Baloney, Sheriff Mack was only one man and maybe he had a dozen followers. There were hundreds of people there and all could think for themselves. I was there and no one had a death wish. I’ll tell you this that the women there were Tigers and would have fought tooth and nail. They would have been upfront because many were already in front exercising their free will.
It has been done by notable people from the leftists, the hippies, and the Civil Rights bunch.
But if serious physical confrontations are anticipated, especially gunplay, only the left would put women in harm's way unless they decided to be there. Many ranch/farm women I know would not back down from a scrap.
The Norks and Chinese marched women and children ahead of their troops as human shields, cowboys don't, and this sounds like a smear to make those who rose to the Bundys defense out to be cowards.
Expect attacks from all directions, and especially on the web. If they can get traction with some nonsense, they will flog it.