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East Bay | Environment & Forest Defense

Oak Grove Extraction #4
by Cricket
Tuesday Jul 1st, 2008 10:11 PM
Photos that I took of the attack on the Oak grove on June 18.

The second day of attack on our infrastructure began when a humongous crane arrived at 6:00. We took up our positions and waited for them to get it ready. The actual assault began at 9:00. there were a good number of supporters in the street and they gave us courage. We were somewhat tired and traumatized from the day before and one tree sitter short. The crane rose 300 feet in the air, well above anything we had ever imagined. But we were ready and defended the best we could. many people held platforms while others got on lines. The extractors were more prepared and put bolts on our lines. Then they tried to attach them to the cherry pickers, cut the end with no one on it and lower them to the ground. Again and again we defended the lines with our lives.

While a Dumpster Muffin stood at the top of the redwood tree she was approached numerous time be a large basket hanging from a crane. They repeatedly approached her and she could easily have fallen. Her shouting and putting her life in the way of danger helped convince the extractors to back off from Redwood.

Bird was in Atlantica. From above extractors cut down supplies and a large platform and it fell. Any of these objects could have killed him or knocked him out of the tree.

I was on a line and an extractor held a knife to the line. He said, "I am going to cut it." Then he said, "I am cutting into it now," and began to move his knife back and forth. I believe that he did not cut into it but I took it as a threat to my life.



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by Cricket Tuesday Jul 1st, 2008 10:11 PM

My foot, looking down on the lower fence waiting for the attack on the grove.
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by Cricket Tuesday Jul 1st, 2008 10:11 PM

Leaf waits to defend Red palace.
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by Cricket Tuesday Jul 1st, 2008 10:11 PM

The incredibly huge crane swings into action.
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by Cricket Tuesday Jul 1st, 2008 10:11 PM

Dumpster Muffin in the God Pod (at the top of Redwood) while extractors in rain ponchos plan their attack.
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by Cricket Tuesday Jul 1st, 2008 10:11 PM

Bird holds the line against the crane.
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by Cricket Tuesday Jul 1st, 2008 10:11 PM

The crane tries to get the line with bird on it.
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by Cricket Tuesday Jul 1st, 2008 10:11 PM

You fends off the crane basket.
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by Cricket Tuesday Jul 1st, 2008 10:11 PM

Dumpster Muffin faces off with the crane basket high above the ground.
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by Cricket Tuesday Jul 1st, 2008 10:11 PM

Dumpster Muffin is fearless during the assault.
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by Cricket Tuesday Jul 1st, 2008 10:11 PM

You (behind laurel leaves) holds a line against extractors with pole saws.
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by Cricket Tuesday Jul 1st, 2008 10:11 PM

Extractors capture the line and apply super strong tape to stop us from crossing on the line.
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by Cricket Tuesday Jul 1st, 2008 10:11 PM

I saw extractors in a cherry picker attach a large chain to a line next to a You. They then drove the cherry picker backward. The line began to stretch and approached the breaking point. Somehow You swung the line around and the chain became unattached and he was saved.
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by Cricket Tuesday Jul 1st, 2008 10:11 PM

You on the line below the crane basket.
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by Cricket Tuesday Jul 1st, 2008 10:11 PM

An extractor repels to ground after cutting down the Atlantica platform.
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by Cricket Tuesday Jul 1st, 2008 10:11 PM

Leaf holds the line after the extractors caught the middle of it.
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by Cricket Tuesday Jul 1st, 2008 10:11 PM

Extractors with the line attached to their cherry picker.
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by Cricket Tuesday Jul 1st, 2008 10:11 PM

Sonic rushes onto the safety line to save the other end.
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by Cricket Tuesday Jul 1st, 2008 10:11 PM

Dumpster muffin screams that the extractors are about to cut the line.
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by Cricket Tuesday Jul 1st, 2008 10:11 PM

Leaf was scared but determined to try and save our line. "Tree spirits protect me," he shouted as the extractors cut the far side of the line after Sonic left it. leaf fell several feet. The extractors then lowered the side of a traverse line creating a steep slope going down perhaps 40 feet. Leaf tried to escape by grabbing small branches on Redwood as he slid towards the ground in terror. I was attached to a different traverse line which was close by and originating from the Redwood as well. I was able to rescue him by grabbing him and
clipping him onto my own harness to prevent him from falling.