2 standoffs in Oregon show differing views of US response
Rebecca Boone and Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press
Updated 3:57 am CDT, Thursday, July 23, 2020
BOISE, Idaho (AP) When armed protesters took over a remote wildlife refuge in eastern Oregon four years ago to oppose federal control of public lands, U.S. agents negotiated with the conservative occupiers for weeks while some state leaders begged for stronger action.
This month, federal officers sent to Portland to quell chaotic protests against racial injustice took swift and, some say, harsh action: launching tear gas, firing less-lethal ammunition and helping arrest more than 40 people in the first two weeks. State leaders are imploring federal forces to leave the progressive city, saying they're escalating a volatile situation.
The reaction from state leaders, protesters and anti-government groups to the U.S. response to two disparate situations shows the inconsistencies in how both sides view federal intervention, often based on the politics of who's protesting and who's cracking down.
J.J. MacNab, a fellow at George Washington Universitys Program on Extremism, said many right-wing extremists who espouse anti-government and pro-gun views have embraced the authoritarian tactics used by President Donald Trump that they denounced under his Democratic predecessor.
Its like night and day, she said. They hated government when Obama was in office. They love government now.
More:
https://www.chron.com/news/article/2-standoffs-in-Oregon-show-differing-views-of-US-15427788.php
mikeysnot
(4,758 posts)Same state...
sinkingfeeling
(51,490 posts)CrispyQ
(36,552 posts)That's because they were only ever in favor of representative government as long as the white Christian patriarchy was at the top of the hierarchy. Once a bunch of uppity women, minorities, and gays started demanding equality and equity in the system, then it all changed. They had a pretty good run at it, too, since they created the system that put them at the top & have rigged it to keep them there.
CentralMass
(15,265 posts)A small number of "agitators" went at the fence in front of the building just about 50 nights in a row to provoke an illegal assembly declaration by the police on the other side. That part of the story can't be ignored. It IMO gave Cheetolini the opening to send in the feds.
stopdiggin
(11,404 posts)Doesn't even take any sort of "neutral" observation. Many Republicans are noticeably uncomfortable -- with the actions -- and the stark hypocrisy.
(and then of course, many -- are not. and will never be.)
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