Oregon ‘Militia’ Occupation, Which Was Not About Abortion, Ends With Anti-Abortion Demand

The six-week occupation of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, which was nominally to protest federal use of Western lands, ended with a final outcry against something entirely unrelated — and, as it happens, entirely irrelevant.

David Fry was the final member of the self-proclaimed militia to surrender to authorities, announcing that he was feeling “suicidal”, and telling officials, “Unless my grievances are heard, I will not come out.”

When he ultimately turned himself in, two hours after the last of his accomplices surrendered, Fry was reported to have gone off about how he did not want to pay taxes — specifically he did not want his taxes to fund abortions.

Of course, thanks to the Hyde Amendment, tax dollars cannot be — and are not — used to fund abortions. And the occupation of the refuge began on Jan. 2 after two Oregon ranchers — Dwight and Steven Hammond — were convicted for setting fire to federal lands.

But as Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Anna Griffin wrote, “This isn’t about the Hammonds at this point. It’s about abortion, taxes and David Fry’s demons.”

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If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call the Lifeline national organization for suicide prevention, 1-800-273-8255.

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