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Warbler’s Hunger Strike Continues! – Day 7

by via Save Little Lake Valley
A California Highway Patrol SWAT team armed with three guns, presumably containing bean bag rounds, forcibly extracted Warbler from her perch yesterday, April 2, with a phalanx of roughly 35 officers assisting the operation from the ground. Warbler has become a icon in the fast-growing campaign in opposition to the Caltrans Bypass project, slated to destroy significant wetlands and an oak woodlands in Little Lake Valley, also known as Willits, Ca. Now that she is back on the ground, The Warbler is continuing her hunger strike.
800_warbler-hunger-strike-save-little-lake-valley.jpg
A California Highway Patrol SWAT team armed with three guns, presumably containing bean bag rounds, forcibly extracted Warbler from her perch yesterday, April 3rd, with a phalanx of roughly 35 officers assisting the operation from the ground. Her body was already weakened by five days of not eating when they came up and told her they were using “any means necessary” to get her out of the tree.

Now that she is back on the ground, The Warbler is continuing her hunger strike. For now, she is consuming juice and tea. A page specifically about the hunger strike is under development, and we will be sharing much more information about how you can support the hunger strike shortly.

In the meantime, see the post from a few days ago about contacting legislators to demand that Warbler’s demands are delivered to the appropriate public officials:

On March 28th, Warbler lowered handwritten statements from her tree, announcing her hunger strike and demands. She then proceeded to lower down all remaining food from her platform. The statement (reprinted below) was confiscated by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) as "evidence."

Please help Warbler deliver her statement and demands by calling or emailing Senator Noreen Evans, Caltrans and Governor Brown today. Noreen Evans will be meeting with Caltrans this Tuesday, April 2. Let them know that her demands are our demands! Construction of the Bypass must cease pending legal resolution.

State Senator Noreen Evans:
Phone: (916) 651-4002
District office: (707) 468-8914
Email: senator.evans [at] sen.ca.gov
District staff: jeff.tyrrell [at] sen.ca.gov
Fax: (916) 323-6958
Urge Senator Evans to remain firm in her previous critical questions regarding the lack of need for the freeway bypass and the unjustified rejection of lest costly and environmentally damaging alternatives. Remind her that community opposition in Willits is strong and growing.

Governor Jerry Brown:
Email: http://gov.ca.gov/m_contact.php
Call his office: (916) 445-2841
Write a letter:
Governor Jerry Brown

State Capitol, Suite 1173

Sacramento, CA 95814

CalTrans Director, Malcolm Dougherty:
Call his office: 916-654-5267
Email: Caltrans.Director [at] dot.ca.gov
Write a letter:
Malcolm Dougherty, Director
P.O. Box 942873

Sacramento, CA 94273-0001


Warbler’s Statement announcing Hunger Strike & Demands

As of March 28, 2013, the two month mark of the “Warbler Treesit,” I, Amanda Senseman (Warbler) am going on a hunger strike to protest the proposed Willits Bypass. Currently I am witnessing the destruction of my home. Caltrans is clearing multiple areas for destruction — cutting trees, clearing brush –despite the fact that the Federal Migratory Bird Act is in effect as of February 1, 2013. California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers have been deployed from around the state to occupy our valley. The occupation is complete with helicopter fly-bys and 24-hour surveillance.

This project is obsolete and it will cause irreparable damage to our watershed, forest, and community. The life that this valley harbors will not survive this assault on its’ biological integrity. I am 24 years old and I want a future and a future for my children. I will remain on hunger strike until the following demands are met:

All construction on Caltrans’ current Willits Bypass cease immediately pending legal resolution.
The public and press are able to enter the destroyed and disturbed areas to document said destruction and violations of law, Nature and common sense.
Least harmful alternatives and appropriately scaled transportation solutions for Willits and the Little Lake Valley are adopted.

With the utmost sincerity,
Amanda Senseman (a.k.a. Warbler)


http://www.savelittlelakevalley.org/
§Warbler
by via Save Little Lake Valley
800_warbler-5th-day-hstrike-save-little-lake-valley-willits-2013_1.jpg
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