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Grandmother Goes To Jail, Begins Fast 3-23-04 For Immediate Release - Contact: March 23, 2004 For immediate release March 23, 2004 Contact: Naomi Wagner and Shunka @ NCEF! Media (707) 268-5613 GRANDMOTHER GOES TO JAIL, BEGINS FAST Forty Days in the Hole for protecting an old growth tree! EUREKA, CALIF. Naomi Wagner of Petrolia, long time forest activist and a 58-year old grandmother of five, will be joined today by Jeanette Jungers, a local teacher from Eureka, to begin a Fast for the Forest . The fast is set to coincide with a 40-day sentence in Humboldt County Jail that Wagner will begin serving today. An appeal filed by Wagner's attorney, Ed Denson, was recently denied. At a press conference today, in front of the Eureka courthouse, the women explain why they are fasting. "We are taking this action to focus maximum attention on the fate of the forest, especially the Old Growth, at the hands of Maxxam/Pacific Lumber Company. Maxxam is still cutting Heritage trees that should remain standing for all time. Some of these trees are three times older than America itself. If they were houses they would be protected as historical monuments. These trees are the sentinels of the watershed. Who will be their guardians?" Wagner's jail sentence stems from her arrest during mass protests that erupted a little over a year ago on Greenwood Heights Road in Freshwater. On March 17, 2003, Maxxam/PL sent hired climbers, assisted by scores of County Sheriffs, to extract treesitters from the upper branches of the ancient redwoods that they were occupying to prevent the trees' destruction. Wagner and Jungers sat at the base of the 1,200-year old redwood called "Jerry," occupied for nearly a year by treesitter "Remedy". Wagner and Jungers were arrested for trespass, and resisting a sheriff's deputy. After a two week jury trial, Wagner and another co-defendant, treesitter Wren, who lived next door to Remedy for eight months in a tree called "Everstine," thought to be around 800 years old, were found innocent of trespass. No deed or other official documents were introduced to proof beyond reasonable doubt that Maxxam/PL actually owned the land or the trees within the County right of way. These trees are growing alongside the county road. Calling for permanent protection for all old growth, speakers at the press conference also call for an end to fraud in their county. District Attorney Paul Gallegos, who recently survived a recall attempt funded by Maxxam/PL, is currently suing the corporation on charges of fraud related to the Headwaters deal. This fraud made possible a devastatingly high rate of cut. The resulting ill gotten gains have netted Charles Hurwitz, C.E.O. of Maxxam Corporation millions in illegal profits. Residents and wildlife in Humboldt County are paying the price in devalued properties and ruined watersheds. "Hurwitz has been looting our county for long enough", said Naomi Wagner. ###  << Back to Press Release Archive | Latest Press Release | Newsroom Subscribe Get action alerts, updates, and other important news in your email inbox by signing up with your email address here: Learn more about events | See the BACHList FAQ |
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