The origins of the People’s Rights network and the insurrection against COVID-19 restrictions can be traced back four years to the snow-swept terrain of the southeast Oregon high desert. For all the recent viral far-right misinformation claiming “antifa” started wildfires across the West, it’s important to remember that the 2016 armed takeover of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge in Oregon began as a rally supporting two ranchers convicted of arson wildfires on federal land.

Rancher Dwight Hammond Jr., and his son, Steven, were convicted of starting a 2001 wildfire on federal land, allegedly to cover up illegal deer poaching. Steven Hammond “handed out ‘Strike Anywhere’ matches with instructions that they be lit and dropped on the ground because they were going to ‘light up the whole country on fire.’”[2] Steven Hammond was also convicted of a 2006 arson in a national wildlife refuge.

When the Hammonds were ordered to serve their full sentences, militia members, Three Percenters, Tea Partiers, and other so-called “patriots” from across the country converged on Burns, Oregon to protest. Among those in attendance was Ammon Bundy, who had become a larger-than-life movement figure after the 2014 armed standoff at his father’s ranch in Nevada. Following a demonstration, a small group of activists led by Bundy left the rally to take over the dormant buildings of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge to take a “hard stand” against federal “tyranny.”[3]

At a press conference during the takeover, Bundy laid out his rationale for seizing the facility as part of a larger crusade to steal public lands.[4] Calling for reinforcements, Bundy declared that they were the “point of the spear that’s going to bring confidence and strength to the rest of the people.”[5] Many, indeed, were emboldened by Bundy’s actions.

After forty days, the armed occupation came to an end with one man dead and more than two dozen occupiers charged with federal offenses. In the legal battle for the Malheur invaders that ensued, Bundy quietly built up a core group of dedicated followers. They helped promote Bundy and did support work for the numerous people who went to trial for involvement in the armed takeover. In the end, the arsonists were pardoned by President Trump, while Ammon Bundy and most of the Malheur militants were freed by the courts. Then along came the COVID-19 pandemic. What was past became prologue as the group of militia members and other far-rightists attracted to the Bundy cause became the nucleus of what would become the People’s Rights network.

As governors around the country began putting in place rules to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ammon Bundy started gathering people together to stop them. On March 26, Bundy held an initial meeting in his warehouse in a dusty lot near the railroad tracks in Emmett, Idaho.[6] By that day, a total of 79,785 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the US had been reported, with 1,136 deaths from the virus.[7]

At a germinal gathering of what would become People’s Rights on April 2, Ammon Bundy oversaw a meeting where COVID-19 health restrictions dominated the conversation. One participant lamented that “If we knew for sure that 150 million people were going to die that would be tragic and sad and very unfortunate, but that still doesn’t trump our freedom and our rights.”[8]

There was widespread agreement in the room about the need to change the narrative away from “focusing on the virus” to “focus on our freedoms and our rights.”[9]

When the group reconvened a week later, seventy-two people were in attendance to hear Bundy announce the new name for the group and describe how quickly they had grown.

“We have more people here than we had before, and we’ve started to get organized, so bear with us because it feels like oh man they’re not that organized. And we’re not. But every day and every week we get more and more organized. We put this in place. We put this in place. And pretty soon we have a body of people that are capable—not just talking about—but capable of defending their liberties because we’re uniting. That’s what’s happening here. So one of the things we’ve done we’ve put a way that people can basically join, if you wanna call it that, People’s Rights, or whatever you want to call it. And we have a contact list that’s now probably over 300 people. So that’s a good little start, ok.”[10]

During the event, they announced that they would defy the governor’s stay-at-home directives and hold an Easter service. Though only about sixty people attended the Easter rally, the defiant disregard for public health drew national attention.[11]

Bundy and People’s Rights created a network based on aggressive, belligerent non-compliance with the COVID-19 health directives. Bundy has repeatedly told his crowds, “Do not comply. That is what it will take.”[12]

To help slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, like many places the city of Meridian, Idaho, closed playgrounds and outdoor exercise equipment (while leaving walking paths open). On April 21, nine days after the Easter protest in nearby Emmett, Sara Walton Brady, leader of the anti-vaxxer group, Idahoans for Vaccine Freedom, staged a protest at a closed playground and was arrested after multiple requests to leave. She broadcast her arrest on social media. In an aggressive response to Walton Brady’s arrest, Ammon Bundy and a group of about 40 people protested outside of the arresting police officer’s home.[13] One person, who identified themselves as a member of the III% of Idaho, called the Meridian Police Department to demand, “It’s time to choose a side. We can’t stand what you people do. We will make you abide by the Constitution.”[14] The combined actions reaped national attention, another spark to ignite insurrection. Sara Walton Brady became a member of the People’s Rights Idaho group, which helped bring anti-vaxxers into the network.

The series of visible confrontations became a rallying cry around the country, setting off a wave of protests that one week later saw heavily-armed militia members storm the Michigan legislative chambers and the governor hung in effigy. It also gave spark to far-right groups opposed to COVID-19 restrictions. From April to September, the number of those groups swelled to 1,186 with 3,032,085 members.[15]

As attention shifted to the massive number of vocal groups clamoring to reopen the economy in the middle of a pandemic and opposing any sorts of health mandates like wearing masks, Bundy and People’s Rights were building an army behind the scenes.

NOTES

[1] Pellegrino, Tony. Facebook. September 18, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/tony.pellegrino.75/posts/1468260086708076.

[2] Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Oregon. “Eastern Oregon Ranchers Convicted of Arson Resentenced to Five Years in Prison.” The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Oregon website. October 7, 2015. https://www.justice.gov/usao-or/pr/eastern-oregon-ranchers-convicted-arson-resentenced-five-years-prison.

[3] Dickinson, Tim. “WTF is Happening in the Oregon Militia Standoff, Explained.” Rolling Stone. January 3, 2016.  https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/wtf-is-happening-in-the-oregon-militia-standoff-explained-31574/.

[4] Bundy declared, “We have basically taken over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and this will become a base place for patriots from all over the country to come and be housed here and live here. And we’re planning on staying here for several years. And while we’re here, we’re going to be bringing these lands up and giving the ranchers back their ranch, giving the miners back the mines, giving the loggers back the logging, and where they can do it under the protection of the people, and not be afraid of this tyranny that’s been upon them.” Zaitz, Les. “Militia takes over Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters.” The Oregonian. January 2, 2016. https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2016/01/drama_in_burns_ends_with_quiet.html.

[5] Yuhas, Alan. “Oregon militia says occupation of wildlife refuge could last ‘several years’.” The Guardian. January 4, 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/04/oregon-militia-ammon-bundy-malheur-national-wildlife-refuge.

[6] Marr, Lori. Facebook. Video. March 26, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/lorimarr.freedomfairy/videos/10219814767671813.

[7] Jennings, Sydney. “COVID-19 Update: Global Confirmed Cases as of March 26, 2020.” Patient Care Online, March 26, 2020. https://www.patientcareonline.com/view/covid-19-update-global-confirmed-cases-march-26-2020.

[8] Marr, Lori. Facebook. Video. April 2, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/lorimarr.freedomfairy/videos/10219904225388200/.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Marr, Lori. Facebook. Video. April 9, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/lorimarr.freedomfairy/videos/10219983911580305.

[11] Rose, Andy. “Ammon Bundy hosts Easter service despite state order against mass gatherings.” CNN. April 12, 2020. https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-04-12-20/h_78b9b5480ab9bccab1842f64edaf6f29.

[12] People’s Rights Facebook. Video. July 30, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/peoplesrights.org/videos/699848514197934/.ke te

[13] Bustillo, Ximena and Brown, Ruth. “Idaho anti-vaxx activist arrested after group gathers at closed Meridian playground.” Idaho Statesman. April 21, 2020.  https://www.idahostatesman.com/article242188766.html.

[14] Blanchard, Nichole. “300 people called dispatch after Meridian playground arrest — some with insults, threats.” East Idaho News. May 20, 2020. https://www.eastidahonews.com/2020/05/300-people-called-dispatch-after-meridian-playground-arrest-some-with-insults-threats/.

[15] Institute for Research & Education on Human Rights. “Dashboard: New Far-Right Groups on Facebook Protesting COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Directives.” IREHR website. August 20, 2020. https://irehr.org/covid19updates/dashboard-new-far-right-groups-on-facebook-protesting-stay-at-home-directives/.