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| Three Arrested as Activists Blockade, Shadow Loggers and Sit in Forest to Defend Old Growth Redwoods For Immediate Release - Contact: Naomi Wagner: (707) 768-3189; Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters (510) 548-3113 Humboldt county, California-Sheriffs arrived at 7:30 this morning to confront several dozen activists at a gate blockade and lockdown on the haul road into Maxxam/Pacific Lumber's (PL) Timber Harvest Plan 382, also known as Gypsy Mountain. Young Texas activist David Gypsy Chain was killed by an irate logger in protests in the same area five years ago on September 17. Sheriffs' deputies, under the direction of PL security chief Carl Anderson, removed brush and rock blockades and cut through the metal gate, leaving two activists still attached to the gate posts. They were later cited and released. Led by Anderson, sheriffs then drove up the haul road and encountered a second blockade formed by an activist who locked his arm into a concrete-encased metal sleeve set deep into the road bed. He was later taken to jail after being arrested. Meanwhile, Columbia helicopter contract loggers where air-dropped into the area about 8:30 a.m. and began cutting redwoods in the unit near an ancient redwood known as the "Grandmother Tree", where activists have erected a new tree-sit. There is already a long-term tree-sit in the "Aradia" grove near the site where Gypsy was killed. Activists on the ground near the tree-sits protecting them also shadowed loggers into the cut zone. PL security and supervisors, although aware of their presence, refused to shut down logging until after a large tree fell extremely close to activists and PL security. After a brief shut down, falling continued. "Climber Eric", well-known contract climber used by PL to extract tree-sitters then arrived on the scene, climbed a tree near the Grandmother Tree and began cutting traverse lines attached to her. Earth First!ers are protesting Maxxam/PL's illegal and unsustainable logging practices here and elsewhere on their holdings in Humboldt County, where some of the last unprotected ancient redwoods can be found. Judge John Golden recently ruled that PL's so-called Sustained Yield Plan, required for them to operate, does not actually exist, but his ruling has not yet been implemented. "I am taking this action to save the old growth and endangered species like the marbled murrelet from Charles Hurwitz' greed-driven chainsaws," said Prana, one of those locked to the Gypsy Mt. gate, located just past Grizzly Creek State Park on highway 36 off interstate 101. A large banner hung across the gate blockade proclaimed "MAXXAM OUT OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY" North Coast Earth First! is holding a week of actions and providing non-violence trainings in Grizzly Creek. ###  << Back to Press Release Archive | Latest Press Release | Newsroom | | 
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