A year ago, Ammon and Ryan Bundy, LaVoy Finicum, and their friends arrived in Oregon and camped at the Malheur Refuge to protest the November 2015 imprisonment of Dwight and Steven Hammond on federal charges of terrorism and conspiracy. What became known as he Oregon Standoff is still being tried in the courts, with all defendants–to this point–being acquitted of related charges. But since the election of Donald Trump, there has also arisen a quiet but widespread movement among ranchers and rural folks in the West to focus the attention of the new President and his Cabinet officials on the extreme federal sentencing terms for Dwight and Steven Hammond.
Their story has reached folklore status in the West, but it’s very real, and very urgent, as the elderly Dwight Hammond, and his son Steven, sit in a federal prison on trumped-up charges of ‘terrorism’ while their families suffer, and their ranch faces an uncertain future. The author of this open letter is a personal friend of the Hammond family, who sees the great injustice of allowing these men to remain in prison, while rogue agents and federal agencies continue to run roughshod over the rights of decent Americans.
Open Letter to President Trump by Travis Williams
Travis Williams
Drewsey, Oregon
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20515
Mr. President,
My name is Travis Williams. I have been friends with the Hammond Family for a very long time. Steve and I have lived in the same area of the county, and attended high school together. My kids and his kids are the same ages and attend the same functions. I consider Steve and Earlyna my friends, and I love their kids as my own.
It sadden me deeply to thing of my friends being imprisoned through what I call ‘unfortunate guilt.’ Yes, sir, they did start fires, but I do not believe they need to be incarcerated for another 4 years. Steve has 2 boys and 1 girl who need their dad. Earlyna, his wife, needs her husband back. Dwight is nearing 80 years old and needs to be home with his wife, Susie. Steve and Dwight are good people. Dwight would do anything for a friend, day or night, if asked. Dwight and Susie have been part of the Oregon Cattlemen’s & Cattlewomen’s Assn. for many, many years, donating time and money throughout their county and state. Steve and I have worked together on many school-related events together, including chaperoning a sophomore biology trip to the Oregon coast for 5 days, two years in a row.
They could lose their ranch if things do not change soon. Banks here in town have accounts set up in their name for their neighbors to help, but with $400,000.00 in debt and low cattle prices, I, as a fellow rancher, know the difficulties they are facing right now.
Sir, I am coming to you with my ‘hat in my hand,’ asking you to do an act of mercy for this family and our community by letting them out on an early release. They are not a threat to society, nor are they going to repeat their violation. I thank you for taking the time to read this, and hope and pray we will have our friends back with their families soon.
Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Travis Williams
Read more about Travis and his involvement in local land management issues here.
I honestly hope Mr.Trump can help this family, all farmers need help in Oregon, and relief from Kate Brown . She is a disgrace to what she is doing to us Oregonians .
Just saw the documentary….. I was in shock and awe to know that that can happen in our great United States of America… if president Trump has any heart at all he will pardon these Hammons
I want POUTS to look into the Murder of Lavoy Finicom by the FBI.
God bless You both Dwight and Steven and your courageous families. We are praying you soon will receive a complete pardon from our president Trump for the rediculous charges you are now serving time for.
The American Rancher has always been the official steward of our lands out here in the west, this is what I feel is being purposly eroded in favor of some book learned beaurocrat administering his book knowledge about land management he or she got a degree in at some east coast college. Having just watched “American Standoff” I am not surprised at the length at which the past administration and their agents came after you for your property, we are proud of you for standing up for yourselves and us, your fellow Americans, but we would rather you be home with your family. Please know your story has inspired me and my family to spread the word and encourage others to do what they can to learn about your family’s plight and help in any way we can.
I pray Dwight and Steven Hammond are pardon by President Trump. Send him the “America Stand-Off ” documentary. It’s heart breaking and raw. Surely, he will do something to help them. Maybe, Lavoy Fiticum (rancher killed) life will have made a difference.
May President Trump make time to review what has happened to this family, understand the injustice they seem to face as well as give the Hammond men praise for practicing their freedom seeking their justice and abiding to their country. There is so much on the national level in the news about what Our President may or may not be doing but I pray that he would considers speaking publicly about Hammonds for their situation is so so real, it’s perhaps one of the closest to home issues this President could be addressing for his people of this wonderful United States. President Trump you tell us Let’s make America great again, show us you mean it by standing up for those who are great people who have abide to the rules before them and who have also stood up for their justice. God Bless you Dwight and Steven Hammond, I pray the good Lord watch over you both and your wonderful family. Please President Trump take this American Family into consideration of topics in your to do list, I know there is a lot but this could possibly be the most important thing yet you need to take care of for all the people of the United States of America!
This happened under President Obama’s watch and I’m preying that President Trump will step in and help this family…
I watched the documentary and I was screaming and crying when our own GOVERNMENT MURDERED!!!!! LaVoy Finicom and then decided to finish the rest off by incarsarating the Hammonds! I’ve always considered myself as a patriot and never would have believed that my own county could do this to it own citizins .. I am heartbroken for the Finicom and Hammond family and the future of AMERICA!