You’ve probably heard about it. Over the weekend, a militia group fully armed with their guns and ammunition took over a federal building in Oregon, vowing to keep the federal building until they get their way… or else!
And just in case you haven’t heard of this government takeover, well, it’s probably because the media has not covered the militia’s action – and might I remind you that they took over a federal building, armed with guns and ammunition – …the media hasn’t covered this takeover quite the same way they have covered, let’s say, BlackLivesMatter protesters. And where are the police with their trigger-happy fingers you asked? You know, the same ones gunning down innocent, peaceful protesters and black men all over this nation?
Good question.
This fact that the media and police intervention are apparently minimal, have been noted on many social media outlets, and CNN posed this question to their law enforcement analyst while discussing the events in Oregon.
CNN’s law enforcement analyst Art Roderick, explained why the militia, fully armed with their guns and ammunition, should be reasoned with, and not be treated the same way as BlackLivesMatter protesters are often treated. And according to Roderick, the militia is not looting anything.
“The last thing we need is some type of large confrontation because that’s when stuff goes bad,” Roderick explained. “And I think in this particular instance, if we just wait them out, see what they’ve got to say, then eventually, they’re all going to go home.”
Stelter pointed out that many activists had complained if the militia members were “Black Lives Matter protesters or if these were peaceful Muslim Americans [then] they would be treated very differently by law enforcement.”
“This is a very rural area,” Roderick replied. “It is out in the middle of nowhere. What are they actually doing? They’re not destroying property, they’re not looting anything.”
“I mean, there’s a whole separate situation going on as to exactly why they’re there and that will be worked out through the legal process,” he continued. “But I think now that they’ve taken over this location out at the fish and wildlife, this brings in the federal side. And I know the federal government has learned over the years how to deal with these types of incidences.”