海角大神

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown called for an end to the occupation of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge by antigovernment protesters Wednesday, directing her frustration at the federal government.聽

鈥淭he residents of Harney County have been overlooked and underserved by federal officials鈥� response thus far,鈥� said Governor聽Brown, despite her pleas to the US Department of Justice and the White House.聽

Led by Ammon Bundy, the protesters have occupied the wildlife refuge for three weeks in protest of two fellow ranchers imprisoned by federal authorities for arson and what they see as the lack of private lands for small farmers in the area.聽

鈥淔ederal authorities must move quickly to end the occupation and hold all of the wrongdoers accountable,鈥� Brown said in a press conference Wednesday. 鈥淭his spectacle of lawlessness must end. And until Harney County is free of it I will not stop insisting that federal officials enforce the law.鈥澛�

Thursday 2 p.m. Update via Associated Press:

Enough is enough says Brown 鈥� it鈥檚 costing the state too much.聽

鈥淚n order to maintain public safety鈥� multiple local law enforcement entities from around the state, as well as Oregon State Police Troopers, are coordinating with the Harney County sheriff to provide additional officers,鈥� Kristen Grainger, Browns鈥� directors of communications, said in a statement. 鈥淭he estimate of $100,000 a week represents the costs of labor, including overtime, travel reimbursement, lodging and meals for the officers.鈥�

Brown says the occupation has cost Oregon taxpayers almost half a million dollars.聽

鈥淲e鈥檒l be asking federal officials to reimburse the state for these costs,鈥� she adds.聽

Harney County Judge Steve Grasty says Bundy isn鈥檛 getting the message: 鈥淚t seems like he鈥檚 out of touch with reality.鈥澛�

Bundy is from Arizona 鈥� not Oregon 鈥� and the community has made it clear that he needs to go home, said Grasty. The protest leader was present at a community meeting Tuesday night and he listened quietly as locals began chanting, 鈥淕o.鈥澛�

Judge Grasty agrees with Brown鈥檚 sentiment about the federal government鈥檚 inaction. He suggests closing roads to the refuge so occupiers can鈥檛 come and go as they please.

But until the federal lands in Harney County are given to local residents 鈥� or there is a substantial plan to do so 鈥� the protesters have 鈥渘o plans to leave,鈥� says the group鈥檚 spokesman LaVoy Finicum.聽

Brown also shows conviction regarding a federal government response.聽

鈥淭his situation is absolutely intolerable and it must be resolved immediately,鈥� she said at Wednesday鈥檚 news conference. "The very fabric of this community is being ripped apart."

As 海角大神's Jessica Mendoza reported, since Waco and Ruby Ridge, law enforcement has learned to dial back its response, experts say. But, they note, that the Oregon takeover also suggests federal agencies have yet to find the 鈥渟weet spot鈥� when it comes to dealing with armed protesters under siege.