Grizzly Creek Occupation Remains, now reinforced by a concrete, steel, and human blockade at the access gate. County Sherrifs and Carl Anderson arrived again this morning, wanting to get in, and were turned away without much fuss.
A MEMORIAL MARCH FOR DAVID "GYPSY" CHAIN will be held in Eureka on Thursday, gathering at noon at the old town gazebo and marching to the courthouse.
In Solidarity,
Reverend fly Greenfield
(I'll be at home doing ranch chores, probably returning to Free State on
Wednesday)
Blackberry House Info. Center
revfly@pacific.net
P.S. For those who want to help with their bodies out here at our base camp: Heading East of HWY 101 on Hwy 36, drive about 20 miles to Grizzly Creek State Park. If you need to know more, please e-mail me or phone if need be. And THANK YOU THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT!!
For More Information:
http://www.HeadwatersForest.org/
Earth First! Media Center
Andy Caffrey, facilitator
707/923-2114
efmc@asis.com
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/9901/
JAIL HURWITZ! Save Headwaters Forest!
http://www.jailhurwitz.com
To order the Luna/Julia Butterfly video turn your browser to:
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/9901/julia_butterfly_luna.html
Contributions to further the Earth First! Media Center's promotional work in support of the above and dozens of other EF! campaigns, may be sent, payable to Earth First!, to
Earth First! Media Center
P.O. Box 324
Redway, CA 95560
...We have a completely empty bank account right now, with everything we have going to these battles. And we're doing this organizing in one of the poorest counties in the state. Donations to support this effort to keep you informed and to inform the media of the facts, get videos out to them, and to talk with the many supporters calling us from around the country are crucially needed. We don't even have money to buy video tape right now (hey, send us some blank video tapes if you want to, we're not proud!)
Also, we are in desperate need of a Web publishing-worthy Macintosh computer with accessories, since our access is very limited to the computer sending these press releases.
If you wish to express your outrage of the death of David "Gypsy " Chain
after you read below....
you can write:
Pacific Lumber
P.O. Box 37
Scotia , CA 95565
Their phone # 707-764-4200
I just spoke to Alicia Little Tree, and David "Gypsy" Chain's Mother has requested that those wanting to honor him can send contributions (for supporting the direct action campaign) to:
Earth First!
P.O. Box 28
Arcata CA 95518
(These postings below are older and redundant but contain some more information, especially about the summer months of violence in the Mattole watershed, that was precursor to Chain's death.)
NORTHCOAST EARTH FIRST! PRESS RELEASE: Sept. 18, 1998.
VIDEO REVEALS PL KNEW ACTIVISTS WERE IN THE WOODS
Footage of logger threatening Earth First!ers Contradicts Company Claims
A video taken by Earth First! activists in Grizzly Creek captured the hostile voice of a PL faller threatening their lives less than an hour before David "Gypsy" Chain was killed by a falling tree. The video blatantly contradicts Pacific Lumber's claim that the company "had no knowledge" that Chain and others were nearby in Grizzly Creek. In fact, the logger who later cut the tree that killed David Chain can be heard furiously shouting obscenities and vowing to get his "pistol." Several other Earth First! activists were just six feet away from Chain when the tree came crashing down.
Contrary to Pacific Lumber's public statements, David Chain's death was the inevitable result of the timber company's deliberate campaign of violence toward environmental activists. In the last year, Earth First! protesters have been hog-tied and lowered from tree top perches and had their tree sit safety lines cut by PL climbers. Loggers have cut trees in the direction of tree sitters, and have threatened lives by cutting trees with activists in them. Logging helicopters have been used to harass and endanger treesitters, such Julia Butterfly, flying within feet of their platforms and whipping up forceful winds. Recently, activists encountered a "goon squad" of PL employees in the Mattole watershed who chased, threatened and assaulted community members who were trying to stop illegal logging in their home. The escalating use of violence by Pacific Lumber has been ignored by Humboldt County law enforcement.
This vigilanteism in the woods also threatens the safety of PL employees. Logging rates as one of the most dangerous occupations in the country. PL's policy requiring logging crews to also act as company thugs only adds more risk to employees in the woods. The tragic death of David Chain under these circumstances shows clearly that to PL, profits are more important than human life. Earth First! activists who witnessed the tragic death of their comrade David Chain will cooperate with a full investigation into the incident and its causes. A memorial is planned for next week, and Earth First! will continue to protest Pacific Lumber's illegal logging in Grizzly Creek in David's name.
SEPTEMBER 17, 1998
Contacts: Josh Brown, Angela Wartes, (707) 825-6598
FOREST TRAGEDY LEAVES ACTIVIST DEAD
At about noon on September 17th, Earth First! activist David Chain, 24, was killed while engaging in a non-violent direct action to save ancient redwoods. He was part of an ongoing grassroots effort to protest the destructive logging practices of the Pacific Lumber Company and to call attention to illegal logging which PL was conducting near Grizzly Creek, 15 miles east of Fortuna, CA.
We of North Coast Earth First! send our condolences to David's family and loved ones. We also believe that this has been a trying day for the PL timber faller and ask the community to include him in their thoughts.
Although we are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our friend and fellow activist, we are appealing for calm and unity. Our struggle is a non-violent one and will continue even as the raven flies for David.