Mattole Blockade Raided--1 Arrested

Any pictures of the blockade?

Last year in the Mattole the activists' personal safety was put at risk by loggers and the Humboldt County Sherrifs office by chasing them off of extremely steep hillsides, firing guns, chainsawing someone out of a blockade that they were built into, using water torture to "persuade" the activists to unlock, and the sherrifs allowing workers to climb trees to get the activists down. One small woman had her platform cut out from under her, leaving her dangling from a branch with a lockbox on.
It sounds like from the Forest Peace Alliance, the president of Pacific Lumber Company was going to let their be neutral observers. Is he a liar?

I heard something about, The roll on the Mattole, and I would like to find out the usual needed info. Could someone who knows, provide the info here, I'll check for it daily. Thanks!

Clarify something will you?
How can someone'e safety be at risk by being chased. First of all, the one who is being chased has control over what direction they take. Secondly, they don't have to run. If it is too dangerous to run, then get caught, and live to fight another day. Blaming sheriffs and fish and game wardens for the poor judgement of protesters does not seem very fair.
If you place yourself on a platform or tripod that is narrowly supported by rope that is too thin hold your weight, you can't say that your safety was threatened by those who brought you down. That is like tying a rope to a tree and around your neck, then blaming someone for cutting you loose before you die. You can't blame a tree faller when a protester gets hit while videotaping trees coming down above him. Accidents in the woods are inevitable, and it should be in everyone's interest to not put themselves in situations that compromise their safety.
Think before you act..

There are safety precautions in the OSHA regulations that say that when a citizen is in the forest the workers are to turn off their chainsaws.
If the person who put themselves on a platform with rope that is too small, then they should learn how to guage better what supplies they use. It is up to everyone involved to maintain the safety of themselves and others around them. Too often, the activists are the ones being forced to run off steep hillsides and having their safety and health threatened by the police and workers. People do direct action because all other efforts have been exhausted. The police should protect equally under the law. And punish equally as well.

Why should a lumberjack have to worry about some stupid protester? If they want the trees saved, then they should go to their elected offical and get the changes they think they need. All I'm trying to do is make a living. Most fallers are a very saftey conscious group of guys, that would not want to hurt a fly. So, stay out of the forest, and stay out of my way!

Just because a rope is "small" does not mean that it is to weak to hold someone. Ropes are tested for strength by the manufacturer and the suggested working load is usually somewhere on the label. Generally speaking, activists are not removed from tree-sits and blockades for thier own safety. We are removed because we are impeding the companies ability to make a profit. The motivation is money, not human safety. If the motivation was human safety then the Maxxam ownedPacific Lumber Company and the Humboldt Sherrifs would think twice before trying to scale one of the structures that are built to impede logging. Adding the extra wieght of a company-hired climber to the stress on the anchor lines only furthers the risk of structural failure. There is not one case of a tree-sit or blockade structure ever falling apart and causing injury. Life is what we hold precious, and people would not be occupying these structures if there was great risk death. Also, blockades, tree-sits and the like are all on volunteer basis. Would the cops send up climbers to lower and arrest recreational rock climbers or arborists just because there is a risk in what they do?
On the issue of being chased down steep slopes and off of cliffs, often people find themselves surrounde and have only one way to run. Sometimes it is hard to tell what may be coming up ahead and if you have picked uyp enough momentum it may be immpossible to stop due to loose gravel and steep grades. It is irresponsible on the part of armed law enforcement to force people into these precarious situations. Would you rather be brutalized by the cops or run the risk (literally) of falling down a ravine?

hi. i am looking for my son who had been participating in a tree sit in Humboldt County in the recent past. I have not received an email from him since june 24. name is jeff genauer, but he also goes by OAK. if you have any information you can email me. thanks.

You can not be forced to run off a steep slope. Slow down and think out there. The police will not be more brutal than falling off a cliff. Protesters should know that. If platforms and other protest structures are created at a standard where the additional weight of one person will compromise their structural integrity, then they are not safe to begin with.
Either stop taking chances in the woods and act safely and responsibly, or recognize and accept the risks you are knowingly taking to your own safety. The decision you make have ramifications, understand and anticipate them, and act accordingly.

First of all, you can be forced to run down a steep slope, and therefore you can lose control of your descent and slide off of a cliff or simply lose your footing and seriolsly injure a major joint, it has already happened several times. Also, if the cops were there for everyones safety they would not be chasing people on that terrain in the first place.
As far as the risk of falling versus the risk of cop violence,I have a friend who was assaulted by three cops in the mattole during an active logging operation. She was not compliant when they tried to arrest her so they picked her up off of the ground and repeatedly slammed her into a tree for not cooperating with them. When another forest defender tried to intervene he was taken by the same cops and tossed down a steep rocky slope, dislodging boulders and rocks as he rolled, he managed to get away with only bruises and scrapes. Hours later, another friend was confronted with the choice of being captured by a group of pissed off cops or jumping down that slope, fearing what might happen when caught, he chose to jump.
These weren't crazy people, these were people fearing for their safety and their ability to defend the places they love. Kind of like jumping out of a burning building.
Structures are not "created at a standard where the additional wieght of one person will compromise thier structural integrity", they are created to safely hold the predicted amount of occupants. Once again, if the company and the sherrifs were truly interested in our safety in the woods they would pursue other means of resolving our disputes on a greater level, rather than risk our lives in the short term for greater profits while the long term problems persist and build.
We understand the the risks we take but I don't understand why gypsymoth seems to think we don't. We act in a responsible and peaceful manner and it's not a coincidence that we onl;y get seriously injured when interacting with cops and others that have been putting profit before people.

Can someone tell me how "James" is doing? (It's actually Jason...I know 'cause he's my son.) He called me once from jail, but didn't have an address where I could write him or a phone number of anyone I could call to find out about him. Please write me at the above email, or phone me.