After accusations of stolen valor, a rival group and a broken nose, the Y'all Qaeda civil war begins
Jeff “Dawg” Kagan arrived at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon on Thursday with Lewis Arthur, the leader of a group called Veterans on Patrol. Lewis describes himself as an "anti-violence patriot" who was there to talk Ammon Bundy into forcing any women or children out of the refuge during the standoff. Lewis and J Dawg set up a tent across from the refuge building. Lewis says he was also there to warn Bundy and the other Y’All Qaeda members that one of their own, Ryan Payne, was dangerous and should leave immediately:
Arthur's tension with Payne goes back years, to the standoff at Cliven Bundy's Nevada ranch. Both attended the standoff, and Arthur said the two were once friends but the relationship devolved when Payne became radicalized and "suicidal."
"He made it very clear out there that he wanted the federal government to go and take him out," Arthur said, adding that Payne believed he would be a martyr in the so-called patriot community if he died for the cause. "I had to come up here because I know what he wants."
That didn’t sit well with Y’All Qaeda and one of the key members of Bundy’s crew, Blaine Cooper (aka Stanley Blaine Hicks, who's never been in the military despite playing the part), allegedly went on the attack. From “J Dawg’s” Facebook page:
Yesterday myself and the VOP CRT made its way up to Burns Or. We arrived at the refuge and set up camp across the street and outside property lines of the refuge. While setting up camp in the desert we were approached by Mr Ryan Payne and one other armed individual. He talked to the founder of Vop briefly without any conflict or violence. Later on lewis had to run to town and while i was at camp i was approached by Mr. Bundy, Ryan and 2 other individuals. At this time we told him lewis was not here and we would talk later and there was no conflict or violence. Each time we let them onto our camp with no resistance or violence at any point. When lewis returned to camp we than peacefully made our way to the refuge. As soon as we made it on property an individual approached lewis and immediately put his hands on lewis and the same individual kneed another CRT member as well. He tried hitting them with a black flashlight. Pete Sentelli told him to stand down marine multiple times. We than advanced down the driveway into the refuge. While walking a white truck containing individuals with Blain Cooper in it. He called lewis and lewis stated not now Blain. Blaine cooper ran after lewis and punched him from behind. Lewis than turned around and hot hit again. I ran over to try and say we don't need this and than Mr. Cooper stuck me in the face and than i called 911 at that time. Lewis ordered us to leave the property and not return violence...we left property. Media followed from halfway up the driveway. This is my statement regarding the assault.