Mattole Update-Evening April 10, 2001

<p>The weekend quiet at the Mattole Free State was shattered last night and again this morning with a large contingent of Humboldt County Sheriffs storming the Mattole Free State. At 6:30am this morning 15 Sheriffs and Fish & Game vehicles loaded with ATVs drove into the area. The blockades were dismantled and burned along with everything the law got a hold of, including plastic tarps, buckets and sleeping bags. One lockdowned activist had to be jackhammered out of her cemented lockbox to take her into custody. 3 other activist were run down in the woods by Sheriffs and cameoed Fish and Game officials.</p>
<p>One of these activist was being chased by a Fish & Game law enforcement officer and he slid off a cliff falling 40-50 feet into a creek drainage. He had to be air-lifted out of the area by CDF Fire & Rescue to a hospital in Eureka. Later x-rays and cat scan revealed no broken bones or internal injuries, only a bruised hip. The forest defender was being held overnight and expected to be released in the morning from the hospital.</p>
<p>Still no logging has been attempted but law enforcement will likely keep a presence all night and escort logging crews in the morning. Our other three brave lockdowners from last Thursday - Verbana, Osprey and Acorn were released last night from custody. All three are charged with 602j tresspassing and 148a resisting arrest.</p>
<p>Forest defenders still occupy the woods waiting for the return of Maxxam Sheriff's and Maxxam hired Columbia logging crews. Mattole residents and forest defenders have pledged to keep a presence at the outer gates to slow law enforcement's progress and support the brave forest defenders in remaining in the woods. </p>