A18 - Freshwater Update - more arrests & evictions

April 18, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
ONGOING PRESS ALERT; SEE 4-17-03 RELEASE FROM EARTH FIRST!
BAY AREA COALITION FOR HEADWATERS
Keep posted for more updates


TREESITTERS EXTRACTED FROM THOUSAND YEAR-OLD REDWOOD IN FRESHWATER

Humboldt County, CA: Two tree sitters in Freshwater California were taken out of 1000 year old tree, "Jezebel," today, by climbers hired by
Maxxam/Pacific Lumber Co. The tree, which Pacific Lumber contracted logger (of Steve Wills Trucking Co.), was then cut, adding to the casualties of ancient Redwood trees which used to cover Freshwater, holding up steep hillsides and preventing floods, which are now so common. Both tree sitters were jailed, making a total of 30 Freshwater protest arrests within the past month.

Pacific Lumber-hired climbers, criticized for their dangerous tactics and life-threatening behavior when handling non-violet protesters/tree sitters, removed and lowered the first protester today, a male, without the presence of any law enforcement. The downed tree sitter was then examined by paramedics, who arrived soonthereafter. Supporters and other protesters, some of whom own property in Freshwater, were standing by and said the paramedics would not tell them what was "going on."

Next, four climbers went after the other tree-sitter, a woman, who had locked her arms with metal pipe and chains to a large branch about 170 feet up. Sandy, a Freshwater homeowner of 33 years who was on the scene said, "There were four men trying to get her out and dropping things from above her head." The tree sitter was sitting far from the truck on a thick branch, and climbers cut the branch up in pieces (some of the branch curved above the sitter's head) until she was left hanging on the end and climbers could pull her off.

Although under almost daily attack, about 15 tree-sits still exist in Freshwater, and at least three others on ecologically threatened PL property elsewhere in Humboldt.

Later, another protester in the same Freshwater area ran into the quickly disappearing woods and caused timber yarding to cease. Unfortunately, however, the cutting continued, even with the protester's presence known on the ground by law enforcement, timber workers, and witnessing critics of the logging operation.

Sandy said of the day and the ongoing situation, " I remember the family-owned Pacific Lumber, and this is the work of Maxxam Corporation. This is disgusting."