A late night tweet from Ammon Bundy, an Oregon militia leader and the son of famed rancher Cliven Bundy, ruffled more than a few feathers on Wednesday (Jan. 6).
We are doing the same thing as Rosa Parks did. We are standing up against bad laws which dehumanize us and destroy our freedom.
— Ammon Bundy (@Ammon_Bundy) January 6, 2016
No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. – Thomas Jefferson
— Ammon Bundy (@Ammon_Bundy) January 6, 2016
Don’t point guns at us and we won’t point guns back. This can still end peacefully. #CitizensForConstitutionalFreedom
— Ammon Bundy (@Ammon_Bundy) January 6, 2016
Ammon’s remarks come after a publicized stand off on Saturday (Jan. 2) between government officials and his group, Citizens for Constitutional Freedom, at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in an effort to protect their grazing land, according to The Root. The armed group has taken the Refuge hostage until two local ranchers are released from prison for arson, and Bundy said that he and the group of roughly 20 people would not leave the preserve until proper justice is served.
He also tweeted that “all people in America to join in our peaceful protest to regain our freedom” and “That is how America was started and we need to keep that tradition alive.”
Obviously, Twitter–where Rosa Parks’ name trended nationally on Wednesday morning–was fervent with reactions, eliciting strong points about the comparison, noting Parks engaged in a peaceful protest while Bundy has threatened of the use of violence. Check out some of our favorites below.
I was so excited to see Rosa Parks trending. Then, cruel disappointment.
— gwen ifill (@gwenifill) January 6, 2016
My fav thing about Rosa Parks is when she committed arson to cover up her illegal hunting spree https://t.co/Fgcr8uO5UO
— Sid Verma (@_SidVerma) January 6, 2016
@Ammon_Bundy did he say Rosa Parks? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/ELr1379aWv
— who?, what? (@pannlewis44) January 6, 2016