top
East Bay
East Bay
Indybay
Indybay
Indybay
Regions
Indybay Regions North Coast Central Valley North Bay East Bay South Bay San Francisco Peninsula Santa Cruz IMC - Independent Media Center for the Monterey Bay Area North Coast Central Valley North Bay East Bay South Bay San Francisco Peninsula Santa Cruz IMC - Independent Media Center for the Monterey Bay Area California United States International Americas Haiti Iraq Palestine Afghanistan
Topics
Newswire
Features
From the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature

Last Four Oak Grove Tree Sitters Forced Down

by tristan
Today the University forced the last four tree sitters to come down. One 21-month chapter of struggle ends - Let A Thousand Oak Groves Bloom.
640_100_9999.jpg
At 8:00 am the university attacked the Oak Grove for the last time. The rest of the trees in the grove that the university planned to cut had been cut on friday (9/5/08). Saturday and Sunday they ground up all of the trees to wood chips. Only the redwood tree with four tree sitters remained. Today (9/8/08) workers slowly built a scaffolding all the way up the Redwood tree. Hundreds of supporters, curious students and media members gathered for hours. many were outraged to see the beautiful grove destroyed and their friends endangered. Police arrested five people during the day. Finally the scaffolding reached up to the tree sitter's platform. Arborists then used chainsaws to cut branches and part of the platform. The tree sitters faced inevitable arrest but the university faced a tremendous challenge to get them in a dangerous way with hundreds of people looking on. So at this point the sides negotiated. The university agreed to allow tree supporters to have input on a lands commission and have a say in future projects. The tree sitters came down. No one died. they were arrested. The tree was cut into four sections and carried off by the crane. So ends a 21-month chapter of struggle. It meant so much to so many of us. I still remember lichens, footholds, views - all gone now.

People came by asking what we will do now. There are many things to do. Injustice and destruction is everywhere so it makes it easy. Join us or do it yourself. See you in the trees somewhere.
§
by tristan
640_101_0001.jpg
People gather at 8:00 am to support the tree sit.
§
by tristan
640_101_0006.jpg
Workers build a scaffolding up the redwood tree.
§
by tristan
640_101_0013.jpg
One man is arrested for arguing with a TV cameraman.
§
by tristan
640_101_0017.jpg
The scaffolding grows by the hour.
§
by tristan
640_101_0018.jpg
Supporters keep up the vigil.
§
by tristan
640_101_0021.jpg
A tree sitter climbs a ways down the tree and tries to take part off a cherry picker that was being used to shield workers below.
§
by tristan
640_101_0029.jpg
UC Police Chief Vitoria Harrison and Detective Wade McAdams are brought up in a basket by a crane to order the tree sitters down.
§
by tristan
640_101_0031.jpg
The stump of Grandmother Tree stands right behind a dack hoe.
§
by tristan
640_101_0034.jpg
Abruptly police charge into the street after one supporter.
§
by tristan
640_101_0036.jpg
Police tackle and arrest this young man. They also threw many others to the ground in this incident. I was thrown into a cop moments after taking this photo.
§
by tristan
640_101_0042.jpg
Supporters gather as close as possible to the redwood tree sit.
§
by tristan
640_101_0043.jpg
Hundreds of people gather on the other side of the street.
§
by tristan
640_101_0048.jpg
Another arrest is made, for no reason.
§
by tristan
640_101_0050.jpg
One guy blocks the Brand scaffolding company truck. Give them a call and tell them how much you like trees: 559-444-1970.
§
by tristan
640_101_0061.jpg
A wonderful banner appears to honor Native-Americans and trees.
§
by tristan
640_101_0063.jpg
Huck plays the mandolin as the scaffolding reaches the platform.
§
by tristan
640_101_0073.jpg
A former tree sitter is arrested after being thrown in the dirt.
§
by tristan
640_101_0080.jpg
The scaffolding begins to surround the tree. I had to leave for work at this point but not too much later the tree sitters came down.
§
by tristan
640_101_0081.jpg
Left foreground is the stump of the redwood tree wit the trunk sections behind.
Add Your Comments
Listed below are the latest comments about this post.
These comments are submitted anonymously by website visitors.
TITLE
AUTHOR
DATE
tree top
Wed, Sep 10, 2008 12:43AM
sequia semp
Tue, Sep 9, 2008 9:51PM
hayduke
Tue, Sep 9, 2008 9:50PM
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!

Donate

$80.00 donated
in the past month

Get Involved

If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.

Publish

Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.

IMC Network