Beginning on Tuesday June 17th and continuing in full force for three days (all day), the University of California has been violently extracting tree sitters. Everything we thought we knew about the Oak Grove being protected by the high visibility which comes from being an urban tree sit is totally out the window. The University has completely lost their mind and its a miracle that no one is dead.

The extractors have been attempting to remove people from the trees by cutting and untying traverse lines that tree sitters are attached to (even when these are their only lines). They are cutting support ropes to platforms that tree sitters are standing on and ramming wrecking balls into the trees. They are cutting webbing bridges out from under people’s feet even when the tree sitters are not attached to any ropes overhead, leaving people dangling for their lives. They are crashing into tree sitters and traverse lines with heavy machinery. They are intentionally slicing into tree sitters’ flesh with pole saws and people are bleeding. They are trying to physically fight people who are free climbing around at the very tops of trees. They are menacing tree sitters with chainsaws and knives. They are threatening female tree sitters with sexual violence. They are cutting down platforms with no regard for tree sitters who are standing on branches directly below. They are messing with our lines with people on them, creating super steep slopes that threaten to slam tree sitters into the ground. And more. Much more, communication is difficult and info is still coming in.

So far the university has only been able to successfully extract two tree sitters, also convincing a third to come down of his own accord after being cut off from other tree sitters and supplies. There are still about 10 tree sitters holding strong in the trees, holed up together in a Redwood on the north side of the grove.

At this point the University seems to have shifted from overwhelming force to starvation tactics. We remain vigilant in the face of another wave of possible extraction attempts, and are determined to re-supply the trees.

We know who the extractors are. They are Williams Tree Service out of Watsonville, CA.

We are reaching out to the entire forest defense community. If you can help us in any way, now is the time to do it.

We need people in the trees, people on ground support, people helping our legal team, people doing copwatch, people going through video footage, people making media, people doing community outreach, people doing jail support, people doing fundraising, and more. We also need advice, gear, and money (of course).

Any questions, please feel free to call Ayr or Citizen on the Ground phone. (510) 938- 2109

Love Over Fear,
millipede, extracted tree sitter
June 24, 2008


reposted from email-

ALERT: Memorial Oak Grove Tree-Sitters UNDER SEIGE- Please Support Them!

To all of you in the Bay Area, and to any folks you can pass this message to:

The tree-sitters and supporters of the 18 month urban treesit have been
and right now are being attacked. The University has hired arborists from
Williams Tree Service in Watsonville to extract tree-sitters. The
extractors are dangerous in their methods (leaving cut ropes hanging under
sitters), cutting down all survival and climbing supplies, leaving sitters
with nothing (including life lines). The cops have been obstructing the
view of what is going on from people on the ground, and they have been
aggressively going after people doing Ground Support. A few people have
been arrested, about 10 sitters are still up in the trees. Since the cops
and the University put up fences around the grove a few months ago and
have been criminalizing people for supplying the sitters, Grandmothers for
the Oaks have been passing the sitters survival gear and food- and now the
Grandmas are being arrested and hurt by the police!

PLEASE go to Piedmont and Bancroft and be PRESENT. Help with supplies and
supplying. Help with funds. Strategize. Call/Fax the mayor, the city
counsel, the governor, and express your outrage. Help with a cell phone
and other communication devices; the tree-sitters’ phone was taken. Bring
and use a video camera. Help edit video of the attacks. GO TO THE
TREE-SIT

The number there is 510-938-2109. But don’t wait if you don’t get to talk
with talk someone. Just go.

If you want more info on the Grove, go to this website:
http://www.saveoaks.com/SaveOaks/Main.htm



Supporters are needed there NOW. The grove is located in the 2000
block of Piedmont Ave in Berkeley, one block north of Bancroft Way.

THANK YOU


Yes, the role of law enforcement is to protect and serve. But in this case, it seems that UCPD Police Chief Victoria Harrison’s directives are to "protect" the UC’s interests and "serve" a life threatening response to the peaceful and non-violent protectors of the Berkeley Oak Grove. On June 17th at 6:30 am, UC Berkley began the process of attempting to remove the Treesitters with dozens of UC Campus cops and hired henchmen extractors.
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<div>Apparently, the UC and Chief Victoria Harrison believe that they are above the law. Despite a court injunction against removing the Oaks and their defenders, climbers have been cutting branches and safety lines of the Oaks defenders, endangering the lives of activists. The UC’s attempts at starving out the Treesitters by blocking resupply attempts for food and water have failed due to the actions of a large support base of the Berkeley community on the ground. As the climbers and campus police threaten the lives of the Treesitters, supporters on the ground continue to denounce the dangerous and reckless actions of the Treesitter’s assailants, by voice and bullhorns.
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<div>"Dumpster Muffin", one the oaks defenders, is perched high in a platform extended high above the tip-wip of a Coast Redwood situated in the grove. As she gyrates her hips and dances for the crowds below, her platform sways precariously back and forth. One has to wonder why the UC would risk endangering the lives of these noble and fearless defenders in order to remove them against a court injunction, and well before the recent Oaks Grove ruling has been interpreted by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Barbara Miller. "Ayr", a supporter from the ground, hollers through a bullhorn at the campus police, pleading with them not to risk the lives of the Oaks Defenders, his voice hoarse from back to back days and nights without rest. Luckily for the Treesitters, a multitude of supporters have gathered to observe the reckless actions of the UC police.

Unfortunately, the UC has turned a blind eye to the court system, as well as the law and basic human decency. All are invited to visit the grove and support the defenders of these precious Oaks. You can read more about the struggle at the Save the Oaks website, as well as to find directions to the easily accessable grove. </div><div></div><div>What? You can’t make it? But you still want to help! You can join them by calling UCPD Police Chief Victoria Harrison at (510) 642-1133 or email this cold and heartless extension of UC corruption at vlh@berkeley.edu. The UC seems to think they are above the law. Help the Oaks Defenders by voicing to the UC that they are accountable for their actions.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">UC Police Chief Victoria Harrison</span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">Not as nice as she appears :(</span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">Tell her she’s accountable for her reckless actions!</span></div></div></div></div></div>