As quickly as the New Year came and went, the tiny town of Burns, Oregon, found itself the focus of national attention. A mysterious group of armed men had seized federal buildings at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and overnight, a seemingly quiet slice of the rural west, became a battleground of ideologies. Having grown up in Oregon, it felt surreal to see a remote part of my home state on national television. The story had the same hallmarks of western films seen in my youth – armed men standing up for their ideals, a sheriff overwhelmed, and a rural town splintering under the pressure. The situation in Harney County seemed poised to become a deadly confrontation between armed militias and federal authorities. The following account is my attempt to explain the events that led to the Oregon Standoff and its aftermath. All words and images are my own unless otherwise noted.
Cows in Harney County, OR, January 11, 2016.
Armed activists occupy the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Watchtower near Burns, Ore., January 15, 2016. The watchtower is occupied day and night as activists, led by Ammon Bundy, monitor movement around the refuge and communicate by radio.
Bald Eagle seen from OR Highway 205 in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Narrows, OR, January 9 2016.
Tarp reading "Ranchers Unite - Obama Pardon Hammonds" draped over a Malheur National Wildlife Refuge welcome sign in Harney County, Ore., January 11, 2016. Armed activists have occupied the Malheur National WIldlife Refuge since January 2, 2016. There has been no sign of law enforcement near the refuge.
Building painted with an American Flag in Burns, Ore., Jan. 13, 2016.
Geoff Stanek, 26, sits in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Watchtower near Burns, Ore., Jan. 15, 2016. Armed activists have taken over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in an effort to broadly protest the federal government.
Guard at the entrance to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, January 9, 2016.
LaVoy Finicum speaking to the media, January 11, 2016. speaking to the media, outside the entrance to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, Harney County, OR, January 11, 2016.
Ammon Bundy speaks to the media during a press conference at the Malheur National Refuge, near Burns, Ore., Jan. 14, 2016. Mr. Bundy leads an armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge that began Jan. 2, 2016.
Sean Anderson, 47, looks on during a press conference outside of the headquarters of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Harney County, OR, January 11, 2016. Mr. Anderson is from Riggins, Idaho, and is a member of the III% Patriots who have come to Harney County to offer their support for the Malheur occupiers.
Ammon Bundy and LaVoy Finicum address the media from the entrance to the Malheur Wildlife Refuge, Harney County, OR, January 11, 2016.
Breanna Fry, 16, stands with her Father at the entrance to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Harney County, OR, January 9, 2016. After all classes at Burns High School were cancelled due concerns about the Malheur Refuge situation, Breanna wanted to see for herself what was happening. After spending time on the Refuge, Breanna believes that “they shouldn’t be cancelling school for something that has nothing to do with school.” Burns is 32 miles from the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Burns High School was closed the week of January 4. Classes are set to resume January 11, 2015.
Pacific Patriot Network convoy leaving the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge after sharp verbal confrontations with media and the Bundy occupation group, Harney County, OR, January 9, 2016. The Pacific Patriots sought to encircle the Malheur Wildlife Refuge Headquarters to prevent a Waco-style confrontation between the activists and law enforcement.
FBI Agents standing guard at the entrance to the Burns Municipal Airport, Burns, OR, January 11, 2016. Security has been increased since an armed group of men known as the Pacific Patriot Network approached agents at the airport where a verbal confrontation ensued.
Sheriffs Deputys stand guard outside of the Harney County Courthouse, Burns, OR, January 11, 2016.
Lavoy Finicum cutting a barbed wire fence that divides the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge with private land in Harney County, OR, January 11, 2016. Mr. Finicum alleges that the land was taken away from the Tim Puckett, a land owner next to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Mr. Finicum says he is acting for the Puckett Family.
Ammon Bundy wrapping cut barbed wire around a fence post that divides private land from the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Harney County, OR, January 11, 2016. Mr. Bundy and other activists have opened a portion of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge in order to return it to the public.
Sheriffs Deputys attend a Harney County Community Meeting in the Burns High School Gymnasium, Burns, OR, January 11, 2016.
Residents of Harney County listen to community leaders discuss the on-going occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge at a community meeting in Burns, OR, January 11, 2016. The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is 35 miles from Burns. A community meeting was held at Burns High School to discuss the on-going occupation.
Media Personality Pete Santilli is escorted out of the Harney County Community Meeting by law enforcement after causing a disruption and being told to leave by members of the community., Burns, OR January 11, 2016.
Oregon State Representative Cliff Bentz (R-District 60) speaks at a community meeting at Burns High School in Burns, OR, January 11, 2016. The community met to discuss the on-going occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge by armed activists. Representative Bentz addressd the community saying "Harney County you have reached a defining moment." Representative bentz is joined by Harney County Sheriff David Ward, Harney County Judge Steve Rasty, and Harney County Commissioner Pete Runnels.
Dr. Julie Weikel, 68, speaks during a Harney County Community Meeting in the Burns High School Gymnasium, Burns, Ore., January 11, 2016. Dr. Weikel is a Contract Veterinarian who is also on the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board, which is a division of the Bureu of Land Management (BLM). Dr. Weikel believes that having a local pub five miles from the armed occupiers at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is a bad combination.
Retired Burns Fire Chief Chris Briels speaks during a Harney County Community Meeting in Burns High School, Burns, OR, January 11, 2016. Mr. Briels spoke passionately on the stress that the county is under since armed activists took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge located 30 miles south east of Burns.
Sheriff Dave Ward speaks to residents of Harney County and the media in the Burns High School Auditorium, Burns, OR, January 11, 2016. The Sheriff used the metaphor of an hourglass to describe how time for the occupiers at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is running short. The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge has been occupied by armed activists since January 2, 2016.
LaVoy Finicum, 54, removes cameras installed on a roadside electric pole near Burns, Ore., Jan. 15, 2016. Mr. Finicum alleges that the cameras were installed by the federal government. Mr. Finicum is a part of a group of armed activists who occupy the Malhuer National WIldlife Refuge in Southern Oregon.
Ammon Bundy speaks to the media during a press conference at the Malheur National Refuge, near Burns, Ore., Jan. 14, 2016. Mr. Bundy leads an armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge that began Jan. 2, 2016.
Lavoy Finicum, 54, speaks to the media after removing two roadside cameras from an electric pole near Burns, Ore., Jan. 15, 2016. Mr. Finicum alleges that the cameras were installed by the federal government. Mr. Finicum is a part of a group of armed activists who occupy the Malhuer National WIldlife Refuge in Southern Oregon.
Man looks through binoculars from the Watchtower of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Ore., Jan. 14, 2016. Armed Occupiers from accross the United States have had control of the refuge since Jan. 2, 2016.
Painted Sign reading "Prison for Bundy" nailed to a tree in the Burns Cemetery in Burns, Ore., Jan. 13, 2016. Opinion in Burns has been split over the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge by armed activists led by Ammon Bundy.
