletotheoccupiers.Evenmanypeoplesympathetictothe
HammondshaveneverthelessdisapprovedoftheseizureoftheMalheurheadquarters.Oneofthe
reasonsforthisisthatlocalswerequicktoperceivethattheoccupiers—someofwhomhadbeen
activeinthetowninsupportoftheHammondsbeforeengagingintheseizure—wereoutsiders.
5
Thelocalswereright.Ananalysisofwheretheoccupierscomefromshowsthatonlyasmall
minority(5outof30)wereevenfromOregon,muchlessthelocalarea.Thevastmajorityof
occupierswerefromArizona,Utah,andNevada,withasprinklingfromotherstates,mostly
western.AfewcamefromasfarawayasGeorgiaandOhio.
Therelativelackofleadershipandexperience.Thefinalpointthatneedstobemade
abouttheoccupiersisthefactthattheyhave—fromanextremistperspective—agenerallackof
experienceandleadership.Priortotheoccupation,noneoftheoccupierswouldhavebeenknown
tothegeneralpublic,andmanywouldnothavebeenrecognizedassignificantorleadership
figuresevenbytheextremeright.Thoughtheoccupierscomefromawiderangeofages,manyof
themhavebeeninvolvedinextremistcausesforonlyafewyears—theyareforthemostpart
relativelynewlyradicalized.Fewhaveanyleadershipexperiencewithextremistgroupsorcauses.
Thisfactmayaccountforthegeneralindecisivenessanduncertaintythatseemstohave
characterizedtheoccupiersinthedayssincetheinitialseizureoftherefugeheadquarters.Itmay
alsoexplainwhytheyembarkedupontheseizureinthefirstplace—atypeofactionthatisquite
rareamongright‐wingextremistgroups(historically,ithasbeenatacticusedbytheleft).
6
TAKEOVER/OCCUPATION PARTICIPANTS
Note:(BR)appearingafteraperson’snameindicatessomeonewhoparticipated,orseemstohave
participated,inthe2014BundyRanchstandoffinNevada.
DylanAnderson.Wheninterviewedbyreporters,UtahnAndersonhasgenerallygivenhisname
onlyas“CaptainMoroni,”areferencetoafigureinMormonscripture.Andersonsupportedthe
Bundysduringtheir2014standoffwiththefederalgovernment,butdoesnotseemtohavebeen
presentatthetime.InMay2014,hegave$5totheBundy’slegalfund,writing,“Sorryit’snot
more,Ispentallmymoneyon[an]AR‐15andammo.”OnJanuary1,2016,Andersonpraised
AmmonBundyasaleaderinBurnsandsaid,“WemustneverhandvictorytotheNewWorld
Orderconspiratorsandpoliticalcriminalswithoutopposition.”
JoeBiggs.BasedinTexas,Biggsisa“reporter”fortheright‐wingconspiracywebsiteInfowars,
runbyAlexJones.Biggsfirstachievednotorietyin2013followingthedeathofjournalistandwar
correspondentMichaelHastingsinanautomobileaccidentinCalifornia.Biggs,aformerArmy
veteran,cameforwardtoclaimthathehadbeenaclosefriendofHastingsandtoimplythat
Hastings’deathwasamurderatthehandsofthegovernment.Whilepublicizingthesebeliefs,
BiggsmadeseveralappearanceswithconspiracytheoristandtalkshowhostAlexJones.Thisled
toBiggsbecominga“reporter”forAlexJonesby2014.Biggsseemstohavemissedthe2014
BundyRanchstandoffbutspenttimein2014and2015ontheborderwithMexico“investigating”
reportsofsecretbasesbelongingtotheIslamicterroristgroupISIS.In2015,hecoveredananti‐
MuslimrallyinPhoenixorganizedbyJonRitzheimer(seebelow).Accompaniedbyarmed
membersoftheanti‐governmentOathKeepers,hewasalsoatFerguson,Missouri,inAugust2015.
InDecember2015,BiggsandAlexJonesallegedthattheSanBernardinoshootingswerea“false
flag”operation(i.e.,stagedbytheU.S.government)designedto“demonizetheSecond
Amendment.”BiggsarrivedinOregononJanuary3tocoverthestandoffforInfowarsandhas
spentmuchofhistimeattherefugeheadquarters,thoughdoesnotseemtobespendingthenights
there.
7
AmmonBundy(BR).Theleaderoftherefugeoccupiers,ArizonaresidentAmmonBundy,owner
ofasmalltruckmaintenancecompany,isoneofthesonsofNevadarancherClivenBundyand
playedaprominentroleintheelderBundy’sApril2014standoffwiththefederalgovernment—
evengettingtasedbylawenforcementofficersatonepoint.AmmonBundy’sideologicalviews
alsomirrorthoseofhisfather,denyingthatthefederalgovernmenthasanylegitimaterightsto
thepubliclandsthatitcontrols.Likehisfather,Ammonalsobelievesthattheroleofthecounty
sheriffistokeep“foreignforces”suchasthefederalgovernmentoutofthecounty.Thisisa
notionthatoriginallyemanatedfromthesovereigncitizenmovement,thoughAmmonBundydoes
notappeartobeasovereigncitizen(extremistsotherthansovereigncitizensnowalsopromote
thistheory).
Followingthe2014standoff,AmmonBundycooperatedwithhisfatherintryingto
convincetheNevadalegislaturetoprohibitthefederalgovernmentfromowninglandinNevada.
AmmonBundyallegedlyworkedcloselywiththelegislatorssponsoringthebill.Healsobegan
speakingatvariousright‐wingevents.Inlate2015,AmmonBundybeganpublicizingtheplightof
DwightandStevenHammond,theOregonranchersatthecenteroftheBurns,Oregon,
controversy.BundyandRonPayne(seebelow)eventravelledtoOregontovisitthem;they
returnedinlateDecembertotakepartinaprotestovertheHammondsandtoengageinwhat
wouldbecometheMalheurtakeover.Aftertheprotest,Bundyandotherstookoverthewildlife
refuge.Theprimaryspokespersonfortheoccupiers,Bundyhasmadevariousdemandsin
exchangefortheirleaving,rangingfromreleasingtheHammondsfromprisontothefederal
governmentsurrenderingallofthelandinthewildliferefugetothe“citizens.”
MelBundy(BR).OneofthreeBundybrotherstakingpartintheseizureofthewildliferefuge,
MelBundyhasalsobeenthemostreticent,shunninginterviewswiththemedia.ANevadanwho
worksatgoldmining,BundytooktimeoffinApril2014toparticipateinthestandoffbetweenhis
fatherandthefederalgovernment.AccordingtomilitiafigureRyanPayne(seebelow),itwashe
8
andMelBundywhoorchestrateda“planforthecohesionbetweentheBundysandthemilitia”
duringthestandoff.Bundy’sbeliefsechothoseofhisbrothers,includinghisviewoftheroleofthe
countysheriff“todefendourrightstotheselands”againstthefederalgovernment.MelBundy
accompaniedClivenandAmmoninMarch2015totheNevadalegislaturetosupportabillto
attempttoprohibitfederallandownershipinthestate.
RyanBundy(BR).TheeldestofClivenBundy’ssons,RyanBundyhaslivedinNevadaandUtah,
wherehehasbeeninvolvedwithvariousbusinesses.In2014,heparticipatedintheBundyRanch
standoff,buthehashadatleastsomeconnectionswithright‐wingextremismthatdatebackyears
beforethestandoff.Asearlyas2006,Bundyranforcountycommissionerontheticketofthe
extremeright‐wingConstitutionParty,urgingpeopleto“stopthisfederalmonster.”In2008,
BundyranontheConstitutionPartyticketforastatehouseseat.Inbothinstanceshewas
unsuccessful,ashewasin2010inagainrunningforcountycommissioner.In2012,Bundysought
theRepublicannominationforastatehouseseat—unsuccessfully—buthismessagewasno
different.Hevowedtoeliminateintrusivelawsandtostop“interference”bythefederal
government.In2014,Bundytookaleadingroleinhisfather’sstandoffinNevada,frequently
speakingtosupportersorthemedia.
Shortlyafterthestandoff,Ryantookpartinanotheractofdefianceagainstthefederal
government,participatinginanorganizedall‐terrain‐vehicle(ATV)rideonfederallandtoprotest
theclosureofanATVtraillocatedtooclosetoancientIndianruins.AccordingtotheDurango
Herald,RyanBundy“waseggingthecrowdon.”ThoughtheorganizeroftheATVrideurged
participantstostaywithinlegalareas,RyanBundy,accordingtotheDeseretNews,chosetoridein
prohibitedareas,sayingthatstayingwithinlegalareas“showscowardicetothefederal
government.”
InJanuary2015,Bundywaschargedwithresistingarrestduringanattemptbylocal
sheriff’sdeputiestoservehimwithawarrantforinterferingwithananimalcontrolofficerin
2014.TheallegedresistingoccurredwhileBundywasatthecountycourthousebeingarraigned
9
onyetathirdcriminalcharge,atrespassingcharge.Theseweresimplythelatestinaseriesof
minorcriminalentanglementsonBundy’spart;hehaspleadedguiltyornotcontestto,orbeen
convictedof,anumberofotherminorcrimes,rangingfrommisdemeanorthefttointerferingwith
anarresttoburningwithoutapermit.IndealingwithanuisancechargeinSeptember2015,Ryan
Bundysaidoflocalofficials,“I’mnottheirserf,andI’mnottheirslave.”
BrianCavalier(BR).CavalierarrivedinOregonwiththeBundybrothers;hehasanassociation
withtheBundysthatgoesbacktothe2014standoff,whereheexplainedtoonereporterthatheis
aformerMarinewhoworkedinArizonaforapartsmanufacturerforoff‐roadvehicles.Cavalier
becameoneoftheBundybrothers’“security”detailandhasalsoreferredtohimselfasa
bodyguard.Afterthestandoffwasover,CavalierremainedattheBundyranch,livinginatrailer.
InOregon,Cavalier—whooftenwouldonlyidentifyhimselfas“SunshineUnicorn”or“Fluffy
Unicorn”—saidthathewasinchargeof“operations”attherefuge.Thispastweek,theBritish
newspaperDailyMailpublishedastoryrevealingthatCavalierhadneverservedintheMarine
Corps,muchless,ashehadalleged,beeninAfghanistanandIraq.Accordingtonewssources,he
hassincelefttherefuge.
BlaineCooper/StanleyBlaineHicks(BR).Cooper,alsoknownasStanleyBlaineHicks,isan
anti‐governmentextremistandmilitiaactivistfromArizonaandanassociateofJonRitzheimer
(seebelow).LikeRitzheimer,heisalsoanIslamophobewhohaspostedvideosengagingin
actionssuchassmearingaKoranwithbacon,thensettingfiretoit.InOregon,heandRitzheimer
haveusedtheInternettosolicitdonationsoffood,supplies,andmoneyfromotherright‐wing
extremists.ShortlybeforearrivinginOregon,CooperandRitzheimerwereinSeattle,Washington,
foraprotestatthefederalcourthousetosupportSchuylerBarbeau,amilitiamovementadherent
andBundyranchveteranwhowasarrestedin2015onweaponscharges.Coopertoowaspresent
attheBundyRanchstandoffin2014,whereheservedwithBrianCavalieraspersonalsecurityto
theBundyfamily.AccordingtothewebsiteRawStory,Coopermayhaveparticipatedinvigilante
10
borderpatrols.In2013,CooperconfrontedArizonaSenatorJohnMcCainatatownhallmeeting,
accusingthesenatoroftreason.AccordingtoTheOregonian,Cooper/Hickswasconvictedof
aggravatedassaultin2009.HusbandofMelissaCooper(seebelow).
MelissaCooper(BR).WifeofBlaineCooper(seeabove),Melissaisanextremistinherownright
aswell.ShetoldTheOregonianthatshetoowasattheBundyRanchin2014.InNovember2015
shejoinedBlaineinananti‐immigrantvigilantepatrol,dubbed“OperationBigBird,”along
Arizona’sborderwithMexico.ThepatrolwasconductedbyArizonaBorderRecon,oneofthe
currentlymostactivebordervigilantegroups.
ShawnaCox(BR).Cox,fromKanab,Utah,isacloseassociateoftheBundybrothers,havingbeena
Bundyranchstandoffveteran.Duringthestandoff,sheservedas“personalsecretary”toCliven
Bundy.Whenthestandoffwasover,shewroteashortbookontheconfrontation:LastRancher
Standing:TheClivenBundyStory,aClose‐UpView.LiketheBundyfamily,heranti‐government
ideologystemsprimarilyfromangeratfederalregulationofpubliclands.In2009sheorganized
anATV‐relatedprotestrideinsouthernUtah(similartotheoneRyanBundyparticipatedin;see
above).ShewasalsoinvolvedinalocalWiseUse‐typegroup.AttheOregonstandoff,Coxreadto
reportersalistofgrievancesanddemandedthatan“independentevidentialhearingboard”be
assembledtoinvestigatethecriminalcaseagainsttheHammonds.Shehasalsoworkedwith
AmmonBundyintherefugeheadquartersaswellasbeinginvolvedintheefforttosolicitfoodand
suppliesdonationsfromotherextremiststhroughanaddressinPrinceton,Oregon.
DuaneEhmer.Ehmer,awelderfromIrrigon,Oregon,showedupatthewildliferefugeonJanuary
3,saying,“Myaxeissharp.IbelieveinsupportingtheHammondfamily.”However,heonlyseems
tohavestayedforadayorsobeforereturningbacktoOregon,explainingthat“Ihavetoworka
fewdaysbeforeIgoback.”Healsosaidthathehad“comebacktogetmyhorseandmoreguns.”
OnJanuary7,hepostedaphotographtohisFacebookprofileofhimselfposingwithanassault
11
rifleandanAmericanflaginfrontofhistruck,writing“Ilovemyfamily,”whichsomeofhis
Facebookfollowerstooktomeanthathewasonhiswaybacktotherefuge.Hehassincebeen
confirmed,withhishorse,backattheheadquarters.
LaVoyFinicum(BR).FinicumisanArizonarancher,whichironicallymakeshimoneofthefew
actualranchersinvolvedintherefugetakeover.HeisanallyandassociateofClivenBundyand
tookpartinBundy’s2014standoff.InNovember2015,Finicumclaimedthathewouldnolonger
paygrazingfeestotheBureauofLandManagementbecauseitwasanillegitimateagencythathe
wouldnotrecognize.In2015Finicumalsopublishedanovel,OnlybyBloodandSuffering:
RegainingLostFreedom,aworkofpost‐apocalypticsurvivalistfiction.Atthewildliferefuge,he
hasbeenoneoftheoccupiersmostwillingtotalktothemedia.
RanceHarris.Harris,whohasallegedlyjoinedtheoccupiers,isananti‐governmentextremist
fromOregonwhoalsosportsatleastfivedifferentwhitesupremacisttattoos.InApril2015,
Harriswasoneofanumberofanti‐governmentextremistswhomobilizedtosupporttheSugar
PineMine,nearMerlin,Oregon,initsconflictwiththefederalgovernment.
WesKjar.AUtahoccupierwhohasbecomeAmmonBundy’sbodyguard,KjartoldaReuters
reporterthathequithisjobatanoilrigtocometothestandoff.Kjarhasdeclaredthatheis
“standingforalltheoppressedranchers[andlandusers]acrossthecountry.”
CoreyLequieu(BR).Lequieuisananti‐governmentextremistfromNevada,wherehehasheld
variousjobsandundergonelengthystintsofunemployment.In2013heandhiswife,Debra
CarterPope(seebelow),joinedtheanti‐governmentWatchmenofAmerica.Hemayalsohaveties
toNevadamilitiagroups.LequieuhasmadeanumberofracistcommentsonFacebook,including
areferenceto“typicaln_____behavior.”HehascalledforanewAmericanrevolutionseveraltimes,
12
onephrasedthusly:“TimeforanewrevolutiontobegininAmericatotakethiscountrybackfrom
theMuslimporchmonkeytraitor.”HemayhavebeenaBundyRanchstandoffveteran.
ToddMacFarlane.McFarlaneisaUtahattorneywhocametoBurns,Oregon,tosupportthe
occupiers,allegedlyattherequestofLaVoyFinicum.Hesubsequentlyactedasaspokespersonfor
thepeopleattheOregonstandoff,thoughhedoesnotappeartohavestayedwiththematthe
refuge.In2014,MacFarlane,arancheraswellasanattorney,supportedClivenBundyduringhis
standoffwiththefederalgovernment,butwasnotpresentonthescene.Inone2014editorial
supportingBundy,MacFarlanequotedStephenPratt,fatherofOregonoccupierJonPratt(see
below).MacFarlanehasrepresentedfringegroupsorfiguresinthepast;in2003,hewasthe
attorneyforamemberofaMormonpolygamousgroupchargedwithconspiracyandsexual
assault—untilthemanengagedwithastandoffwithpolice,followingwhichMacFarlanedropped
himasaclient.In2000,MacFarlanerepresentedagroupofrancherswho“liberated”cattlethat
hadbeenseizedbytheBLMandplacedatanauctionhouse.
JoeO’Shaughnessy(BR).O’Shaughnessy,anArizonamilitiaandOathKeepersmember,hasbeen
activeforseveralyearswithright‐wingextremistcauses,includingvigilanteborderpatrolswith
anti‐immigrationgroupsalongtheMexicanborder.In2015,followingtheshootingsatmilitary
buildingsinChattanooga,Tennessee,O’Shaughnessyalsocalledformilitiamembersandother
anti‐governmentextremiststoblocktheentrancesofanylocalmosquesintheirarea.Heoften
referstohimselfas“Captain”O’Shaughnessyandina“pressrelease”heissuedinOregonhe
describedhimselfasbeingassociatedwiththe“NorthAmericanCoalitionofConstitutional
Militias.”Afteraweekofthestandoff,O’Shaughnessybegantohavesomesuspicionsaboutthe
occupation,asking“hasanyonestoppedtothinkhowdidtheygetsomeofthegreatestmeninthe
Patriotmovementtogooutinthemiddleofnowhereto[occupy]asmallbuilding…atthecoldest
timeoftheyearatatimewhereeverybodyisbrokebecauseofthe[holidays].Idon’tknowabout
youbutthisisallstartingtolookfishytome.”Wastheelectricitylefton,heasked,“becausethe
13
placewasalreadypre‐bugged…Thereisalotmoregoingonherethanmeetstheeye.”Inother
words,O’Shaughnessyactuallybegantothinkthatsomehowthegovernmentluredtheoccupiers
outtotheMalheurWildlifeRefuge.O’Shaughnessyhasspenttimeattherefugebutnowseemsto
bestayingatanearbymotel,allegedlybecauseofargumentshehadwithothersattherefuge.He
hastriedtoraisedonationsfortheoccupiersandtoformwhathedubbeda“Constitutional
SecurityTeam.”
JasonPatrick(BR).Patrickisananti‐governmentextremistandThreePercenterfromGeorgia
whoparticipatedintheClivenBundystandoffin2014.Heachievedsomelocalnotorietyin
Georgiaforrun‐inswithlawenforcementandcourtpersonnel,oftenfortryingtobringvideo
camerasintocourtrooms.Patrickdescribedtherun‐insashaving“beencagedmultipletimesfor
failingtoexhibitanappropriateamountoffearwhenfacingaterrorist.”InNovember,Patrick
toldhisFacebookfriendsthathewasheadinguptotheBurns,Oregon,area.However,hetooka
detourtoSeattle,Washington,inDecember,wherehejoinedothersoon‐to‐berefugeoccupiersin
protestingthearrestofanti‐governmentextremistSchuylerBarbeauonweaponscharges.
RyanPayne(BR).Payne,anelectricianfromMontana,wasthefounderofthetinyWest
MountainRangersmilitiawhobecameinvolvedintheBundyRanchstandoffin2014,claimingthe
need“tobethebarrierbetweentheoppressedandthetyrants.”Anearlyarrival,hebecameone
ofthecoordinatorsoftheanti‐governmentextremistswhoflockedtothesideoftheBundyfamily
duringthatstandoff.Paynehasalsoidentifiedwiththeanti‐governmentsovereigncitizen
movementaswellasthemilitiamovement,aswellassomewhitesupremacistviews.Ina2014
interview,PaynetoldareporterthatslaveryneverreallyexistedintheUnitedStatesandthat
therewas“aneffortbysomeJewstocontroltheworld.”AftertheBundyRanchstandoff,Payne
accompaniedRyanBundytoUtah(seeabove)toengageinananti‐BLMprotestoverATV
restrictions.
14
DanielandJohnPerrara/Pereira.DanielandJohnwereinterviewedbyareporterattherefuge;
bytheirstatements,theyseemedtoberanchersfromnorthernCalifornia.Itisnotclearifthey
weremerelyvisitingtheoccupiersoriftheyhavestayedon.
DebraCarterPope(BR).Accordingtoherpartner(CoreyLequieu;seeabove),Popeisfrom
NevadaandanAirForceveteranandformerdeputysheriff.ALinkedinprofileidentifiesherasa
formerdispatcherfortheNevadaHighwayPatrol;shecurrentlyseemstobelivingonmilitary
disability.In2013sheandLequieujoinedtheWatchmenofAmerica,ananti‐government
extremistgroup.Sheisalsoasurvivalist.Shemayhavebeenatthe2014BundyRanchstandoff.
AttheOregonstandoff,Popehasbeenemployedasoneofthecooksfortheoccupiers.
JonPratt.Pratt,aUtahn,isnotaswell‐knownaswashisfather,StephenPratt,whodiedin2012.
TheelderPrattwasaformerdiscipleofW.CleonSkousen,theinfluentialright‐wingextremist
whocombinedMormonconservatismwithlibertarianpoliticsandconspiracytheories.Stephen
Prattwentontobecomeanactivistandspeakeronhisown,talkingaboutsubjectssuchasalleged
federallandgrabs.Inrecentyears,JonPrattseemstohavetriedtofollowinhisfather’sfootsteps,
evendeliveringatalkin2013toalocalmeetingoftheright‐wingextremistConstitutionParty
thatseemstohavebeenalecturehisfatherfrequentlygave.Prattwasarelativelylatearrivalto
theOregonstandoff.
KenRhoades.KenRhoadeswasidentifiedasa71‐year‐oldmanfromMichiganinaFacebook
videopostedearlyaftertheoccupationbegan,urgingpeopletogivethemtheirsupport.Hehas
sincebeenconfirmedtobepresentasoneoftheoccupiers.
JonRitzheimer.Ritzheimerisananti‐Muslimactivistandanti‐governmentextremistfrom
Arizonawhobecameactiveinright‐wingextremistcausesonlyin2015,butdidsowithabig
15
splash,organizingcontroversialarmedanti‐MuslimralliesinPhoenixandcreatingananti‐Muslim
websitecalledRogueInfidelwhereonecanbuyt‐shirtssportinganti‐Islamicobscenities.During
theseanti‐Muslimactions,Ritzheimerincreasinglymadeconnectionswithotherright‐wing
extremistsinArizona.Bythesummerof2015,Ritzheimerhadjoinedanti‐governmentgroups
suchastheThreePercentersandtheOathKeepers,butheturnedouttobetooextremeforthe
latter.RitzheimersaidinAugust2015thathewassickoftheOathKeepers’“defense”andthat
“We’rereadyforoffense.”Afewweekslater,Ritzheimerwentontheoffense,threateningto
“arrest”aMichigancongresswomanwhohadsupportedtheIrannucleardealinordertocharge
herwithtreason.Hewouldfollowthatupwithother,similararrests,includingPresidentObama.
Afterthesestatements,theOathKeeperskickedhimoutoftheirgroup.Ritzheimerisaformer
Marinewhowas,hehasadmitted,dischargedforviolatingtheCorps’tattoopolicies.Ritzheimeris
oneofthemorevolatileparticipantsintherefugestandoff.
PeteSantilli(BR).Santilliisaright‐wingInternetpodcasthostandconspiracytheoristfrom
Cincinnati,Ohio.SantillitraveledtoNevadain2014to“cover”theBundyRanchstandoffandhas
alsotakenpartinanti‐immigrantactivitiesinCalifornia.In2013,hesaidonhisInternetshow
thatHillaryClintonneededtobetried,convicted,andthenshotinthevagina,somethingthat
broughthimtotheattentionoftheSecretService.AccordingtoMediaMatters,Santillihasalso
saidthatviolenceagainstthegovernmentwouldbejustifiedas“theequivalentofusgoingoutand
doingapreemptivestrikeonourforeignenemies.Thatwouldbejustified…becauseofthewar
thathasbeenperpetrateduponourAmericanpeople.”InSeptember2015,Santilliorganizeda
protestoutsidetheArizonaofficeofSenatorJohnMcCaintodemandhisarrest.Santillihas
identifiedhimselfwiththeThreePercenters.InOregon,Santillihasactedasoneoftheoccupiers’
manyspokespersons,thoughhesaidthathedidnotparticipateinthetakeover“becausethatisan
illegalaction.”SantilliwasrecentlyarrestedinOhioforcarryingaweaponwithoutapermitbutit
isnotclearifhemadehiscourtdate,whichwasforJanuary4.
16
MichaelStettler(BR).Stettler,oneofrelativelyfewOregonianstoparticipateintheoccupation,
isanelectricianfromChristmasValley.Heshowedupattheoccupationafterlearningithad
occurred,havingpreviouslybeenaparticipantintheBundyRanchstandoffin2014.Stettleris
originallyfromCalifornia,wherehehasrunforCongressasaDemocraticwrite‐incandidate.
BrandThornton(BR).ThorntonisamemberoftheSouthernNevadaMilitiaanda2014Bundy
Ranchstandoffveteran,wherehewasoneofanumberofarmedmilitiamenwhotookup
positionsonafreewayoverpasstoconfrontBLMagents.AfewdaysbeforetheOregontakeover,
BrandpostedtohisFacebookprofilethatthe“FEDSaredoingtheNEWWORLDORDERand
AGENDA21onusrightnowaswebreathe!TheyareEVILincarnateandunlessthePEOPLEwake
upandtakethingsintotheirownhandsALLISLOST!!”Thorntonappearstohavebeenoneofthe
originaloccupiers.Inadditiontohisanti‐governmentsentiments,Thorntonhasmadeanumber
ofanti‐SemiticpoststohisFacebookpage,callingJewsthe“synagogueofSatan”and“TheDEVIL’S
SPWANfromthepitsofhell.”
FlippTodd.ToddisanOregonThreePercenterwhoshowedupattherallytosupportthe
Hammondswhowasthenmotivatedtotakepartintheoccupationofthewildliferefuge.
However,hedidnotstaylongbutwentbacktohishomeinSherwood,sayingthathewouldgo
backtotherefugebuthadto“worksomethingsthroughfirstwithemployerandchildren.”
However,asofJanuary12,hehadnotreturned.
SteveTurner.DescribedbytheWashingtonPostas“aretireefromSandy,”Turnerisan
Oregonianwhotraveledtothewildliferefugeafteritwasoccupied.
NeilWampler(BR).Wampler,aretiredwoodworkerfromnorthernCaliforniaisananti‐
governmentextremistwhowaspresentattheBundyRanchstandoffin2012.Hisideologyseems
17
tobeclosesttothatofthemilitiamovement,givenpoststhathehasmadeaboutgunconfiscation
conspiraciestheoriesaswellascommentshehaslefttoOathKeepersandThreePercenter
websites.“TheseareexcellentconditionscomparedtootherstandoffsI’vetakenpartin,”
Wampler,referringtothewildliferefugeoccupation,toldareporterfromTheGuardian.In2014,
WamplershowedupinOlympia,Washington,totakepartinaprotest—the“IWillNotComply”
rally—againstthatstate’sfirearmslaws,aprotestinwhichparticipantsdeliberatelyopenly
violatedthoselaws.
18