Confronting Maxxam execs in Houston

Today in Houston, activists from Dirty South Earth First! (aka Dirt First!) visited Maxxam executives Diane Dudley, Vice-President, CPO Maxxam Corp, and Charles Hurwitz, chairman, CEO and corporate criminal-in-chief Maxxam Corp, at their homes in West University and at the Houstonian high rise along Post Oak Dr., respectively.

The action rallied at Memorial Park near the tree-sit where a Humboldt California activist, Trust, is currently encamped in protest against the destruction of ancient Redwood forests by Maxxam's subsidiary, Pacific Lumber and violence against peaceful tree-sits by proxies of Maxxam. From the park, the activists traveled to the West University home of Diane Dudley, VP and CPO of Maxxam. The crowd of 25 activists chanted and played drums in front of Diane Dudley's home until West University PD arrived to inform them that local ordinances require that rallies outside a residence in West University may last for only 1 minute every 15 minutes before being required to move on. However, marching around the sidewalks was legal, and the earth friendly group marched up and down the street informing her neighbors about her and her employer. About the time the march rolled back around in front of her house, she came home to get the full effect of this loud, yet non-violent, protest in front of her home.

After leaving West University, the merry band of activists made their way to the high-rise home of Charles Hurwitz near the Galleria area off 610's West Loop. At the Houstonian, with Houston Police present, the activists marched directly up to the doors and driveway of the Houstonian demanding that Hurwitz cease his illegal and immoral activities against the forest and the activists defending them (as well as his numerous other crimes detailed below). The scene in front of the luxury dwelling resulted in many of it's residents learning first hand about their neighbor's business practices. Eventually, building security requested that the activists leave the Houstonian's property for public space and then threatened to tow anyone parked on privat property. Proving their point, Dirty South Earth First! called it a day and ended the action with a call for a long term sustainable campaign against Maxxam and their subsidiaries that routinely abuse and victimize the environment and workers.

The nonviolent protestors carried them a message stating they would "Act Up and Fight Back" against the many crimes Maxxam and Hurwitz have perpetrated against workers and the environment. These include:
-Texas corporate raider Charles Hurwitz, with the help of junk-bond broker and convicted felon Michael Milken, looted and crashed a Savings and Loan, United Savings Association of Texas (USAT), costing U.S. taxpayers a staggering $1.6 billion!
-With looted money funneled from the S & L, Hurwitz engaged in a hostile takeover of the Pacific Lumber Company, commenced rabid clearcutting, and tripled the rate of logging of the world's largest stands of privately held ancient redwood forests, including Headwaters Forest, a precious, sacred and irreplaceable international treasure of the ages.
-Hurwitz simultaneously raided Pacific Lumber's worker pension fund, removing $55 million from the retired loggers and millworkers' nest egg, and began raping the company, selling off much of it's other liquitable assets for the quick cash he needed to make his pressing junk bond payments.
-Hurwitz had previously looted the Simplicity Pattern worker pension fund in 1982, reducing worker benefits by nearly $4000 per year.
-Hurwitz has entered into out-of-court settlements for insurance fraud, securities violations and a land swindleof his own company's shareholders! Hurwitz has lost seven environmental lawsuits over his incessant, illegal logging in these ancient redwood forests of Northern California.

These past few days in Houston of tree-sits, teach-in's, media events and non-violent direct action are part of a long term struggle against Maxxam and Charles Hurwitz. The wrongs committed by Maxxam is part of the struggle for economic justice, environmental justice and global justice. Continue following Indymedia and other independant media sources to keep updated, to support and participate in the struggle against Maxxam.