Supporters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupiers are in conflict with the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies over an impromptu memorial site for Robert “LaVoy” Finicum, the Arizona rancher killed by law enforcement during the occupation.
Rocks, flags, balloons, photos and flowers are in place at the remote site along U.S. Route 395 north of Burns, where the spokesman for the armed occupation died in a confrontation with Oregon State Police troopers.
The Forest Service says the memorial, which sits on Malheur National Forest land, is illegal.
“While the placement of a monument or memorial on public land may help some individuals through difficult times, these memorials are generally of significance to only those most closely tied to a specific person or event,” said Mike Stearly, public affairs officer with the Malheur National Forest. “Others may feel that memorials intrude on their experience of the forest.”
Two men have been guarding the memorial for nearly three weeks, in response to several instances when the memorial was altered or disappeared completely in the middle of the night. William Fisher, of Salmon, Idaho, and Jamey Landin, of Burns, say these three weeks are the longest the site has been untouched.
“They know we’re there,” said Fisher, referring to anyone who might want want to alter the site. “We’re doing something here.”
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