An Oregon sheriff has asked anti-government activists who have occupied federal land to go home peacefully, NBC News reported.
The Harney County Sheriff’s Office said Sheriff David Ward met with protesters to work out a peaceful resolution and not to make any arrests. Ward told NBC News on Wednesday that the activists would face federal charges once the siege was over.
The gunmen took over an unoccupied federal facility on Saturday, with the goal of freeing two ranchers convicted of setting fires on government land. They’re also looking to sound an alarm on what they say is a government war on private ranchers.
Lawyers for the two ranchers, Dwight Hammond and his son Steven, say the group doesn’t speak of them.
