Activists extracted in Mattole watershed

The Gypsy Mountain Free State contains a grove that had been protected by tree-sits since 1998. Gypsy Mountain was the site of the death of David ‘Gypsy’ Chain, who was killed by a log felled by a logger during an action. Most of the grove was cut as well.

Two activists were extracted from Legacy, a Douglas Fir overlooking the steep slopes of the Rattlesnake Creek area of the Mattole watershed. Both were charged with Trespassing infractions, and released pending trial. The tree the activists were extracted from was then felled. Another activist remained in a tree further down the gravelly shifting hillside protecting other trees.

Four climbers working for Eric Schatz ascended the tree the activists were occupying along with surrounding tied in trees, and eventually the activists were lowered to the ground in harnesses. Schatz was scheduled to appear in Humboldt County Court Monday and was not at the scene of the extraction. Immediately after the extraction, Palco’s Carl Anderson ordered the felling of Legacy, and the tree was sawed down in front of the extracted activists and activists and bystanders collected at the scene.