In a powerful outreach action, people marched over 90 miles through Humboldt County to raise awareness and inspire people to stand up to Maxxam Corp.'s liquidation logging of the Mattole watershed. The 12-day march started March 18 and went from McKinleyville to Fox Camp Gate, near rural Honeydew. The gate is one of many used by Maxxam/PL to access the unique old growth forest of the wild Mattole River region. The diverse and changing group on the march spoke with many locals, played music, created an educational chant, and handed out thousands of pamphlets through the historically timber-based county. March events included a rainy protest at the office of California Dept. of Forestry; a prayer ceremony around an albino redwood where, through the ages, tribes have gathered in peace; and a celebration rally at the gate with Mattole residents, musicians, and speakers.
An action training camp followed immediately after the March. Since then, activists have consistently occupied the backwoods of the Mattole, engaging in non-violent resistance to prevent old growth logging plans.
