Mattole Blockade Raided--1 Arrested

After successfully blockading logging roads into the Mattole Watershed for over eight hours yesterday, activist James Further was removed from his perch above the road and arrested. The rest of the blockade was subsequently removed.
Activists have stated that they will continue to defend the old-growth ecosystem in the Mattole.

After hearing Pacific Lumber's (PL) response to statements that he made to the media, Ash, made the following statements:
"The news that PL may allow neutral observers in the woods gave me great hope that potential tragedies could be avoided in the future. This issue is especially important to me having lost a close personal friend, David "Gypsy" Chain, at the hands of an angry logger in September of 1998."

"The news that Robert Manne was in discussion with the Forest Peace Alliance about this issue was supposed to remain confidential . Although I regret breaching this confidentiality, the issue remains --for the safety of all those involved--both PL and the Humboldt County board of supervisors should allow neutral observers in the woods."

"Ultimately, it is my hope that Pacific Lumber will not try to use my statements to sidestep the responsibility of allowing human rights observers in the woods."