Bundy friends, family protest federal monument decision

BUNKERVILLE — Supporters of cattleman and anti-federal government figure Cliven Bundy are protesting a presidential decision to give national monument protection to public land where Bundy grazes cattle near his Southern Nevada ranch.

With Bundy and four sons in federal custody awaiting trial on conspiracy and other charges, a small group of other family members and friends rallied peacefully Saturday near the Bundy home and the Gold Butte area outside Bunkerville, a small town near Arizona.

“We, the Bundy family, would like to say to President (Barack) Obama that we are saddened, but not surprised, by the decision to make our ranch and home a national monument,” the family said in a statement issued last week.

Obama on Thursday declared the nearly 470-square-mile Gold Butte National Monument in an area across the Virgin River from the Bundy homestead, about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

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