Merlin, Ore. — Tension is brewing in Josephine County as a civil rights group prepares to defend a mining claim against a government agency. Oath Keepers, a national group calling themselves “Guardians of the Republic”, are gathering in Merlin to protect historic mining land that they say is in jeopardy.
“We are all former military and law enforcement. We took an oath to defend the constitution,” explains the groups public information officer, Mary Emerick. “We are here to assist because we have been asked to.”
Emerick says they were asked by the owners of the sugar pine mines in Galice. Their goal is to defend the land they say is being jeopardized by the government.
“This is a case where we want to make sure that the 5th Amendment rights are fairly given,” Emerick continues.
Jim Whittington, the spokesperson for the government agency, the Bureau of Land Management or BLM, says the land the group is defending is out of compliance and their claim is no longer valid.
“They were doing activities at a level that requires either a notice or a plan of operations,” says Whittington.
He says the miners put a building on the site and cut down trees which are an environmental concern and aren’t even allowed under their old claim.
“An option we give them is to remove everything and start from scratch with a mining claim,” he says.
TheBLM says they have sent two letters to the mine owners giving them options. They can follow rules, or make an appeal.
“Their lawyer has contacted us informally and suggested that they are going to appeal,” explains Whittington.
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