They were resisting authority, though like I said, I don’t think they had legal standing. But the Government did show up in force with ATF, FBI, BLM, and local police, full gear, helmets, vests, rifles, etc. It was quite a show.
If no one was armed, I think we would have seen similar actions that we saw at Standing Rock.
Is this resistance? I suppose it is a type of resistance. It’s hard for me to back it, though, as while the government overstepping its authority has many examples, I don’t feel this was one of those times.
I think we are getting off the path here. There are various protest against the government. Some of them are about racial inequality, in both laws and application of laws. Some of it is about other things such as property rights, constitutional rights, and other civil liberties. In this case the Bundys were protesting fees for use of land they felt entitled to. You’re right that it doesn’t help others who are repressed in other ways - but not every fight is going to counter every possible grievance.
For example, should a Legalize Weed protest branch out to other issues such as police reform? In fact I think that was part of the problem with the Occupy Wallstreet protests. Originally it has a focused voice and goal, but by then end of it every fringe faction has globbed on to it and it became disorganized and easily dismantled and lost a lot of mainstream support. But I digress.
And again, my point was that it illustrated despite them being in the wrong, despite tensions, despite the fully kitted ATF and FBI, and despite that many of the militia later turned out to be loons who raided that Oregon Wildlife center, it kept the government at bay. Hell the Oregon Wildlife center required the government to wait them out, vs use force. Although maybe this because they learned from the failings of things like Waco and Ruby Ridge. Unlike say Standing Rock where they were sweeped up the last hold outs, pointing rifles as they cleared the camp.
Of course all of these are kind of shit examples used primarily by more fringe elements. But if the government gets more heavy handed than they already are, we might see more moderate groups employing the tactic. Maybe not. I dunno. If I had that kind of power of time and space I wouldn’t be here.
