The arson conviction and subsequent bullying over prison terms was ugly theater. Unacceptable. I'm sure the protest will come to nothing, or worse, the Feds will come down hard on them for having the temerity to exercise their rights to freedom of speech and assembly.
What bullying? I'm not for mandatory sentencing guidelines but that's why those ranchers are going back to jail. Those dudes burned acres of public land. Sorry, no sympathy here for them. The Feds didn't "come down hard" when the oath keepers showed up to protect the Idaho rancher that decided to squat on public lands. I don't think they will "come down hard" in Harney County either. I think the sheriff of Harney County got it right when he said this to those armed "protesters"
"You said you were here to help the citizens of Harney County. That help ended when a peaceful protest became an armed and unlawful protest. The Hammonds have turned themselves in. It is time for you to leave our community. Go home, be with your own families and end this peacefully."
This is an artificial crisis and these guys are pawns. Who is funding them? Who benefits politically if they become a cause-celebre? I have my suspicions that this is a right wing power play during an election year.