Bundy standoff
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| Bundy standoff | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | April 5 – April 12, 2014[1] | ||
| Location | Bunkerville, Nevada, U.S. | ||
| Caused by |
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| Goals | Cliven Bundy and many private militias attempt to reclaim Bundy's land and cattle | ||
| Resulted in |
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| Parties | |||
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| Lead figures | |||
Unknown Cliven Bundy | |||
  Approximate location of Bunkerville Location within Nevada | |||
The Bundy standoff was a standoff between the United States Bureau of Land Management and cattle farmer Cliven Bundy.[2] The standoff originated when the BLM accused Bundy of failing to pay fees for grazing his cattle on federal land since 1993.[3]
Background
Mexico ceded Nevada to the United States in 1848 as part of the Mexican Cession. Since then, the United States has continuously owned land in Nevada, which became a state in 1864.
Cliven Bundy has been locked in legal battles with the United States Bureau of Land Management since 1993[4] when grazing rules were changed in the Gold Butte area in Clark County. Since then, Bundy has accumulated over $1 million of debt in unpaid grazing fees.[5] Bundy has admitted that he has refused to pay his fees, but justified it by claiming that his ancestors had kept cattle in Virgin Valley since 1877, long before the establishment of the BLM. The BLM claims that it is federal land and that the illegal grazing of his cows is further endangering the desert tortoise, even though the Federal Government is euthanizing incurably ill specimens of the same tortoise.[6]
Court orders
In 1998, the United States District Court for the District of Nevada ordered Bundy to remove his cattle from the Bunkerville Allotment or pay $200 per day per head. He did not comply, and the court issued another order in 1999. The cattle expanded into additional public lands, and in 2013 the court gave two orders for Bundy to remove his cattle from the Bunkerville Allotment, the Gold Butte area, and parts of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The orders allowed the United States to protect the land from Bundy and to seize any of his cattle that remains in those areas. Bundy argues that the land belongs to the state.[5]
Confrontation
The United States seized over 300 cattle from April 5 to April 9, 2014. Bundy owns most of the cattle being seized. Militia groups from across the country have joined protests against the seizures. On April 10, a protestor on an ATV struck a bureau truck driven by a civilian driver. Protestors gathered around the truck, which was blocked from leaving. Police officers protecting the driver say a police dog was kicked and officers were threatened and assaulted. They gave verbal warnings and used Tasers on the protestors.[5]
Alleged excessive force
Some members of the Bundy family and their supporters have claimed that the BLM has used excessive force.
Tasering of Ammon Bundy
Ammon Bundy, son of Cliven, was tasered by BLM agents after blocking federal vehicles.[7]
'First Amendment areas'
The BLM set up designated 'First Amendment areas,' which were the only places where protesters were allowed to exercise their First Amendment rights.[8]
BLM retreat
On the morning of April 12, the BLM announced that it would cease the mass roundup of Bundy's cattle,[1][9] citing safety reasons.
Public reaction
Some right-leaning political commentators, such as Sean Hannity have compared this situation to the Siege of Waco. Cliven has threatened 'range war' against the BLM, and also compared the standoff to Waco.[10] Though many Nevadans, including governor Brian Sandoval, took sides with Cliven Bundy and his stance against the Bureau of Land Management, others have opposed his actions. Cliven stated in an interview with Hannity that he sees himself as a martyr for the First Amendment and American freedom. Many of those who opposed Cliven's actions believe he is a lawbreaker and trespasser on public lands.
Sean Hannity also called out the BLM for their methods of taking the cattle back, such as the tasering of Ammon Bundy.
References
- ^ a b Knapp, George. "BREAKING NEWS: BLM ends roundup of Bundy cattle". KLAS-TV Las Vegas. KLAS-TV Las Vegas. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "Out-of-state groups ride in to stand with Nevada rancher in battle with feds over grazing rights". Fox News. Fox News. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ Cliven Bundy supporters bring cattle roundup protest to Las Vegas police headquarters, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Apr. 11, 2014 (updated April 12, 2014).
- ^ Glionna, John. "BLM seizes cattle in range war with stubborn Nevada rancher". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- ^ a b c Martinez, Michael (April 10, 2014). "Showdown on the range: Nevada rancher, feds face off over cattle grazing rights". CNN. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
- ^ Salazar, Adan (09 April 2014). "Before Nevada Cattle Rancher Standoff, BLM Killed Off Hundreds of Endangered Tortoises". Infowars.com. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ DeMarche, Edmund. "Federal agency pulls back in Nevada ranch standoff, but legal fight remains". Fox News. Fox News. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Goldstein, Sasha. "Nevada rancher in tense standoff with federal government over cattle on rural public lands". New York Daily News. New York Daily News. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ Turner, Christi. "Rancher vs BLM: a 20-year standoff ends with tense roundup". High Country News. High Country News. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- ^ Farnham, Alan. "Nevada Rancher Threatens 'Range War' Against Feds". ABC News. ABC News. Retrieved 11 April 2014.