SALEM -- Internet broadcaster Gavin Seim, whose live stream captured the final hours of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupation, appeared Monday in Salem, part of what he hopes will be a monthslong speaking tour.
More than 100 people showed up to listen to Seim, who cited an occasional bible reference, shared stories of his activism experience and called for the release of more than two dozen people arrested in the refuge takeover.
"There should be no peace for these politicians until our patriots are out of jail," he said.
Seim broadcast audio in February as the last four refuge occupiers negotiated their surrender, brokered in part by Nevada lawmaker Michele Fiore. It featured the tense moments as holdout David Fry expressed suicidal thoughts before turning himself in to waiting FBI agents. A federal judge on Monday refused to release Fry pending trial. Fry was among those indicted on a federal conspiracy charge and other allegations stemming from the occupation near Burns.
Seim, who lives in Washington, ran for Congress in 2014. He was arrested in 2015 after live streaming during a traffic trial. He was found guilty of contempt of court, disorderly conduct and interfering with the administration of justice, according to The Wenatchee World.
Seim's website includes a video claiming the government has made up details of damage to the refuge cause by occupiers.
In another post, Seim refers to occupier Robert "LaVoy" Finicum, who was fatally shot by state troopers during a confrontation outside the refuge, as "a peace maker to the end," saying, "Had LaVoy come out guns blazing, he would have been perfectly justified."On Monday, outside Pringle Hall Community Center, where the event was held, two men representing Oregon Three Percent stood guard at the entrance, where a handful of counter-protesters burned sage and held signs. BJ Soper, a founding member of the Pacific Patriot Network, was at the gathering.
Siem, who began the tour two weeks ago, will speak Tuesday in Prineville.
-- Beth Nakamura 503-221-8218
Twitter: @bethnakamura
Instagram: @bethnakamura