A memorial for Joan Norman will be held on Sunday, July 31st, at 3:00 PM at Forks State Park, just a half mile south of Cave Junction on 199. Read more and watch a video about Joan

7/24/2005:Yesterday was moving day. Joan Norman was moving into an apartment that she had endured two years on a waiting list for, in Brookings. She was killed in a car accident and her nephew, who had been in the car with her, survived with minor injuries. Joan Norman was interviewed by a Portland Indymedia reporter during the women's actions in the Biscuit earlier this year. Ms. Norman had been arrested on March 8th, and one of her statements in the interview was, "There are only 5% of the old growth trees left in the United States." She was arrested twice during the Biscuit campaign. At 72 years of age, she spent several weeks in jail, as she had refused bail on the moral grounds that she was not the law breaker. She was arrested more than 100 times in her more than 30 years of activism.

Activists were attending a Sisters of the Siskiyou benefit in Ashland when this news was relayed to them last night. Joan Norman had been their "number one Sister of the Siskiyous, dear friend, mentor and leader." The group decided to do what would have please Joan-- Biscuiteers will take lawn chairs and sit down in front of the McGuire timber sale. A new blockade in the Siskiyou Free State had just been started this week. The action will occur in a timeframe most respectful toward Joan's family. Details about Joan's memorial will be announced soon.

Articles about Joan Norman:
Tell them to come with fire in their bellies | Grandma Joan out of jail and fired up | Sisters of the Siskiyous Sound off Over Lawless Logging | Direct Action continues in the Biscuit: Women Draw the Line Against Lawless Old-Growth Logging | Biscuit Update - Written from the Josephine County Jail | "Grandma Joan" Spends 14th Day in Jail | Joan Norman Arrested on March 8th: Video Photos

For more information about the Biscuit: Rogue Valley IMC's Environment and Forest Defense Page | Cascadia Rising | Portland Indymedia's Battle of the Biscuit Page | Oxygen Collective Website