Office Demonstration Disrupts Humboldt Redwood Co. Offices to Demand Safety for Tree sitter

Forest defenders report on continuing actions to defend the ancient Mattole forest. Recently, the Humboldt Redwood Company has attempted to forcefully remove a tree sitter. For updates, check Blockade Babes.  

Scotia, CA— At 2 P.M. Thursday, June 13, a dozen protestors engaged in an office demonstration in Scotia to establish communication directly with Humboldt Redwood Co. (HRC) decision-makers, and make clear their demands, in light of the increased threat from HRC to protesters opposing logging in the forest on Rainbow Ridge.

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Happening now! Leave Rook alone, protect Rainbow Ridge!

A post shared by Blockade Babes (@blockade.babes) on Jun 13, 2019 at 2:07pm PDT

They entered the Humboldt Redwood Company offices, requesting to speak to John Andersen (director of Forest Policy at HRC) about the safety and treatment of tree-sitter Rook. They were given Andersen’s cell phone number by the receptionist. The protestors then marched through the entire two floors of the facility with drums and chants, demanding that HRC’s hired security “Leave Rook alone! Protect Rainbow Ridge!” While in the office, they took time to inspect the maps posted in the HRC offices.

This demonstration was in direct response to HRC’s attempt to drive out Rook the tree sitter by dispatching a masked climber Thursday morning, who scaled Rook’s tree and cut down vital food and water supplies, while physically threatening the tree sitter’s safety, as supplies hurtled toward the ground from above Rook’s head. Guards at the base of the tree shouted violent threats into the forest in attempts to deter possible resupply efforts from other forest defenders.

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@getredwood is logging directly next to Rooks tree sit now. Dropping trees dangerously close and endangering life for money. HUMBOLDT REDWOOD COMPANY HAS BEGUN DESTROYING ANCIENT FORESTS IN THE MATTOLE REGION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA! RESISTANCE IS FIERCE. PLEASE SUPPORT THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES BY CALLING NUMBERS BELOW Numbers to call for phone zap on Humboldt Redwood Company (HRC), ongoing until Rainbow Ridge is protected. HRC cell numbers: – John Andersen (director of forest policy): 707-962-2820 – Bob Mertz (CEO): 707-467-3381 Talking points: –Stop all logging operations in the Mattole headwaters immediately and cancel all contested timber harvest plans, specifically the Long Ridge Cable THP 1-12-026, Long Reach 1-14-034 and Rainbow Ranch 1-19-00029 – Stop harassing and endangering the lives of non-violent protesters in the woods and tell Lear Asset Management to stop using military style tactics – Stop the use of toxic herbicides which further destroys the forest ecosystem and puts our communities at risk – Start respecting the pleas of Mattole Valley residents and the larger community who understand the importance of preserving this unique and sensitive ecosystem and what the logging impacts will have on both a local and global level #savethemattolesancientforest #reposterspleaseaddhashtagscuzyouresogoodatit

A post shared by Blockade Babes (@blockade.babes) on Jun 14, 2019 at 1:37pm PDT

Rook commented on the situation and increased threats from guards and climbers. “Whatever their intentions, the men who guard this tree, who hunt us in the woods, who escort the loggers to work each morning, are doing their part to create the future their descendants will inherit — one of famine, climate migration, global poverty. They are enabling the ecological collapse. They are making me watch the destruction of a place I love.”

Rook’s report from the tree told the story of telling the climber that he was a safety threat, as the climber sawed branches and cut ropes, Rook informing him that he would have to climb over them, which he did, several times. Rook said the climber cut a folding saw off Rook’s harness, and used a chainsaw to cut large branches around the sit, nearly cutting the net that is the living space, with Rook on it. Other gear was destroyed. The climber cut two 6-gallon jugs of water from above Rook’s head, nearly hitting them if the jugs had not bounced off a branch. By the time the climber descended, Rook’s food and most of their water supply was gone, along with most of the gear brought up the tree. There was one rope left to descend. Rook remains in the tree as of this writing.