This Thursday, a jury acquitted anti-government militia leader Ammon Bundy and six followers of conspiracy charges stemming from their role in the armed takeover of a U.S. wildlife center in Oregon.
Bundy, including his brother and co-defendant Ryan Bundy, claimed their 41-day occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge was a legitimate and patriotic act of civil disobedience, but prosecutors said it was an illegal act that aimed to take over a government property by force.
After the acquittal, social media users voiced anger that protesters at Standing Rock in North Dakota are being carted away by riot police while militia members who conducted an armed takeover of a government building are being let off scot-free.
Here are a few examples:
#oregonstandoff We all know if Ammon Bundy was black, he'd either be in prison or a cemetery. Tamir Rice was killed, and he had a TOY gun!
— J Wilkens (@MetalConcertApp) October 27, 2016
White privilege, 2016:
Heavily armed militants just acquitted in #oregonstandoff as unarmed #NoDAPL protestors are attacked by riot police. pic.twitter.com/ZdVyEgUXTq
— David Harris-Gershon (@David_EHG) October 28, 2016
Entitled white people told "No price for taking the law into your own hands!" right before Trump loss? Well played, justice! #oregonstandoff
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) October 28, 2016
#oregonstandoff here's a pic of the jury. pic.twitter.com/miWftrooMK
— PoliticalGroove (@PoliticalGroove) October 28, 2016
I don't know about you dummies but I'm heading out tonight for some consequence-free federal wildlife refuge occupation! #oregonstandoff
— Rex Huppke (@RexHuppke) October 28, 2016
I'm so mad about this #oregonstandoff verdict I'm going to get a bunch of armed friends & take over a federal building cuz that's legal now.
— Henry Kraemer (@HenryKraemer) October 27, 2016
White privilege is being able to threaten police officers at gunpoint knowing an all white jury will cosign your terrorism. #oregonstandoff
— Frank & Steinly (@goddamnedfrank) October 27, 2016
Wonder if they were POC or Black what would have happend? This us how Whiteness works folks #oregonstandoff #oregon pic.twitter.com/JsNRmj4a85
— Marc B (@marcbtruth) October 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/GeorgeBaileyDog/status/791789038881550336
The #StandingRock protesters are being arrested while the Bundy idiots are being set free – what's wrong with this picture? #oregonstandoff https://t.co/hRpSWxlHsR
— Phillydude (@Fairwinds10) October 27, 2016
Yes, there was a complete media circus around those #OregonStandoff clowns; not a peep for months on #StandingRock water protectors. #NoDAPL https://t.co/K6wKPxMXEN
— A. Bernery #NoDAPL (@_Anunnery) October 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/JasperJay40/status/791785304818651136
Wow!Folks loaded with tons of ammo #oregonstandoff all found not guilty while #StandingRock protesters being forced out. #WatchWhitenessWork https://t.co/OJdzBnTNBr
— brad payne (@bradp50) October 27, 2016
So, ok to occupy a wildlife refuge, but protect ancestral grave sites and you get National Guarded. America 2016 #nodapl
— Bill McKibben (@billmckibben) October 27, 2016
Contrast the #oregonstandoff verdict with what's being done to protesters on the #DakotaAccessPipeline #StandingRock #BREAKING pic.twitter.com/wAdjBRgjvY
— Oregon's Beaten Path (@OregonsPath) October 27, 2016
I want to see those (like Trump) who cry about law and order at #BlackLivesMatter protests talk about it with the #Oregonstandoff
— (((Garrett Khoury))) (@KhouryGarrett) October 27, 2016
Sad day for America: white people armed to the teeth at #oregonstandoff all found not guilty while #StandingRock protesters removed by force
— Carl Segerstrom (@Carlschirps) October 27, 2016
Getting acquitted for your nationally televised armed takeover of Federal property is some pretty impressive defense team work!
— Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) October 27, 2016
