Violence this weekend as tree-sitters are removed

Earth First!

For immediate release, November 16th, 2002
Contact: Shunka @ (707)269-9731(pager)


Tree-sitters survive raid in Demonstration Forest
Activists assaulted at morning gate blockade

Maxxam/Pacific Lumber Company has begun clear cutting in Class E Marbled Murrelet habitat, currently in PL's "Demonstration Forest." Class E habitat is the highest classification of this endangered species' habitat, meaning that it is a known marbled murrelet nesting area. Thursday night, two tree-sitters ascended an ancient old growth redwood, named "Moment," in the Demonstration Forest. Friday, "Climber Eric," hired by Pacific Lumber Co., and deputized by the Humboldt Co. Sheriff's Dept., climbed up into Moment, removed all of the tree-sitters' sleeping gear, water, food, etc., leaving them with nothing but their harnesses and rope.
The tree-sits were resupplied last night, and a gate blocking action was planned for this morning.

At this morning's action, thirteen people showed up to block the gates leading into the Demonstration Forest, around 4:00 a.m., and, soon afterward, workers from Pacific Lumber subcontractors, Lewis Logging Co., began to show up. Several of the activists blocked the gate, and the first few trucks either drove off or just sat and waited, having conversations amongst themselves and with activists. All was peaceful, until two men approached the gate, unlocked and opened the gate, and then began to physically assault many of the activists, grabbing some by the wrists, dragging some, and throwing several women to the ground!

Some of the trucks began rolling through the gate, and activists stood in front of the trucks, although the drivers refused to stop, for several feet, pushing activists' bodies with their trucks. When one activist began writing down license plate numbers, he was attacked by one of the men.

"I was just writing down license plate numbers, and this guy comes at me, on public land, grabs me by the arm and head, takes me to the ground, and starts wrestling me for my address book! I non-violently resisted, and kept my book, with the license numbers intact; I intend to press charges" said Shunka.

One of the activists called the Humboldt Co. Sheriff's Department, due to the level of violence, and, when Deputy Chandler arrived, he ordered the activists to move or be arrested, and refused to take any statements from the activists about the violence, as did Deputy Bolton, who arrived a few moments later. All this during a court-ordered stay on all PL logging approved under the Sustained Yield Plan, as ordered by Judge John Golden, on August 29th, 2002. Both Maxxam/Pacific Lumber Co. and the Humboldt Co. Sheriff's Dept. have virtually ignored the stay order.

This morning's violence directly violates the new policy instated by the settlement from the David "Gypsy" Chain wrongful death civil suit, which states that no PL employee is to touch any activists; they are to call law enforcement, and not take matters into their own hands, as the PL/Lewis Logging crew did this morning.

Later that day, two climbers came up, and, although the two tree-sitters in the Demonstration Forest were naked, one woman and one man, the climbers still man-handled them, putting harnesses on them, meaning that they had to reach between their legs.
The climbers were also using pain compliance holds on the sitters, both in the tree and on the ground.
The woman also had a chunk of her hair pulled out, as the Humboldt Co. Sheriff's officers pulled her by the hair, at the scene of the tree-sit. At least one of the activists were plastic-cuffed WHILE STILL IN THE TREE, and at least one reported of severe chest compression, because the climbers tied them around their chest in order to lower them to the ground.
The woman, Abstract, also had her hair pulled in the Humboldt Co. Sheriff's Dept., and is evidenced in the mug shot, where the officer's hand is reportedly visible, clutching onto her hair.
The Humboldt Co. Sheriffs were also using pain compliance in the jail to force fingerprinting, and were threatening to choke her to unconsciousness in order to get her fingerprints.
The two are still in jail.
The officers were also asking Carl Anderson, the PL Head of Security, what charges should be pressed and if the two should be released on bail.
Does this seem a bit backwards to you?
Yeah, me too...
The tree, Moment, was cut, and then more tree-sitters went back up into another tree in the Demonstration Forest that night...we are awaiting the update on that situation.
On Monday, several Humboldt Co. Sheriff's Dept. officers showed up at the tree-sits just up the road from where Remedy and Wren have been sitting, without any PL presence. They said that a climber was "on his way," yet no one has showed up so far.
We'll keep you updated.
Your support is needed.
Thank you.