By Sequoia – Mendocino Environmental Center Newsletter, Summer / Fall 1990
The bombing attack upon Judi and Darryl blew away all pretensions. The whole world now knows just how entrenched the powers of earth destruction in northern California really are. We who have been confronting these powers for the past few years were shocked, but not surprised, because the threats and lack of police protection have been a constant for us. This is why we sent out a nationwide appeal for help. This is why we have stressed the importance of being nonviolent (NV) for the duration of Redwood Summer. And this is why, when first we began to plan this summer we drew the parallel with “Mississippi Summer”. Law enforcement, big business, and the “camo-buddies” (our local version of the KKK) are willing and able to employ violence to break our resolve to speak and act for the forest.
Luckily, however, many people who would have remained silent and not spoken up or joined in have been shaken out of their complacency and we are stronger than ever. The good people who are tied in with the power structures are also sticking out their necks trying to keep the rest of this summer nonviolent and may be able to have some influence. A few of the local small companies have called upon their workers to refrain from violence and are meeting with us. Some of the police departments are sending men through our NV trainings so they can understand what we are doing.
However, the Mendocino County’s Sheriff’s Dept. that told Judi they would only investigate the death threats against her if she turned up dead still have no investigation going…well, it is true that Judi isn’t dead, thank Goddess. Yet it is hard to believe that they still think she is making up the danger! A few weeks ago 15 brave souls went into an Old Growth forest to prevent logging by Pacific Lumber /Maxxam. The loggers “captured” the video camera-man and held a crowbar to his neck, threatening to drive it with a mallet. We must have larger groups when we confront woodworkers!
Samoa
Into this scenario came the first announced action /demonstration for Redwood Summer, a protest at the Louisiana Pacific (LP) pulp mill and export dock in Samoa (near Eureka) Ca. LP has cut back shifts in many mills. They closed down a local mill and trucked it to Mexico, are building a giant particle board plant there, and are now barging the trees from our local forests to their Mexico operations. All this while telling their workers that environmentalists are trying to take their jobs away!
It all began quite calmly, the mill is out on a peninsula and there is a 4-lane road leading to and past it. At 7 AM members of the IWW (Wobblies) and friends stood a picket line at the gate asking workers not to cross it…(the workers) did not honor the IWW line and went in to work. At 11 AM, Redwood Summer protesters began to arrive by the hundreds and a stage was set up with solar powered sound equipment across the street from the mill entrance. The media was there in full force, representatives from around the country and more TV cameras than you could count, including two special trucks to send the coverage direct by satellite dish.
For a few hours we were entertained by speakers and music including Alex Cockburn, Randy Hayes, Darryl Cherney, and yours truly, the Dancing Spotted Owl. By this time there were around 1,000 folks, not counting media people. During lunch hour LP sent a squad of its workers out in hard hats with company printed protest signs to stand in military formation behind the police line which had now formed in front of the entrance. What a contrast they were, standing four abreast like they were school-children lined up for their milk and cookies while on the other side of the line folks were dancing, singing, and having a general good time.
As the speakers finished and a reggae band was setting up, some drummers began playing off stage. They crossed the street to the mill entrance and were followed by hundreds of folks dancing in wild abandon. The faces of the police as this mass of joyful people converged on them was a sight! The line they had been standing and holding in the hot sun, bored out of their heads, for many hours now became meaningless.
The entire mill entrance was engulfed by people and no traffic could get in or out. Sheer numbers had prevailed. Eventually the police got it together and forced a lane to allow the incoming log trucks to get through. They thought they really had us now because no one was struggling against them and by merely walking forward they were able to push the crowd aside. In fact, the crowd simply oozed out from around them and blocked the entire road a-head of the police. A number of protesters sat down in front of an incoming log truck, more got up on top of the logs with signs, and the police were totally overwhelmed. Now mind you, during this whole thing Clan Dyken, the reggae band, is playing away (reggae is perfect for a 45 minute song) and every-one is joyfully dancing. Believe me, you had to be there to fully grock the wonder of the whole thing! Picture if you will grim faced men in their riot gear standing stiffly alert while in front of them a hundred people are doing a beautiful, intertwining line dance, singing about love and (nonviolence). Imagine 2 hours of this.
Eventually the police got it together and began arresting the protesters who were blocking the log truck.
It is going to be a summer to remember. As we work for the trees we are also forming a tribe that will grow and grow. It is a tribe of people who bring joy to all that they do and through this joyful spirit shall be heard. Truly the 90’s will make the 60’s look like the 50’s. Come Join Us!!! No compromise in the defense of Mother Earth, EARTH FIRST!