WITNESSES STATEMENT

September 18, 1998

The following is the statement issued to the media by the nonviolent activists who were present in the forest with David "Gypsy" Chain when he was killed by a falling tree cut by a hostile Pacific Lumber Co. logger on September 17.

Those of us who were present during the death of our friend and fellow activist David "Gypsy" Chain would like to make the following statements and clarifications.
 
Gypsy was a strong warrior who fought nonviolently for the forest. His dedication and commitment to defending the Earth is an inspiration to all of us.
 
Gypsy's death is not an isolated incident of violence. In the last several months trees have been intentionally fallen at nonviolent activists at the Luna tree sit and in the Mattole watershed in Humboldt county. This is part of an escalation of violence against nonviolent forest defenders in the Northwest and all over the world.
 
The loggers were aware of our presence as we had engaged them in conversation throughout the day. In fact, the logger that felled the tree which killed our brother Gypsy had repeatedly threatened us with violence and chased us. He also purposely felled other trees in our direction. We never contrived a call and answer system. In truth, we ran for our lives.
 
This is part of a series of lies and cover-ups to benefit MAXXAM Corporation, including, but not limited to, the "domino effect"  in regards to the falling tree that killed Gypsy, the "call and response" communications, the claim that they didn't know we were present and the overall claim that Pacific Lumber operated safely.
 
In closing we would like to send our deepest sympathies to Gypsy's family, friends and supporters and all those beings killed by MAXXAM's destructive and greedy forest practices.
 
Ongoing memorial services will be held off of Highway 36 just past Grizzly Creek Campground on the north side of the road. We are asking for the area to be preserved as a memorial site for David "Gypsy" Chain with all logging activities ceased.

In defense of the Earth,

Carey Jones
Erik "Ayr" Eisenberg
Zoe Zalia
Mike Avcollie
Jason Wilson
Jeremy Jense
Mike McCurdy

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