Just an hour after U.S. Officials called off the roundup of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy’s cattle due to safety concerns, hundreds of ranchers and supporters — some armed — have mobilized with the intent to free cattle confiscated by the federal agents.
After Bureau of Land Management director Neil Kornze gave the order to cease herding the cattle, Mr. Bundy demanded that all national park service employees working on the cattle roundup operation be disarmed before 10:45 a.m. the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
Mr. Cliven said that Clark County sheriff Doug Gillespie had one hour to comply, and demanded the firearms be brought to him.
By 11 a.m. members of the crowd stepped forward and began grouping around the cattle corral outside Mesquite, they recited the pledge of allegiance, and prayed. Some protestors held signs reading “this land is your land” and “We teach our children not to bully. How do we teach our government not to be big bullies?” The Review-Journal reported.
In a statement released Saturday morning, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval said safety was his highest priority and that he appreciated the BLM for listening to people’s concerns.
Protestors demanded to know where the 500 cattle already gathered by the BLM were being held.
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Ammon Bundy, Cliven Bundy’s son, was near tears describing the round up. He told reporters that BLM agents came in, took backhoes to the land and shut down water lines to prevent the cattle from drinking.
He also said that the halting of the roundup wouldn’t have been possible without the supporters.
“The people have the power when they unite,” Ammon told reporters, the Review-Journal reported. “The war has just begun.”
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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