Felony Charges Dropped Against Humboldt Forest Activist

Council for forest activist Ramsey Gifford successfully argued the case for lowering charges against Ramsey from Felony Assault to Misdemeanor Assault during his preliminary hearing. This legal team will defend Ramsey during his misdemeanor trial, the date of which will be set in Humboldt County court on May 26. Prosecuting the case is Assistant District Attorney for Humboldt County, Tim Stoen.

On April 10, 2003, Ramsey Gifford attempted to free climb an old growth redwood tree that contract tree-sit extractors were in removing another treesitter. Ramsey was apprehended by civilian extractors Eric Schatz, Michael Oxman and Jerry Berghagen with support from the Humboldt County Sheriffs department. The extractors were hired by the Pacific Lumber Co. to remove tree sitters from old growth redwood trees in the Freshwater watershed, a watershed which has been severely impacted by Pacific Lumber Co. logging. Video from helmet cam recorders, worn by the extractors, clearly showed that the violence was being perpetuated on Ramsey Gifford and not by him.

Jenny Card, extreme right in the photograph, had been removed from her Freshwater treesit three and a falf weeks prior to Ramsey's arrest. She had occupied an ancient redwood for almost a year prior to her extraction.