Ammon Bundy, the far-right anti-government militant who led the 2016 occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and is currently running as an independent candidate for the Idaho governorship, was arrested on March 11 for protesting the police seizure of a severely “malnourished” 10-month-old baby.
Bundy and a supporter were arrested on a charge of misdemeanor trespassing after they refused to leave the grounds of St. Luke’s Meridian Medical Center. Later, Bundy declared that the infant, which was later returned to its parents, had been "medically kidnapped" and was thus the victim of "medical tyranny."
In a tweet, Bundy identified the child as his "good friend Diego's grandson."
Please read. Last night my very good friend Diego\u2019s grandson was medically kidnapped because a medical practitioner called CPS for a missed doctor appointment. If this happened to them, it could happen to you. We must stand against this medical tyranny. https://freedomman.org/cyrus/— Ammon Bundy (@Ammon Bundy) 1647100463
In an official statement, Bundy's campaign referred to his arrest as "an ambush arrest with no legal grounds" and called on Idaho residents to "unite against medical tyranny and take back our rights.
For Immediate Releasepic.twitter.com/pbxP38RA17— Ammon Bundy (@Ammon Bundy) 1647085342
The child was determined to be “suffering from severe malnourishment” and at risk of injury or death. The family had refused to allow police officers to conduct a welfare check after they canceled a medical appointment.
Child Protective Services (CPS) said the child had been found malnourished twice in one week. The child was taken into police custody after its parents attempted to flee only to later be pulled over at a traffic stop.
Bundy, who is standing trial for two charges of misdemeanor trespassing and one charge of resisting or obstructing officers after he was arrested twice in one day at the Idaho Capitol in April 2021, was swiftly criticized, with many suggesting that he was advocating for the right of the parents to starve their child.
Anti-vaxxers along with Bundy think healthcare workers and CPS want to steal children even though they\u2019re trying to save and protect them. A malnourished child losing weight and needs to be hospitalized with the parents failing to follow up is dangerous.https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/crime/ammon-bundy-arrested-for-trespassing-in-meridian-ada-county-idaho/277-e2ceab64-7f2b-486f-b9b4-e6d2bc55d12f?fbclid=IwAR1EVVmrP_VMSZCmZmtXvkLyfB7269ucObXGwO--5iTWPfC7aP5FufEqOwo\u00a0\u2026— Brad Bigford, MSN, APRN, NP-C, CCHP (@Brad Bigford, MSN, APRN, NP-C, CCHP) 1647105786
Ammon Bundy is totally fine with parents starving their children to the point of medical intervention.https://twitter.com/cbs2boise/status/1502668553773670400\u00a0\u2026— Stronger Together Spokane (@Stronger Together Spokane) 1647129438
Read and understand why Child Protective Services was called, then realize Ammon Bundy was there to protect the PARENTS from consequences.\n\nAnyone spouting #savethechildren for easy RW talking points care to condemn Bundy's actions?https://twitter.com/KUTV2News/status/1502837259653226498\u00a0\u2026— Fire_Marshal_Bill (@Fire_Marshal_Bill) 1647225932
Is this guy Gubertorial material as he intervenes in cases involving his friends? Croynism is his policiy on display.https://twitter.com/RealABundy/status/1502674374721114112\u00a0\u2026— Phillip Edwards (@Phillip Edwards) 1647118048
The kid was so malnourished, he needed medical intervention. Twice.\n\nThank Kenobi the authorities stepped in. I fear what would've happened without their intervention.\n\n"Pro-Life", indeed.https://twitter.com/RealABundy/status/1502674374721114112\u00a0\u2026— #Gay Geekmaster (@#Gay Geekmaster) 1647139753
You left the part out about starving to death.https://twitter.com/RealABundy/status/1502674374721114112\u00a0\u2026— OverRunByDogs (@OverRunByDogs) 1647141317
I can't even describe my rage at the nerve of Bundy. My absolute disgust with his support for people who are refusing medical aid to keep their baby from starving. And I cannot express my level of loathing for parents who would do this.https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/crime/article259338929.html?ac_cid=DM618790∾_bid=-782724940\u00a0\u2026— cheryl is wearing a mask (@cheryl is wearing a mask) 1647114679
Struggling for relevance, Ammon Bundy has a new cause to make up for the lack of headlines since he's not currently running a primary campaign. He's taking on Idaho's Child Protection Act which, ironically, already has a religious exemption big enough to bury kids in. #idpolhttps://twitter.com/daniallsop/status/1502653947370086401\u00a0\u2026— Sisyphus Idaho (@Sisyphus Idaho) 1647096045
Bundy became well known nationwide after he led a group of armed right-wing extremists into occupying the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Harney County, Oregon for over a month between January 2 and February 11, 2016.
In October 2016, a jury's quick acquittal of seven militants, including Bundy, on charges stemming from the armed occupation raised cries of racial bias and white privilege.
The all-white jury took just six hours to find all of the defendants not guilty on all conspiracy charges despite the fact the armed takeover was live streamed to the world and authorities discovered huge caches of weapons and ammunition on the property.
At the time, critics noted the irony of images of native protesters being maced and attacked over their peaceful protest at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation that same day.
There was never a question that the group had occupied the refuge: Federal prosecutors took two weeks to present evidence, which included a display of more than 30 weapons seized after the standoff. According to an FBI agent who testified during the trial, authorities recovered 16,636 live rounds and nearly 1,700 spent casings at the scene.
Bundy, who led the nearly six-week occupation with his brother, Ryan, spent three days testifying, during which he continued to protest federal land ownership. He even participated in interviews during the standoff in which he called for more people to support the occupation.
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