The Civil Liberties Defense Center Filed Suit Against Humboldt County and Two Sheriff’s Deputies Alleging Police Brutality Against a Journalist
Michael Gammariello being arrested on public land by Humboldt County Sheriff deputies (Deputy Moore on the left and Deputy Mendes on the right)
Press release from the Civil Liberties Defense Center. Please remember that this is a press release from one side of a situation and not neutral reporting:
Today, CLDC attorneys representing Green Party Congressional candidate Michael “Gamms” Gammariello filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in California federal court against Humboldt County and two of its Sheriff’s deputies for illegal police brutality.
Mike Gammariello is an independent journalist traveling around the United States documenting activists’ work through video and print media. He is currently a Green Party Congressional candidate in his home state of New York.
On June 17, 2019, Mr. Gammariello was arrested on public land near Rio Dell, Humboldt County, in northern California, while acting as an observer and video journalist at a long-standing logging protest of an area containing significant old growth forest. Proposed logging and herbicide use by Humboldt Redwood Company (HRC) within the Mattole watershed has for years raised significant and wide-spread controversy—more so now that every intact forest is essential to combat catastrophic climate change. Local law enforcement also has a long history of violating the constitutional rights of forest protectors and acting as the hired goons for private timber industry instead of protecting the local community.
Arriving about two weeks into the demonstration, Mr. Gammariello was at the logging site to work on a long-form video piece about the Mattole old-growth forest logging controversy. When arrested, Mr. Gammariello was wearing his photo credentials labeled “United Nations,” issued to him by the International Native Tradition Interchange (INTI), which has consultative status with the U.N. Economic and Social Council. On the evening of June 16, 2019, Mr. Gammariello was standing nearby a group of about 15 forest protectors. A private corporate security guard hired by HRC, standing directly in front of HRC’s gate, told the group that if they stood about four feet away from him, they would be on the public land and not on private land, and would therefore not be trespassing.
Michael John Gammariello’s arrest photo released by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department.
The group complied and Mr. Gammariello stood even further back on the public land in order to videotape the demonstration.
In the middle of the night, about 3:45 a.m. on June 17, the corporate security guard said he was “calling my friends in the sheriff’s office.” A sheriff’s vehicle immediately arrived to discover the group of forest protectors and Mr. Gammariello all on public property on the side of a public roadway. Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputy Conan Moore quickly approached Mr. Gammariello, bypassing protectors who were closer to the HRC gate (who were not recording). Mr. Gammariello clearly stated “Press,” showing his credentials, but Moore responded “I don’t care,” and, without warning of any sort, grabbed Mr. Gammariello’s camera, and knocked him to the ground, face first. Moore then rested his weight on top of Mr. Gammariello with his knee in the back of Mr. Gammariello’s neck and head while another kneeled on Mr. Gammariello’s legs. Mr. Gammariello explained his press status several times while being arrested. The assault on Mr. Gammariello resulted in a fractured rib and several other bruised ribs; a large contusion to his right eye socket; a three-centimeter laceration on his left upper lip, contusions on his nose, and loosening of a tooth.
Recently, more than six months after the assault, and after Mr. Gammariello filed a tort claim notice that placed Humboldt County on notice that he was planning to sue them, the Humboldt County District Attorney’s office informed him they were charging him with two misdemeanors and a violation, in seeming retaliation for his planned lawsuit.
“I was violently assaulted and unlawfully arrested by Humboldt County for documenting an action to defend the Mattole’s Old Growth Forest,” said Plaintiff Mike “Gamms” Gammariello. “Corporations like HRC are destroying our planet and everyone on it for financial gain while law enforcement protects those private profits with violent force without fear of accountability. We seek accountability and justice, not only for me and my busted face and fractured rib, but for every forest defender who has been brutalized for a corporation’s bottom line. No journalist should ever be beat up by police for documenting police; Humboldt County and their deputies must be held accountable for their misconduct.”
“When law enforcement does the dirty work for the timber industry they cannot perform their public duties to protect and serve the people of Humboldt County,” said Lauren Regan, CLDC Executive Director and Senior Staff Attorney. “This department has a history of violating peoples’ constitutional rights to be free from excessive force and unlawful seizures, in part because they have usually not been held accountable for their abuse. Mr. Gammariello is just one of many activists beaten by Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies in an attempt to intimidate and bully them into silence.”
“The Mattole Forest Defense Campaign stands in solidarity with the decision to sue the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department in order to prevent further police brutality for others in the future. The department has a notorious reputation for using excessive force against non-violent forest defenders who have been fighting to save the ancient Mattole forest from being logged for over 20 years, and will continue to do so despite the continued oppressive police response. We demand that the Humboldt Sheriff’s Department be brought to justice and held accountable for the harm it causes, the violence it perpetuates, and for its crimes against community members who non-violently stand up to prevent the cutting of priceless forest land and the destruction of habits,” said the Mattole Forest Defense Campaign in its official statement.
Earlier Chapters:
- Two Protestors Arrested at Rainbow Ridge Logging Blockade
- Protesters Say They Are Locking to Gate to Stop Logging After Humboldt Redwoods Company Removed Tripod Sitter
- Man Protesting Logging Rainbow Ridge Describes Ordeal
- Demonstrators Picketed Humboldt Redwoods Company Yesterday in Hopes of Stopping Logging Planned for the Rainbow Ridge Area
- Truckers and Protesters Concerned About Plans to Log Rainbow Ridge Clashed Near Scotia Mill Yesterday
- Sheriff’s Office Warns Logging Protesters Near Rainbow Ridge This Morning
- Timber Fallers on Rainbow Ridge, Protesters Again at Monument Gate
- ‘Elders Defend Elders,’ Say Activists as Four Arrested This Morning Trying to Stop Logging on Rainbow Ridge
- Three Arrested on Monument Ridge After a Structure Erected Overnight to Block Loggers; Ongoing Arrests as Deputies Attempt to Remove One From Tower
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Who cares? Don’t put the police in danger and/or waste their time esp. now with all the BS they have to deal with. You’re logging protests are so 1998, get a real job/life. I hope you don’t get a penny from anyone and you should be required to pay court costs (I highly doubt you could afford those anyways considering journalists such as yourself don’t make any real money anyways. Perhaps they should take that $1200 COVID check to cover the costs since you won’t be.) I am so sick so these yellow journalists playing the victim here! If you want to save the trees then go do something about it, “hugging” them will just end up with you in cuffs and then crying to a judge about your little “rights” being violated and you getting your little feelings hurt. And cut your hair also, perhaps you could get a real job in journalism if you looked somewhat professional. Just my 2 cents!
this is the exact attitude that makes the people not care about leos. who cares? rights? are you serious. cops are paid by the hour, its not like if they dont get the job done on time something bad will happen. if you want the cops to have more power do something (legal) about it, until then dont violate peoples ‘little’ rights
Ok Boomer! I like how you think our rights are “little” and that if someone has long hair they are obviously a degenerate and should be put behind bars. Times have changed a lot since 1955 and even people with tattoos can get good professional jobs.
I have to agree with the retired cop. Unless you have worn the badge you really should go back to playing “Animal Crossing” and staying put in your home where you belong. Now it’s like playing Russian Roulette with all the bums on the street spreading their COVID around. Now we are letting them take over parking lots in Arcata? Good luck getting these entitled bums to leave once this is over! First we allowed them to trash the Arcata Community Center and now this? Perhaps an outbreak of the virus is what it’s going to take to get them out of here. Once the shops do open again, who the hell is going to want to shop there? Not me, I’ll take my money to Fortuna where they seem to have this filthy, bum issue under control. Since when did we start letting these filthy scumbags run the town? I see them today sharing pipes and asking passerby’s for money. Wait till this trash gets their $1200, overdose city with a side of COVID to boot! Why do we allow this? Hopefully these idiots don’t file taxes so they won’t get a penny! Perhaps put them to work cleaning the same sidewalks they seem to use as a toilet. And this has been your COVID Minute! Well done Arcata. Arrest these scumbags and leave them locked up, then use the $1200 for a bus ticket far, far away. It sure would be great to have a nice little town again.
Haha I know a tax guy who went to the community center to help them file their taxes.
Have you”worn the badge?” if so you had no business doing so and were likely a lousy cop just like the retiree.
Your anger and rush to judgement suggests you should have never been a police officer in the first place. People have rights under the Constitution and you swore an oath to uphold them regardless if they are journalists or peaceful protestors or if they have long hair or any other appearance you find distasteful. You are the reason people do not support the police. Why exactly should the police be working as private industry’s mercenaries in the first place? In my opinion that is a waste of time and shouldn’t be funded by my taxes.
i just want to point out to you that these private industries, or businesses, do pay taxes for the law enforcement. they are only supposed to enforce the laws, nothing more. i appreciate when the police help to evict someone who doesnt pay rent. or should the landowner just force them out themselves?
No, we watch the news. We know industry doesn’t pay nearly the same tax rate working people do. We also remmeber that hrc got this land for a dime while palco plead bankruptcy after robbing its workers of their retirement.
My kids benefit far more from trees and ecosystems than from hrc’s personal short term gain.
well that is a different argument
I pay taxes to but how often will they even investigate a rural burglary? give me a break.
The you needed to pay more. In fact it needed to be paid at the level you had income from the value. Too bad, so sad that growers are still not doing that.
Clearly you don’t realize that the protests cross the line to terrorism when a law enforcement officer says to leave and the order is refused. It also is terrorism when by force, such as tree sitting and chaining yourself to block access to a specific location and disallow an officer to remove you occurs. Unfortunately, even though this is true, it never gets processed as such. I applaud these officers and the retired cop for understanding this.
not listening to the police is not terrorism, particularly when you are not breaking any laws
Alf he was on public land . So you would be cool with a cop just beating you for standing outside a scene where they are supposed to arrest criminals 20 ft away ? You are the problem
No I wouldn’t be ok with that. That’s why I obey the law and don’t purposely provoke law enforcement. Doesn’t take much intelligence to realize that. And, by the way, public or private land makes no difference if you break the law. Also, it is breaking the law to refuse to obey a command of a law enforcement officer.
thats a lie. you do not have to obey the command of a police officer.
Nonsense. It is absolutely not defined as terrorism. Who exactly is he terrorizing?
The workers that the protesters tried to prevent from doing their job? Just because you think it’s ok to dare someone to drive over you by standing in front of their vehicle or shouting threats at them doesn’t mean they aren’t terrorized. “Gee officer, it was just a joke.”
I picked up 20 used needles on the sidewalk along Arcata’s bumville today. How was your morning? I woke up the bums in every tent in the lot and said if I’m back tomarrow while walking my son we are going to have major issues. COVID will be the least of their many issues!
Wow, you’re a regular tough guy. Can I have your autograph?
Who cares what you think? I hope if you do as you say you are going to the Arcata police treat you the same as they treated this guy and you get charged with child endangerment.
You cared enough to reply. That’s who.
Back in my day as a cop we did whatever the hell we wanted. Body cams? We didn’t have those dumb things. We used to give them the ok’ EPD beat down then we would go enjoy our warm coffee and donuts from the comfort of our cars. Brutality? Was no such thing…do you think we had bums allowed to sleep in parking lots? Get real!
Then quit spinning a tale like a sock puppet.
There’s nothing wrong with his hair and that is so irrelevant and judgmental. What matters here is the apparent abuse of power by a police officer. There’s no way to justify the injuries caused to this young man and I am personally pissed off hearing about this. Abuse of power by the people who are put in a position of honor to protect the public is rotten. If police officers cannot control their anger and frustrations then they have no business in the force. No amount of stressful circumstances excuses the violence. I’m speaking from a perspective with a respect for nature and also having family members who have served in the police force. I firmly believe that officers who abuse their power need to be held accountable or it all just gets worse. With power comes responsibility.
🕯🌳Damn you sound like a Siderman movie. 🕯🐸🖖
Problem with your statement is it isn’t illegal for him to be there especially when he was on public land. Sheriffs screwed the pooch on this one. Yellow journalists? You sound like a typical redneck my way or the highway ex cop. [edit] Too bad. You make cops look worse with your attitude.
There is no public land in that area so he was breaking the law. He does not have a right to trespass on private property.
Retired Police Officer is just saying what a lot of people think! I too am sick and tired of these idiots protesting. You break the law you get arrested, it’s that simple.
What law did they break?
not to you but… they beat the crap out of that individual
Agreed! Maybe after the arrest should come prosecution!
Civil lawsuit against the corporations that support the protesters? Because they are not apparently supporting themselves.
You may not like it, but if they were protesting on public land, that is their right. How would you like it if people were tired of what you had to say so they decided to censor you?
Wrong. Public lands have regulations. If you protest and law enforcement deems it in any way a danger to anyone they are obligated to disband it. Just like homeless camps on public lands. If they endanger others with the trash, needles, etc. law enforcement has the obligation to make them leave. Just because it is public land doesn’t give you a “do anything a
I damn well please” defense. The difference is on my private property I can either remove the problem myself or involve law enforcement. Public lands require law enforcement.
We have the right to assembly l, we have the right to freedom of speech. Also the party in question was (supposedly) only recording the protests and reporting. If these facts are true, the police violated his rights and are in the wrong. Also, it is not law to obey police. If an officer commands you to bend over so he can shove his night stick up your a*s, would you?
i think standing there with a camera is alot diffient than camping and littering up the woods with trash and needles
Your right, arrest those cops and charge them with “assault with serious bodily injury” he has broken ribs and loose tooth, these officers should be facing 7 years on those charges as well as charging them with;
DEPRIVATION OF RIGHTS UNDER COLOR OF LAW
SUMMARY:
Section 242 of Title 18 makes it a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.
For the purpose of Section 242, acts under “color of law” include acts not only done by federal, state, or local officials within the their lawful authority, but also acts done beyond the bounds of that official’s lawful authority, if the acts are done while the official is purporting to or pretending to act in the performance of his/her official duties. Persons acting under color of law within the meaning of this statute include police officers, prisons guards and other law enforcement officials, as well as judges, care providers in public health facilities, and others who are acting as public officials. It is not necessary that the crime be motivated by animus toward the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin of the victim.
The offense is punishable by a range of imprisonment up to a life term, or the death penalty, depending upon the circumstances of the crime, and the resulting injury, if any.
TITLE 18, U.S.C., SECTION 242
Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States, … shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnaping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death
It’s nice to know how you feel about our Constitution. And my guess is that he would never be convicted if it went to trial. Humboldt County, however, is going to pay for their indiscretions and rights violations.
What violation? Do you really think that protecting free speech is physically interfering with the drivers and the government is required to not impinge on it? Does free speech include breaking into your neighbor’s house to yell at them for not mowing their loans too? And if that person calls on the police to remove you, the police are required to stand by because to remove you would be unconstitutional?
You lost the plot on this one bru. Good ‘ol b’n’e is not free speech.
Ok boomer
Boy, if you live to a modest old age, you are going to be in real trouble with the idea that age makes a person not worth anything. Of course you’ll probably just say you are different. It must be an everlasting challenge to keep making up ideas to suit what you want life to be when reality refuses to cooperate.
X-LEO,
It’s better for a fool to keep his mouth shut , and APPEAR to be wise, than to open wide his lips and remove all doubt. Ugh, just sayin… Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Know this, with what mercy you show, it’s the mercy you yourself shall receive.
So if someone doesn’t agree with a cop, and they ascertain their constitutional rights of free speech and freedom of the press your saying they should be violently beaten and bloodied and have teeth broken, ribs broken and have their face plates broken? What kind of dirty cop were you, it would be interesting for Kym to get your IP address from your comment, (simple on wordpress) and expose you for the corrupt violent person you appear to be. People are allowed to have a voice, even if I do not agree with what someone says, the moment someone else tells them to shut up, I will rise up and defend that persons right to speak their mind, even if it is a bully like you, I would get right in your face and tell you that the person speaking has a right to do so, your not such a big bully after all, its you type of beliefs that cops are above the law which has led to this culture in Humboldt County Sheriff Department of being aggressive, violent and oppressive towards our cannabis community and forest defenders community.
Shame on you! You disgust me……
Just to be clear. No one’s IP number will ever be doxed by me.
Cannot wait for the hcso to be held accountable for violating our rights a citizens. Unbelievable.
You are disgusting. If that’s how you feel you should never have been a cop. Were you the bully in high school? Or the one that got bullied?
The worlds a stage and now we have not one but two “retired police officers” commenting here. 🙄
Gee, now that “they” have come here I’m convinced more than ever that the protester is wrong.
Funny how some people’s minds work, I often wonder how playacting is supposed to sway my opinion…
We are the Borg. Resistance is futile.
Such crap talk is not helpful. I’m sure many have thought the same and worse about some of your posts. Your post just shows the worst side of humanity.
Retired cop? No your still on the blue line juice . You still have that attitude that is what separates men from tyrants . You sir and those officers are the problem . Soon the real resistance will rise . You won’t like what you see
[edit] While what this [edit] did (if true) was “illegal” as unconstitutional, they always get away with it and really have to kill someone to be charged with anything. Maybe the plaintiff wins a 1983 claim. But it’s the taxpayers that foot the bill, which is why this type of cop has to be eliminated from the ranks quickly. Let him go push a broom somewhere. But give him a gun??? These are the “people” that squeal about the “Constitution,” then stomp all over it as long as it serves THEIR agenda. The cop targeted the video camera and the person filming so he COULD violate the Constitution and do anything he wanted to everyone present. Truth is a bitch, as Washington is finding out. Then they lie about it. A GOOD “retired police officer” wouldn’t condone this type of action (if true). A BAD “retired police officer” would cheer on any beating any cop decided to hand out. That’s what you got here. That’s the guy I want in my face. The know it all thug telling me what HE expects. But without the badge. This is what the whacks want, complete autonomy and control over the Constitution and civil rights the way THEY interpret it. Top to bottom. America is screwed, either way. Time to take a 4 to 10 year break and go sailing.
and you wonder why LE has a problem recruiting new officers when dinosaurs like you drive both the public and would be new sheepdogs away with your attitudes that were more in tune with the ’70s character “Archie Bunker” from “All in the Family” .. BTW I have LE in my family who are FAR different that your hidebound ill informed opinions…
father to a sheepdog
I care and you should too! Rewind and be KIND because your time will come when you will be judged by the content of your character, too. Whether you are compassionate or callous regarding respecting others is your real legacy! So, after 35 years of serving others you’ve decided to be a vicious asshole? I pray ‘fo ‘ya ‘bruda!
and just yesterday people were bashing me for not giving full blind support of all leos. plus i think i know that dude
Green Propaganda and a money grab…Period. His account of the events that night are not what happened.
Would you care to expand on how you know this, as well as WTF “actually” happened???
he’ll be living in someones garden house in the Hamptons after the settlement.
better just turn around and go back to the city… yee yee!
De Oppresso Liber
There are good guys and bad guys in this. It’s not too difficult to figure this one out.
I moved to Humboldt 20 years ago, after living 25 years in Mendocino and 25 years in San Diego. As bad as the police were in San Diego in the 60s and 70s , I have never seen anything like the behavior of Humboldt County law enforcement.
This isn’t a blanket disapproval of all law enforcement in the county. It’s simply that there are more bad actors per capita, and the lawsuit payouts seem to keep on coming.
I hope this lawsuit prevails, because—if facts as reported above are true—that is how justice should work. But sadly I don’t think this will change anything. It seems systemic.
I think there are more bad guys here than you saw in your previous locations. More wackos that waste law enforcement’s time. I’m not a fan of the Sheriff, but I’m less a fan of environmentalists who are actually terrorists. Hopefully they don’t get a dime!
There’s something fishy about this story. It plainly states in the beginning “this is a press release from one side of a situation and not neutral reporting”. Then, “Deputy Conan Moore quickly approached Mr. Gammariello, bypassing protectors who were closer to the HRC gate (who were not recording)”. Now notice the people around him; “Gammariello was standing nearby a group of about 15 forest protectors”. Seriously? Standing around with 15 people, the fuzz approaches, and no one uses their smart phone to record it? Not buying it. Hey Sheriff Honsal; whats your side of this?
The arrest was partially filmed by Gammariello starting at about minute 23 https://www.facebook.com/mikegamms/videos/10111103504904049 There is more on this at the last link in the Earlier Chapters section in the story above.
Thanks Kim. Watched the video. Although it was difficult for me to determine fault, I suppose it comes down to the question of if the protester was really on public land, or private. The victim, or perp as some readers might prefer, was told that he was trespassing, but I couldn’t tell, from the footage, if he really was. Kind of difficult to know where a property line is in the dark. Mr. Gammariello did sound sure of his position. If he’s correct, he should win. If he was on private property, then he was at fault when he was ordered to step back. Good example of why due process is important, and why we are so lucky to have it (when we do).
” I suppose it comes down to the question of if the protester was really on public land, or private. ”
Not at all. If you’re found to be trespassing in the United States of America, that doesn’t give anybody under any circumstances the right to assault you, torture you, maim you etc. What country are you from?
This/\. Excessive pics brutality over someone standing around with a camera? If they are on private property, put their hands behind their back, cuff them, and remove them. There is no reason he should look like that in his booking photo.
we do not know if those were self inflected prior to the booking photo
Fun with facts . You need to look up your rights as a property owner . You are Wrong , property rights can be enforced using force by the owner . Even though I am against the Sherrif doing this all together because he was documenting and on public land
Not true. The force must be equal to the harm.
No, it must be reasonable in gain compliance. A person who refuses an order from police can only justify it because it is dangerous for them to comply. If a refusal to comply happens, even if the refused sees it as an illegal request, they can expect to have their resistance met with equal force.
You do have the right to detain a person through a citizen arrest for trespassing. To force compliance you may use “justifiable” force.
Justifiable is the key word. If someone comes onto my property and is standing around, refusing to leave, ya can’t shoot em, beating the crap out of them is a stretch too. Call the police. If they are in public land? Ignore them.
This happened before covid [edit]. What kind of argument is “especially now with all this BS we have to deal with”. Actually leo seems to be “dealing ” less. Wow so your opening argument is that they had the right to assault someone who was filming is this pandemic. I actually don’t believe your a cop because cops are not even that dumb.
Bingo!
What does the humboldt pot grower say to the wannabe hippy from New York who had his rights violated by the sheriff? “First time, huh?”
Funny because it’s so true.
I needed a laugh this morning.
Just a heads up- the Civil Liberties Defense Center https://cldc.org “represents activists that, in the course of fighting for a better world, are arrested and criminally charged” and “engages in civil litigation to hold the powerful accountable and to protect the rights of activists and marginalized communities. ” They apparently consider him an “activist”. Just so no one is mistakes any of the parties involved as anything else. He lists himself as an “anti fascist comedian” . No one could make this stuff up. But what the news value in reporting the initiation of a lawsuit for something that took place a year ago is strange too.
That’s funny, apparently he got a hair cut and is running for Congress in NY? A journalists? If you want to get beat up by the cops, act like a anti fascist comedian and that’ll do it…
Thanks, Kim, for the disclaimer that this is one sided and not an attempt at journalism.
#wholeheartidlyagree
Conan Moore is an outstanding law enforcement officer. I am sure there is more to this story than the complaint reads. He has put his life on the the line countless times for our community . I can’t imagine he simply walked past all others and just began giving this guy a beat down. I’m thinking it was more a case of the guy not following any directions given and resisting
I hope so. Otherwise he’s just another under-trained, over zealous db with a gun. And “not following directions”? What does that mean? It gives the authority for the beat down? If no laws were being broken (apparently, the guy wasn’t charged with anything – and I could be wrong), what was he “resisting”? The amorous advances of your buddy? A cop gives me a beat down while violating the Constitution and I’m going to feed him his job through the Federal Court.
isn’t all police brutality illegal? (Press release: illegal police brutality)
It should say, isn’t all brutality illegal? Law enforcement has to make split decisions for the safety of all. Sometimes they have longer to make decisions, but not always. If they give an order and it is ignored, repeat and still ignored, they must act. Sometimes it gets physical. Environmentalists have a history of noncompliance with orders and blatant disregard for law enforcement. They are almost all involved in illegal activities while doing their so called protests. They bring it on themselves if you ask me. Law enforcement is trained to use the least amount of force necessary to get compliance. Most do a great job.
There is no public land up there so he was tresspassing at a minimum. If you get arrested dont fight with the cops cooperate and they will not have to use force.
Same old story some jack ass breaks the law then plays victim when they are arrested.
if this herbicide spraying was responsible for 10 cancer deaths on Sohum would anyone protest it? in reality its probably responsible for hundreds if not more. most domestic wells are in the drainages where these chemicals tend to end up. for example the Freshwater Elementary School water supply had concentration of this chemical in 2004 and there hadn’t been any spraying in the area for years.
inti journalist photo I’d badge 🤣 did he get that off some shame website remotely connected to the UN , or did he send in 10 Bazooka bubble gum wrappers, and bazooka Joe sent him his photo ID. He’s not a journalist, he’s a trouble maker , I’m not taking sides here, but collateral damage is part of the game,broken and bruised ribs is hard to prove, I’ve had a few … the doc said don’t breath to deep, don’t laugh and they’ll heal on there on…. law suit .. your a joke!
Retired x cop,Alan Mendes……you are joke and I hope you get what’s coming to you,! They waited till 345a m to call their friends .. coos tweek too and my father was a Sheriff in this county for forty years and the one time he held a protester while her eyes were pepper sprayed he was beside himself remorseful and said it would never happen again….he also said more than half the department was crooked in one way or another! And they are
Remember how good Mexican pizzas were when they hey first came out?
Man we loved those things
There’s a new and sinister troll posting on Humboldt forums. Retired police officer is not a retired police officer.
Not new at all, been at it for years.
Pretends to be multiple people in any given thread in an attempt to …. sway opinion?? I’m not sure what the objective is, maybe just enjoys playacting. Funny part is it’s easy to identify, unfunny part is it’s annoying as hell. Growing up is hard for some…
If as many commenters are in reality one troll as you say, then that person must spend 36 hours a day at it.
Pretty sure he deserved exactly what he got. The LEOs around here don’t have a reputation for being overly aggressive, at least not without good cause. This guy is a professional “activist” which means he goes around looking for trouble. Apparently he found it.
There’s nothing tough about protecting corporate interests by hurting people who just happen to care about their planet and future generations. That actually shows weekness. Youd rather protect HRC’profit margin then accept these protectors for what they really are. They Protest for you as well, and when you can’t fish anymore you’ll finally get it. And if you have a son, he will be gay and you’ll have to learn to accept that too. Eventually, having a piss poor attitude and sense of entitlement like that will be dangerous. There is a new age emerging and this type of mentality will give way to something more real, and the more pushback and “beat downs” you give, the more dangerous your own world will become. The little people will always fight for what they believe in so get used to it. We can selectively cut all day long and save the old growth, you know it’s true. Anyone with a forestry background knows that we don’t need to cut old growth to sustain the market, it’s just extra money that they want to make, not their bottom line.
There has been a “new age” coming the last 2000 years. It just never seems to arrive.
Came all the way from NY to stick his nose into other people’s business under the guise of being a “citizen journalist”. OMG, what a waste of oxygen
🙄🙄🙄
Seems you are part of the problem and illegal discrimination that Investigative Journalists receive from corrupt and violent oppressors like the Humboldt County Sheriff Department.
I have no respect for the sheriffs in this county. They are mean and brutality is their favorite part of the job. Sadly, the previous sheriff and his big supporter Estelle Fennell looked out for themselves and their friends and don’t mind at all getting sued for violating the law. The Arcata police certainly bungled the murder investigation of Josiah Lawson, but thank God they don’t go around beating people they don’t like.
Humboldt Country has treated those opposed to destructive and illegal logging operations violently and with disregard for decades. From pepperspraying non violent protestors eyes at the Pacific Lumber Compamy Headquarters in Scotia
Watch Here: https://youtu.be/zDzmyUDIbf4
To they turning the other cheek and making no arrests when loggers and security personel from LEAR ASSETT MANAGEMENT assault, threaten and aim firearms at forest protectors. There was the murder of David Gypsy Chain; According to Humboldt County Sheriff Department, Chain was struck by a falling tree while trying to stop logging.[5] He was killed instantly and died of massive head trauma. In response to his death, a Pacific Lumber Co. spokesperson said their logging crew did not see anybody in the area and were unaware of Chain’s presence.[6] Earth First! said that the loggers had been deliberately felling huge trees, in a perpendicular manner rather than downhill,[7] in the protesters’ direction.[8] One of the protesters also noted that the tree fellers were fully aware that they were there, as the activists had been “yelling at them, walking towards them, telling them ‘Don’t fall this tree'”.[7] On a videotape supplied by Earth First!, Arlington Earl Ammons, the 52-year-old logger responsible for falling the tree that caused Chain’s death can be heard shouting expletives and threatening the protesters.[1][7][9]
Based on the local sheriff’s probe, Humboldt County district attorney Terry Farmer decided not to press charges, concluding Ammons had not knowingly aimed a tree at any of the protesters.[1] Farmer concluded Chain’s death was an accident, and went further to say that he had considered charging Earth First! with involuntary manslaughter charges instead.
Civil suit and settlement Edit
Following the reticence of the district attorney to file criminal charges, Chain’s mother started a civil suit against Ammons, Pacific Lumber and its parent company, Maxxam, alleging they were reckless and responsible for the death of her son.[1]
A wrongful death settlement was reached three days before trial was scheduled to commence. Its financial terms remain undisclosed but other parts were made public, as a reminder of the tragedy, the 135-foot tree that struck Chain will remain where it fell, and a 100-foot buffer zone \ prevented any nearby logging. A memorial was also erected.
Lets not forget the bombing and subsequent framing of Darryl Cherney and Judi Bari.
There is a well documented history of discrimination against Forest Protectors in Humboldt and Mendocino Counties for decades. Watch the Murder of David Gypsy Chain Here: https://youtu.be/Ulq6OR0vyRo
Watch who bombed Judi Bari Here:
https://youtu.be/HWApxvSjMKY
He was trespassing and an active terrorist. He got his just reward. Not sorry for him at all.
For another view of the Bari Bombing, please go to theava.com Or find the PBS film by Steve Talbot, also called Who Bombed Judi Bari
Imagine that! A person earning their way in life needs to be accountable those not doing so… Tyrants and bullies come in all sort of political philosophies. Those however who think they have a right to physically interfere in someone legal activity because they personally believe something different ought not be so whiny at the physical nature of the reaction they create.
Give that numbnuts a job draggin’ chokers up and down a steep sided canyon, I’ll bet you a beer he wipes that fuckin’ anarchy bullshit off his lid the first day on the show…
Press release from the Civil Liberties Defense Center. Please remember that this is a press release from one side of a situation and not neutral reporting:
good thing I read this before proceeding
Ah yes 1998. I remember it well! Mendocino Redwood was created. That was just after the human rights watch organization Amnesty International declared Humboldt County Sheriffs human rights abusers with their improper use of pepper spray.(do not apply directly to eyes) This was usually awarded to third world countries. The head of Mendocino Redwood Company, owned by the Fisher family former owners of Gap and Old Navy, promised they were not cutting Old Growth and were looking into phasing out herbicides. I think I still have the interview on cassette tape. The head of MRC just couldn’t figure out how we brought an Old Growth Stump from their Mendocino forest to the New York Fifth Avenue Gap store where there were thousands of protesters. It was with the help of the NYPD and the Teamsters. The NYPD police kept thanking and helping us get around the city. They totally got it.
Budi Jari was way beyond the social skill level of these antifa college town freaks.
They wanna play partisan activist and lament how bad America is..
Have you heard what happens to actual journalists in Mexico?
I hope these kids realize how utterly ineffective and laughable they are to the broad working class public.
Throw in the towel kiddos, nobody believes a millennial in a pink hard hat with a anarchy logo scribbled on it
Meanness is the highest value of entitled americans. It’s gross.