While it’s certainly true that some well meaning progressives and radicals bandy about the pejorative “Nazi” somewhat carelessly, in the case of Eureka native Candace Boak, the proverbial shoe definitely fits. Nobody else among the reactionary enablers of corporate timber in Redwood country has demonstrated fascistic tendencies more closely or done the bidding of corporate timber more willingly than her, and during Redwood Summer this was especially evident. The wife of gyppo logging contractor John Boak, Candace was not just critical of Earth First! and all those associated with them, she had an obsessive hatred of the radical environmental movement. Since 1989 or earlier, she had or had assisted others in publishing phone press releases in the name of Earth First! with the intent of discrediting the latter. She had attempted to impersonate Judi Bari to the media and fellow Earth First! activist Michelle Dulas to a logger’s wife, in order to make the wife believe that her husband and Dulas were involved in a romantic tryst.[1] She had made alliances with the reactionary, violent, and terroristic Sahara Club. She had called Judi Bari and threatened her prior to the bombing.[2] She was connected with TEAM, WECARE, the Yellow Ribbon Coalition, and she had founded “Mothers’ Watch” along with her fellow reactionaries in order to harass and harangue supporters of Redwood Summer.[3] In the words of Bruce Anderson:
“Boak lives in Eureka from where she and her charming friends put a steady stream of crank letters forgeries, threatening phone calls, as they assist the timber industry solidify its national reputation as bullies, liars and cry babies. Lovely Candace and her friends claim to be the wives of loggers but are actually the wives of logging contractors (gyppos), the men who cut down trees for the giant corporations presently destroying the timber economy of Northern California for short-term gain. In the real world of work these people are known as management.
“Just as their men are America’s only workers, Mother’s Watch are America’s only mothers. Like their craven husbands, most of whom fortunately inherited their businesses without which blessing they’d be unable to compete in the world, Mothers’ Watch won’t debate any of the issues in public. Instead they get on the phones to place anonymous threats to businesses about where their ads appear. Naturally these night riders wrap themselves in the flag, an added bit of hypocrisy I especially appreciate.”[4]
In late June, Mothers Watch attempted to organize what they called a “boycott” of seventy two businesses in Humboldt County that advertised in EcoNews, which was the publication of the North Coast Environmental center, and the Country Activist, which had been published out of Garberville since 1985.[5] The targeted businesses were mostly retail outlets, particularly food and clothing shops; fifty three of them were located in Arcata, seventeen in Eureka, and one each in Ferndale and Fortuna. A seventy third business, Eureka Car Stereo had originally been listed as well, but had been removed from later versions of the list, because that business had ceased advertising in the two offending publications over a year before the initiation of the boycott.[6] Candace Boak justified the “boycott” thusly, declaring:
“(We are) tired of the lies. (Country Activist and EcoNews) glorify the radical environmentalist group Earth First!…Any consumer who cares about the future of ranching, fishing, mining, lumber production, of the multiple use of our lands (ought to support the boycott) of radical papers that support the radical terrorist group Earth First!…It’s misinformation (and) misinterpretation. That’s what we want to stop.”[7]
Boak’s accusations were baseless. While both publications were certainly friendly to Earth First!, neither were directly affiliated with the organization. The Country Activist’s owners and editors, Ruthanne Cecil and Bob Martel were always willing to allow those critical of or in opposition to Earth First!—or any other activist organization whose opinions might grace its pages—to submit their own opinions or rebuttals. Don Nelson frequently submitted his opinions to that publication, for example, and the Country Activist usually printed them. In Martel’s own words:
“We have kept these pages open to anyone who would tell us we were wrong. We have waited in vain for TEAM, WECARE, NCFI, or Mothers’ Watch to send us the ‘facts’, the theory, or even some realistic hope of ‘everything will be all right.’ In June of 1988, we published our ‘Timber Outlook’ article predicting essentially the conditions we now face, and we have sought industry data to disprove our thesis. There are no facts, no theories, and no realistic hope of following the timber industry and its allies to anything but the downturn we are about to experience. We are sad to report this.
“Of course, as the timber industry and its dependent employees, contractors and related industrial and retail businesses felt the pressure of change coming, denial of reality set in, and with Redwood Summer at its height, the industry turned (conveniently) angry. With the Prop 130 staring the industry in the face, they fought back, bringing the true nature of our common problem to the fore: we are a divided and therefore weakened community.
“There can be no other conclusion. The industry has led the charge against environmental efforts. By continuing to practice name calling and bullying, by engaging in disinformation and conducting a general assault upon the very economic base which is the most viable alternative to poverty, the industry has done a disservice to us all.[8]
EcoNews was similarly open to alternate viewpoints. Its editor, Andy Alm denounced the “boycott” as nothing more than a smear tactic. He also declared that he didn’t always agree with every viewpoint published in the periodical, but in the case of Earth First! in particular, its ubiquitous presence in the publication was more a reflection of the movement’s effectiveness and crucial role in modern environmentalism than any particular favorable orientation by the North Coast Environmental Center. Alm suggested that EcoNews’s advertisers represented a wide spectrum of perspectives and political views from all sides of the environmental issue, including those who mostly supported the timber industry to those who supported environmentalism, to everyone in between. No doubt many who considered themselves environmentalists were—like Earth First! – IWW Local #1—entirely sympathetic to the plight of timber workers.[9] Most local residents were smart enough to recognize, in any case, that an advertisement in a publication that reported on the activities of Earth First! was a substantially different thing than actually condoning such activities, and for the most part, the primary motivation of the business was to expand their clientele base.[10]
If anything, it was Mother’s Watch that was hiding in the shadows. At first they didn’t even take credit for the “boycott”, which led some to speculate that it was the product of Mothers’ Watch’s fellow travelers in the somewhat less extreme, but still quire reactionary organization WECARE,[11] though its executive director Paula Langager denied it.[12] Whoever was responsible, it was clear that they were not interested in civil and constructive debate. NEC director Tim McKay elaborated:
If Big Timber were truly interested in certainty, it would have long ago opened real dialogue with those vitally concerned with timber-related environmental issues. Boycotting EcoNews advertisers is like boycotting library users because you don’t like some of the books in the library.[13]
The “boycott” letters were initially anonymous, but they were later indeed traced to Mothers’ Watch. Boak and her associates at first denied that they had been responsible for the letters until allies of the group inadvertently revealed the truth.[14] Boak and her associates made harassing phone calls to the owners and workers of the targeted businesses and appeared in person to personally threaten the employees while on the job.[15] Naturally, Boak defended the actions of Mothers’ Watch claiming that she was defending democracy and free speech, declaring:
“We don’t have a problem with (Country Activist and EcoNews) saying and printing whatever they want to, but we also have the right to not spend our money (in advertisers’ stores)—and the right to inform other people not to spend their money there.
“We want the people in these stores to know that we feel very bashed by these papers and their lies.
“(The boycott) lessens tensions. There are a lot of people out there who have felt helpless. Now they can do something.”[16]
This was not the case, however. In fact, the owners and managers of most of the businesses targeted by this effort were understandably livid at being thus named. “I’ve been in business here twenty years and this is just not fair,” stated Brooks Otis, the owner of Wildwood Music in Arcata.[17] Mary Lew Olsen, manager of Mrs. Robinson’s, a lingerie shop with an outlet in Eureka, was stunned to find the business on the list, stating, “We advertised in EcoNews to advertiser our cotton sleepwear. We weren’t trying to make a statement.” Olsen emphasized that the business had no particular political agenda—other than remaining in business. Mrs. Robinsons had ended their advertising campaign well before the list had been published, and yet it still received inquiries from customers who had obtained copies of the list. Steve Scolari, manager of Eureka Car Stereo noted that a great many of the businesses on the list hadn’t advertised in either publication for quite some time.[18] Arcata City Councilman Sam Pennisi, owner of the Lady Anne Bed and Breakfast Inn, which was also located in Arcata, declared “This is about as bad as anything Earth First! has done,” which was not really accurate, as Earth First! had never done anything as cowardly as this. He added,
“If we’re being blamed for supporting environmental causes, I’m not ashamed. If we’re being lumped in with Earth First! then I have a big problem with that. I consider myself an environmentalist, and I consider Earth First! radicals. I’ve been working on environmental issues longer than when some of them were born, but I don’t pick my advertising choices because of their editorial policy. An anonymous hit letter. That’s the worst. That’s cowardly.”[19]
Seeking to put an end to the polarization in the county over timber issues, Pennisi was motivated enough to announce his candidacy to replace Humboldt County 3rd District Supervisor Wesley Chesbro who announced his resignation in August. His principal opponent was WeCARE member Arthur Eddy.[20]
Carlotta resident and Mothers Watch spokeswoman Jeanna Robledo not only defended the boycott she peppered it with what were essentially threats and blackmail:
“If you advertise in publications such as the (sic) EcoNews, you are helping to support the radical behavior of groups such as Earth First!…
“Earth First! has been picking our pockets supported by money these advertisers provided. All they buy with their ‘ad’ money is lies and misinformation to be spread by Earth First! to the misinformed, who become the misled.
“We are going to be heard now. We are using facts and truths. All the people need to do is listen. Let’s be rational, not radical.
“Merchants, do you wish to be removed from this boycott list? Try openly and publicly renouncing all ties to Earth First!, the (sic) EcoNews, and all ‘radical’ (sic) environmental groups.
“You could take out a full-page ad in the local papers. You could make a donation to an opposition organization, you could put a large sign in your storefront in support of the timber industry, or you could file Chapter 11, dry up and blow away.
“Now that you are wearing our shoes, you choose how far to walk in them.”[21]
One may have asked “are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party.” Evidently Robledo, who claimed to be so concerned with the plight of local businesses, was not adverse to driving them out of business in order to further her own political ends, as evidenced by her “put up or file for bankruptcy” threat. Full page advertisements, even in local publications, were not cheap, and certainly beyond the means of many of the targeted enterprises.
Many advertisers who continued to advertise in both Country Activist and EcoNews were adamant in their intent to keep doing so. Phil Ricord, Marketing Manager for North Coast Coop—whose three outlets, which were located in Arcata, Eureka, and Fortuna, were all on the list—declared, “We are not currently planning to be affected in our advertising at any level.”[22] Craig Redwine, who owned targeted Kinkos franchises in Arcata and Eureka declared, “It just represents the whole spectrum of emotions going on up here. If I’m going to be lumped in with Earth First!, then that’s the way it’s going to be, because I don’t intend to withdraw my ad.[23] He added, “I think that this sort of thing is the worst thing they can do. It just builds more walls between the different sides in the situation, polarizing the situation even more. A blacklist doesn’t promote any compromise, understanding, or solutions.”[24] EcoNews editor Andy Alm argued that if anything the boycott would mainly only hurt the targeted businesses and would likely polarize the issue still further.[25]
Indeed it did, to the point of hysteria, not unlike that experienced during the Salem Witch Trials or McCarthyism. On July 11, 1990, in an unrelated, coincidental development, the Wall Street Journal issued a report about businesses donating money to charitable causes citing Safeway as an example of a business donating to environmental concerns in particular, which lead Eureka resident Lowell S Mengel II to call for a nationwide boycott of the corporation, even to the point of driving it out of business if necessary. Mengel did not mention Earth First! specifically, but he railed against “anti-democratic national socialist groups” and “fifth column” stores, no doubt in reference to the Mothers’ Watch Boycott.[26] This declaration was so outlandish that even the conservative Eureka Times-Standard contacted Safeway spokeswoman Debra Lambert, who divulged that the corporation has an agreement with its employees to match charitable contributions to the organization of the employees’ choice. The organization in question was the Environmental Federation of California (EFC), a small umbrella fundraising group for twenty organizations, including California Trout Fishing, Save the Whales, and the Sierra Club, and had no connection whatsoever to Earth First!.[27] This revelation was not enough for the foaming-at-the-mouth reactionaries who had been whipped up into a mob mentality by Mothers’ Watch, such as Redway resident Pat E. Newton, who opined that since EFC was supporting the Sierra Club, it was indirectly supporting Earth First!, tree spiking, equipment sabotage, and property destruction, though (of course) Newton offered no substantive proof of such claims.[28] Ward M Mengel of Fortuna offered similar thoughts, arguing that Safeway should be boycotted simply because one of its workers supported the Sierra Club and the latter’s support for Forests Forever alone warranted throwing Safeway under the bus.[29]
Local reactionaries also called for a boycott of McDonalds (of all things), because the corporation had recently made a (rather token) gesture of support towards the preservation of the Brazilian rainforests, by pledging not to (directly) purchase beef produced from cattle that grazed on rainforest land that had been clearcut. That corporation had recently published an ad announcing their stance which showed a chainsaw blade twisted into a knot to symbolize the development.[30] This ad evidently offended local reactionaries, such as Stewart, who saw it as capitulation to Earth First!. It is certainly true that the efforts to draw attention to the “Hamburger Connection” had originated with Earth First!—though the primary target of their campaign had been Burger King, who remained unrepentant in their willingness to purchase beef from Brazlian cattle.[31] Local McDonalds franchise owners Dan and Sue Daley, Scott Collins, and Nick Vergis, who owned outlets at Arcata, Fortuna, downtown Eureka, and at the Bayshore Mall in southern Eureka (where the 1935 Holmes-Eureka strike and massacre took place), tried to calm fears by pointing out that the advertisement, though perhaps provocative, was never intended to suggest that McDonalds was not supportive of the “local” timber industry and that they did not “support or condone radical or violent groups who threaten jobs in our community, harm people, or property”, meaning Earth First!, presumably.[32] That these local franchise owners were willing to throw Earth First! under the bus—by parroting the falsehoods about it spread by the timber industry and its reactionary enablers—should have been clear indication that they did not support it, but given the mentality of reactionaries like Pat E. Newton and the general fervor of reactionary mob hysteria, such reassurances were likely futile.
Eureka resident B. Stewart called for extending the boycott to include Pepsi-Cola, because she had heard—erroneously—that Pepsi donated to Earth First!. That inaccuracy was so farfetched, that it moved WECARE executive coordinator Paula Langager to claim that only two major corporations were known to have donated money to the movement, those being Patagonia, an outdoor clothing catalog, and the clothing chain Esprit.[33] This was an ironic admission, considering that, according to Judi Bari, Langager was not above subterfuge herself.[34] Esprit “Eco-desk” spokeswoman Susan Alexander rebutted Langager, stating for the record that though the company was concerned with both preserving “irreplaceable” old growth forests “and…loggers’ jobs”, it had “never given money to Earth First!”[35] Pepsi also denied that they donated money to Earth First!, though it did donate to charitable organizations like Easter Seals and the United Way as well as local media outlets, like KEET TV and various youth organizations, according to Jeff Sutton, the General Manager of the local bottling plant.[36] At least B. Stewart had the decency to apologize for the inaccuracy.[37] The very notion that any corporation would even consider making a donation to such an openly anti-corporate organization as Earth First! was absurd, and it should have been clear evidence that the Mothers’ Watch blacklist was nothing less than a witch hunt. Whether it had been intended as such or not, it certainly took on the characteristics of one. Eureka resident E Baker reported that one local business, a petrol supplier, even threatened to fire employees who patronized any of the businesses on the list, a stance which was ironic given the tendency of reactionaries to hide behind the shield of “patriotism” and preach about “America the free”.[38]
In fact, the only defenders of the blacklist were supporters of corporate timber and Mothers Watch themselves, and it’s even likely that most of their statements in defense of the boycott were derived from a preapproved form letter that contained a list of talking points. For example, both Nila Cruzan[39] and Carla J. Sammons[40]—both residents of Rio Dell, wrote letters comparing the Mothers’ Watch blacklist to a boycott by progressive activists, and both letters cited redwood products, Folgers Coffee, and table grapes as examples. Both letters referred to Earth First! as “radical terrorists”.[41] Interestingly enough, Nila Cruzon’s husband was none other than Dave Cruzon who—according to Paula Langager—was responsible for the creation of at least some of the fake Earth First! press releases that were circulated at the time Judi Bari, et. al. were receiving death threats.[42] Bayside resident Jerry Partain defended the boycotts by arguing that they weren’t as egregious as using “bombs” and “sabotage”[43], which implied that Earth First! was, though by the time Partain made his statements (July 23), Bari and Cherney had been exonerated, and as had been pointed out numerous times, Earth First! was not engaging in any sabotage. Partain’s opinions were matched closely by J.G Wylands of Arcata who denounced Earth First! as “suspected bomb carriers, tree spikers, and (saboteurs).”[44]
In spite of all of the fear and hysteria generated by Mothers’ Watch, their blacklist attempt failed.
EcoNews editor Andy Alm accurately predicted that it would backfire, even to the point of increasing donations to environmental causes.[45] Eureka resident E Baker promised to hand out the boycott list to others in order to encourage them to patronize the blacklisted businesses.[46] Most residents who shared any opinion on the matter at all (who were not closely associated with Mother’s Watch) reacted most negatively to the so-called “boycott”. Arcata resident Katherine Lee expressed her thoughts, stating:
“While I can understand Mothers’ Watch lashing out at the perceived manifestation of the enemy, the effort is as misdirected as it is futile.
“No attempt was made to differentiate between those who actively support these publications and those who placed ads for purely business reasons.
“Apparently, many think that everyone on the list supports Earth First! much to the chagrin of the more conservative business owners included on the list…”[47]
A few businesses did pull their advertisements from the aforementioned publications, but these were more than offset by others who established new accounts in direct response to the McCarthyesque tactics of Boak and her ilk.[48] Arcata business owner, Shawn Common elaborated:
“As a small business owner, I’ve invested countless hours, mortgaged my home., and flushed many dollars back into this local economy. I don’t want to see this area fall into any further depression than already exists. I don’t want the timber workers to lose their livelihood anymore than I want to lose my own. Directly or indirectly, that would affect all of us.
“Because a small business owner advertises in the Times-Standard or on a local country-western radio station, it does not mean he supports or condones the timber industry, the pulp mills, or the local tourist trade. It only means he is trying to reach a portion of the market share…
“Regarding the boycott, yes, I’m on the list and I’ve received both threatening and obscene phone calls and propaganda. However it seems to have had a reverse effect, and I’m now busier than ever…
“I don’t condone or necessarily condemn Earth First! or the environmentalists…(though) I would like to leave a livable, healthy planet to my child and her children.”[49]
The only substantial effect of the “boycott” was to increase and accelerate the already growing polarization of the north coast communities. Even the Eureka, Arcata, and Eel River Ministerial Associations issued a rare joint “Statement of Concern” calling on everyone to “renounce violent and divisive behavior, and to seek together the higher ground.” The statement added, “We are resolved to stand firm in our commitment to respect for persons, and for the environment.” Meanwhile, the Arcata City Council passed a proclamation denouncing the “boycott” as “polarizing”.[50] Trinidad resident Robert McCune reacted to the local clergy’s call for peace by asking where the minister’s concerns had been when Earth First:
“spiked trees causing a millworkers’ face to be torn to pieces,…(destroyed) logging equipment,…(printed) booklets in which they teach their children how to spike trees and destroy private property,…set fire to and destroyed a livestock auction building,…knocked down an elderly woman when she and her family were attempting to cut down some oak trees on their own property,…(and) spoke of strapping explosives to their bodies and blowing up dams and other structures?”[51]
McCune claimed neither he nor any of his family had any connection to the timber industry, and it was obvious he had little connection to the facts, because all of his accusations were untruths, distortions, or quotations taken out of context. Yet many people believed them in no small part due to timber industry propaganda. The clergymen worked through various channels, including of Middle Ground, but Mothers’ Watch wasn’t particularly interested in negotiations. Members of both WECARE and Mothers’ Watch participated in Middle Ground, as did many of the owners, managers, and workers of the targeted businesses[52], but it can be easily demonstrated that the reactionaries’ participation in the group was mostly insincere.
The timber industry preferred to operate in the shadows and leave the propagandizing, the harassment and suppression of dissidents, and the violence to vigilante mobs and front groups, and Mothers Watch was typical of such organizations.[53] In the heyday of the IWW, employers hid behind the cover of “Good Citizens’ Leagues” and the like. One such organization was the North Coast Forest Industry (NCFI) which was a coalition of corporate timber representatives, including Pacific Lumber’s Mary Bulwinkel, who served as the organizations secretary-treasurer. On Monday, July 9, 1990 The NCFI initiated a campaign to raise funds from Humboldt County for full-page advertisements in the Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle exposing “The Big Lie”, which they claimed was spread by Earth First!, that “the last redwood tree is being cut, that a clearcut is a clearcut forever, and that the environment up here is in grave danger.” [54] Earth First! had never, not once, ever made the first claim, but it was no lie that no clearcut forests had fully recovered to match the level of biomass and diversity extant in old growth stands, and the last remaining old growth redwood ecosystems were severely imperiled by corporate liquidation logging.[55] At least one Ferndale resident, Gina C. Sheehey, quipped, “If wildlife was so abundant, then why was the spotted owl listed as threatened?”[56] The publications were chosen specifically to target what the NCFI considered to be the most likely bastions of support for Proposition 130, Forests Forever, namely the Los Angeles metropolitan area and the greater San Francisco Bay Area. A full page advertisement in the Sunday edition of the Chronicle (which at the time was combined with the Sunday edition of the San Francisco Examiner with which the former had a joint-operating agreement) could reach potentially one-and one-half million readers and cost $35,000 whereas one in the Times could potentially be seen by as many as four million and cost $55,000.[57] The NCFI planned to air advertisements on Monday, July 9, and Tuesday, July 10, 1990 on local radio stations KEKA, KFLI, KINS, KFMI, and KNCR to appeal to residents and local businesses to fund the much more expensive advertisements in the aforementioned publications.[58]
Bulwinkel justified the industry’s propagandizing, claiming that the media glorified Earth First! by offering “favorable” coverage of the demonstrations it organized, though she would have been hard pressed to back up her claim had anyone in the corporate media had the temerity to ask her to prove it. Certainly most of the local mainstream media was clearly biased against Redwood Summer and Forests Forever. The logistics of the campaign were coordinated by Donna Aahlberg, co-owner of the Eureka-based advertising agency Aahlberg and Cox, who was also a member of the NCFI and clearly biased against Redwood Summer and Forests Forever, which she demonstrated by declaring, “We’re inviting people to come up here and find out for themselves what the true picture is on the North Coast. There’s been a lot of negative information that’s gone into these markets that’s not true. People up here are tired of hearing that the last redwood is about to fall.” Most of the five media outlets were no less biased against the Greens and made no secret of their dislike or outright political opposition to them. Keith Allgood, general manager of Fortuna based KNCR-AM declared that he willingly donated $600 worth of airtime to NCFI because he was “pro-timber” adding that “it was the one industry that is viable on the North Coast.” His colleague, Mike Martin, general manager of both KATA-AM and KFMI-FM in Arcata chose not to reveal whether or not NCFI paid for advertising on his stations, but declared that the campaign would, “undo some of the wrong type of image that is being set forth down south of the timber industry and the management of such in our area.”[59] The NCFI also ran ads in local publications, including the Eureka Times-Standard, seeking donations.[60]
Tim McKay of the North Coast Environmental Center countered the NCFI by pointing out that corporate timber had only themselves to blame for its negative reputation. Said McKay,
“(Corporate timber) has been lying (for) so long that it’s lost its credibility with the people. They’ve been screaming about the same old stuff for 30 or 40 years now. They’ve stonewalled any sort of responsible moderate environmental leaders for decades here, and now they’re going to complain that they’re not going to get a very good deal from people who are very far away. ”[61]
By doing this, McKay inadvertently brought the connections between the timber industry and Mothers’ Watch out in the open. The weekend following the airing of the ads, Mothers’ Watch”, led by Candace Boak, Diana Mendes, and Mariebelle Anderson held a pro-corporate timber rally at Arcata Ball Park, beginning just before noon, followed by a march about 200 strong in to the North Coast Environmental Center in Arcata.[62] There they announced their intent to dispel “The Big Lie”, as described by the NCFI, before returning to their starting point.[63] Although such a small rally would hardly seem like international news, it was covered by the Associated Press.[64]
At the rally, the participants held American flags and some sold bumper stickers and hats with slogans reading, “Jobs First!” as well as the Earth First! fist logo with a red circle and slash through it. Maribelle Anderson, a former cheerleader, had attempted to fire up the crowd by leading chants with slogans such as “It’s OK to be a logger”; “It’s OK to be a millworker”; and “It’s OK to be a trucker”. The counterdemonstrators carried signs which read, “”Earth First Out of the USA!”, “Earth First is the Problem, Not the Solution”, and “Would You Trust Your Children’s Future to Earth First!?” Fake tombstones, each bearing the name of an actual timber dependent family were lined up along the wall of a nearby building at the starting point. Some carried wooden crosses with the date of the upcoming election, November 6, 1990, printed on them to suggest that the passage of Proposition 130 would be the “death” of their jobs. When they reached their destination, at the NEC, chanted slogans such as, “Earth First! Go Home” (still ignorant or dismissive of the fact that the NEC and Earth First! were different entities); “Common People Use Common Sense”; and “No More Lawsuits!” Candace Boak indicated that Mothers’ Watch would organize more, similar events, declaring, “I’m hoping that they realize that we mean business. If we have to go to we’re going to go to San Francisco and Los Angeles and knock on doors.” Said Mendes, “There’s Earth First!, the obstructionists on one side and the corporations on the other and they’ve got us caught in the middle, the families. If you have problems with the industry, you work with that industry, you don’t squash it and kill it.”[65] Mendes was apparently unaware that environmentalists had been attempting to do exactly that for a generation, with little or no effect. The NEC had anticipated the march and had responded by draping a giant banner on their building which read, “Welcome. We support your right to demonstrate. Let’s talk.” As the march terminated at the nearby intersection of 9th and I Streets, it was met by about fifty environmentalists who offered the former cakes, cookies, and other snacks, an act that one Mothers’ Watch supporter dismissed as “Harassment.”[66]
Mendes pronunciation that Mothers’ Watch represented a middle ground between Earth First! and timber corporations was at best naïve and at worst, disingenuous. Mothers’ Watch supporter K. R. Nelson declared that its failed boycott was what would happen to all businesses on the North Coast if all of the areas forests were “locked up” by those who believed “the big lie”.[67] Candace Boak claimed that the entire rally had been paid for out of pocket by Mothers’ Watch members, but a photograph accompanying a Eureka Times-Standard article covering the march by David Forester depicts most of the marchers carrying signs reading “We Support Our Timber Industry”[68] which had been conceived of by Mothers’ Watch supporter Ann Dean and her husband Randy[69], but whose design had been refined by assistance from L-P by Ann Dean’s own admission.[70] Furthermore, the organizers chose for the event the theme, “Take Back America”, which was a reprisal of the time honored strategy of framing the issue as “God fearing (conservative, naturally) Americans” versus “foreign radical bogeymen”, which is a propaganda tool often used by corporate apologists.[71] As if to emphasize the point, at least one demonstrator carried a sign which read, “If Judi Bari truly cared about the American Worker, she wouldn’t drive a Subaru”, never once considering the possibility that Bari had either received the car as a donation or purchased it used, which—either way—made the location of the vehicle’s manufacture irrelevant.[72]
Jeanna Robledo had called for boycott supporters to be “rational, not radical”, but there was nothing at all rational about mob mentality and an absolute refusal to hold a dialogue with those with whom one disagreed—which ironically was an accusation often leveled against environmental activists by the Yellows. The problem didn’t end there, however. In towns throughout the county, McKinleyville especially, black and yellow signs reading “Boycott Arcata”, the town in which Humboldt State University is located very similar to Ann and Randy Dean’s “We Support Our Timber Industry” signs. Sometimes both appeared side-by-side. Mrs. Ryan Herz, also a McKinleyville resident noticed two hand painted signs on a nearby lawn which read, “Nuke Arcata, Nuke HSU”, which she considered vile and incendiary.[73] The signs were no doubt a combined response to the perceived heavy presence of Earth First!ers at HSU, the NEC, and the Arcata City Council’s recent passing of a “Nuclear Free Zone” ordinance, which was yet another anathema to the rabid right.[74] The lawn in question belonged to Mrs. Janis E Fink and her husband; the former justified the signs’ presence by citing the usual litany of half truths and distortions about environmentalists and accused them of “worshipping an amateur bomb maker who doesn’t sing well either”.[75] This was the hatred the corporate masters had spawned by their divide and conquer tactics and their incendiary rhetoric. This was the lengths to which they were willing to go to hold on to their power and continue reaping their profits. Simpson pulp mill worker Dave Chism would note some eight years later, that little had changed since the Homes-Eureka strike of 1935, and he was correct.[76]
Mothers’ Watch continued to do NFCI’s bidding. On August 16, 1990, Mothers’ Watch, and Candace Boak in particular, mobilized over 100 of their supporters, including many which the press uncritically identified as “timber workers” to rally at Hal Arbit’s Concord Capital Management office in San Mateo County, protesting the venture capitalist’s financial backing of the Forests Forever initiative. The demonstrators carried signs which read, “No on 130” and “Families not Profits”, which was surreally ironic given the industry front group’s generally uncritical defense of profiteering. Despite the fact that no direct or indirect connection between Arbit and Earth First! had been proven, some of the signs read, “Earth First! plus Investment Banker = Proposition 130.”[77] Such rallies and the announced plans to target potential swing voters in the Bay Area and Los Angeles matched exactly plans made by corporate timber’s anti Proposition 130 / pro Proposition 138 coordinators to use timber workers ad their supporters as cats’ paws.[78] The only “big lies” and deception being spread were those of corporate timber and their followers.
Notes:
[1] “No on Boak and Boakism”, letter to the editor by Darryl Cherney, Anderson Valley Advertiser, December 19, 1990.
[2] “The Earth First! Car Bombing”, by Judi Bari, Earth First! Journal, Brigid / February 2, 1994.
[3] “Blacklist, Blackmail Stalk North Coast”, by Andy Alm, EcoNews, August 1990.
[4] “Here and There in Mendocino County”, by Bruce Anderson, Anderson Valley Advertiser, August 15, 1990.
[5] “Pro-Timber Group Blacklists Local Businesses: Mother’s Watch List Targets 72 North Coast Firms”, by Charles Winkler, Eureka Times-Standard, July 11, 1990.
[6] “Boycott Draws Mixed Reactions by Advertisers”, by Charles Winkler, Eureka Times-Standard, July 11, 1990.
[7] “Pro-Timber Group Blacklists Local Businesses: Mother’s Watch List Targets 72 North Coast Firms”, by Charles Winkler, Eureka Times-Standard, July 11, 1990.
[8] “Editorial: Get Real”, by Bob Martel, Country Activist, September 1990.
[9] “Pro-Timber Group Blacklists Local Businesses: Mother’s Watch List Targets 72 North Coast Firms”, by Charles Winkler, Eureka Times-Standard, July 11, 1990.
[10] “Ads Don’t Reflect Agreement”, letter to the editor by E. Baker, Eureka Times-Standard, July 28, 1990.
[11] “Environmentalists in Business”, letter to the editor by Norma Johnson, Eureka Times-Standard, June 12, 1990; Johnson was a supporter of Mothers’ Watch and WECARE; and “Business and the Environment”, letter to the editor by Laurie French, Mother Goose Clothing, Eureka Times Standard, June 24, 1990; French claimed to support both the environmentalists and the timber industry.
[12] “Business List Unavailable”, letter to the editor by Paula Langager, Eureka Times-Standard, June 27, 1990.
[13] “Nature Nazis”, by Tim McKay, EcoNews, August 1990.
[14] “Pro-timber Flyer Blacklisting Businesses Draws Angry Back-blast”, by Mike Geniella, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, June 28, 1990.
[15] “Blacklist, Blackmail Stalk North Coast”, by Andy Alm, EcoNews, August 1990.
[16] “Pro-Timber Group Blacklists Local Businesses: Mother’s Watch List Targets 72 North Coast Firms”, by Charles Winkler, Eureka Times-Standard, July 11, 1990.
[17] “Pro-timber Flyer Blacklisting Businesses Draws Angry Back-blast”, by Mike Geniella, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, June 28, 1990.
[18] “Boycott Draws Mixed Reactions by Advertisers”, by Charles Winkler, Eureka Times-Standard, July 11, 1990.
[19] “Pro-timber Flyer Blacklisting Businesses Draws Angry Back-blast”, by Mike Geniella, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, June 28, 1990.
[20] “Eddy, Pennisi Join 3rd District Contest”, by Mark Rathjen, Eureka Times-Standard, August 8, 1990.
[21] “Welcome to the Fry Pan”, letter to the editor by Jeanna Robledo, Eureka Times-Standard, July 14, 1990.
[22] “Boycott Draws Mixed Reactions by Advertisers”, by Charles Winkler, Eureka Times-Standard, July 11, 1990.
[23] “Pro-timber Flyer Blacklisting Businesses Draws Angry Back-blast”, by Mike Geniella, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, June 28, 1990.
[24] “Boycott Draws Mixed Reactions by Advertisers”, by Charles Winkler, Eureka Times-Standard, July 11, 1990.
[25] “Pro-Timber Group Blacklists Local Businesses: Mother’s Watch List Targets 72 North Coast Firms”, by Charles Winkler, Eureka Times-Standard, July 11, 1990.
[26] “Report on Donations Criticized”, letter to the editor by Lowell S. Mengel II, Eureka Times-Standard, July 18, 1990.
[27] Editor’s Response, Eureka Times-Standard, July 18, 1990.
[28] “Safeway Should Rethink Donations”, letter to the editor by Pat E Newton, Eureka Times-Standard, July 28, 1990.
[29] “Sierra Club Aids Initiative”, letter to the editor by Ward M Mengel, Eureka Times-Standard, August 3, 1990.
[30] “Restaurant’s Ad Was Misunderstood”, letter to the editor by Dan and Sue Daley, et. al., Eureka Times-Standard, July 12, 1990.
[31] “Rainforest Burgers”, by Mike Roselle, Earth First! Journal, Samhain / November 1, 1983; “Burger King Protest Set”, by Mike Roselle, Earth First! Journal, Eostar / March 20, 1984; “Earth First! Protests Rainforest Burgers, by Mike Roselle (ref) and “Burger King Protested for Rainforest Destruction”, Earth First! Journal, Litha / June 20, 1984; and “Your Taxes Destroy Rainforests; Development Agencies Finance Conversion of rainforests to Hamburgers”, by Greg Marskell, Earth First! Journal, Samhain / November 1, 1984.
[32] “Restaurant’s Ad Was Misunderstood”, letter to the editor by Dan and Sue Daley, et. al., Eureka Times-Standard, July 12, 1990.
[33] “Business List Unavailable”, letter to the editor by Paula Langager, Eureka Times-Standard, June 27, 1990.
[34] “The Earth First! Car Bombing”, by Judi Bari, Earth First! Journal, Brigid / February 2, 1994.
[35] “Esprit Denies Earth First! Funds”, letter to the editor by Susan Alexander, Eureka Times-Standard, August 12, 1990.
[36] “No donation to Earth First!”, letter to the editor by Jeff Sutton, Eureka Times-Standard, June 27, 1990.
[37] “Reader Apologizes for Pepsi Reference”, letter to the editor, Eureka Times-Standard, July 12, 1990.
[38] “Ads Don’t Reflect Agreement”, letter to the editor by E. Baker, Eureka Times-Standard, July 28, 1990.
[39] “Advertisers Know Consequences”, letter to the editor by Nila Cruzon, Eureka Times-Standard, July 12, 1990.
[40] “Mothers’ Watch Boycott Supported”, letter to the editor by Carla J. Sammons, Eureka Times-Standard, July 13, 1990.
[41] Cruzon and Sammons, op. cit.
[42] “The Earth First! Car Bombing”, by Judi Bari, Earth First! Journal, Brigid / February 2, 1994.
[43] “Timber Workers and Mothers’ Watch”, letter to the editor by Jerry Partain, Eureka Times-Standard, July 23, 1990.
[44] “Thanks Mommies for Your Hit List”, letter to the editor, Eureka Times-Standard, August 4, 1990.
[45] “Pro-Timber Group Blacklists Local Businesses: Mother’s Watch List Targets 72 North Coast Firms”, by Charles Winkler, Eureka Times-Standard, July 11, 1990.
[46] “Ads Don’t Reflect Agreement”, letter to the editor by E. Baker, Eureka Times-Standard, July 28, 1990.
[47] “Ad Boycott is Misdirected”, letter to the editor by Katherine Lee, Eureka Times-Standard, July 22, 1990.
[48] “Blacklist, Blackmail Stalk North Coast”, by Andy Alm, EcoNews, August 1990.
[49] Letter to the editor by Shawn Common, Eureka Times-Standard, July 22, 1990.
[50] “Clergymen Unite Over Polarization”, by H. A Tillaghast, et. al., published as a letter to the editor, Eureka Times-Standard, July 22, 1990.
[51] “Ministers’ Concern May Be Too Late”, letter to the editor, Eureka Times-Standard, August 2, 1990.
[52] “Ads Don’t Reflect Agreement”, letter to the editor by E. Baker, Eureka Times-Standard, July 28, 1990.
[53] Deal, Carl, The Greenpeace Guide to Anti-Environmental Organizations, Berkeley, CA., Odonian Press - The Real Story series, 1993, pages 7-22.
[54] “Timber Industry Backers Seek Help in Fight Against ‘Big Lie’”, by David Forester, Eureka Times-Standard, July 14, 1990.
[55] “Waferboard: The Final Solution”, speech by Judi Bari at L-P’s chip mill near Ukiah, California, June 16, 1989 reprinted in Timber Wars, by Judi Bari, 1994.
[56] “People Won’t Miss Clear Cuts”, letter to the editor, by Gina C Sheehey, Eureka Times-Standard, July 14, 1990.
[57] “Timber Industry Backers Seek Help in Fight Against ‘Big Lie’”, by David Forester, Eureka Times-Standard, July 14, 1990.
[58] “Timber Group Plans Fundraiser”, Eureka Times Standard, July 6, 1990.
[59] “Timber Industry Backers Seek Help in Fight Against ‘Big Lie’”, by David Forester, Eureka Times-Standard, July 14, 1990.
[60] “Together We Can End the Big Lie!”, paid advertisement, Eureka Times-Standard, July 8, 1990.
[61] “Timber Industry Backers Seek Help in Fight Against ‘Big Lie’”, by David Forester, Eureka Times-Standard, July 14, 1990.
[62] “Taking it to the Steers; Area Timber Industry Supporters Take Their Message into Earth First! Environmental Stronghold in Arcata.”, by David Forster, Eureka Times Standard, July 15, 1990
[63] “Protests Prompt Community Action”, by Leslie Weiss, The Lumberjack, August 29, 1990.
[64] “Mothers’ Watch Holds Rally”, AP Wire, Ukiah Daily Journal, July 15, 1990.
[65] “Taking it to the Steers; Area Timber Industry Supporters Take Their Message into Earth First! Environmental Stronghold in Arcata.”, by David Forster, Eureka Times Standard, July 15, 1990. Emphasis added.
[66] “Blacklist, Blackmail Stalk North Coast”, by Andy Alm, EcoNews, August 1990.
[67] “‘Big Lie’ and Forestlands”, letter to the editor by K. R. Nelson, Eureka Times-Standard, July 16, 1990.
[68] “Taking it to the Steers; Area Timber Industry Supporters Take Their Message into Earth First! Environmental Stronghold in Arcata.”, by David Forster, Eureka Times Standard, July 15, 1990.
[69] “Word Smith: Couple Harnasses the Power of Words to Even the Odds in the Timber Crisis”, by David Forster, Eureka Times-Standard, July 1, 1990. Ironically, Dean credits Redwood Summer for raising the issue and conceds that not everything Earth First!ers had been saying for years had been wrong.
[70] “L-P Improves Pro-timber Sign”, letter to the editor by Ann Dean, Eureka Times-Standard, June 30, 1990. The date is not incorrect. The timing of this letter and the article that followed the next day, which does not mention L-P’s involvement is strangely ironic given the circumstances.
[71] “Mothers Witness”, letter to the editor by Dwain Goforth, EcoNews, August 1990.
[72] The photograph accompanies the article, “200 March in Arcata Rally”, by Richard Mann, Humboldt Beacon and Fortuna Advance, July 19, 1990.
[73] “Anti-Arcata Sign Disturbing”, letter to the editor by Mrs Ryan Herz, Eureka Times-Standard, July 19, 1990.
[74] “Arcata OKs Nuclear Designation”, Eureka Times-Standard, August 2, 1990.
[75] “Anti-Arcata Signs Explained”, letter to the editor by Mrs. Janis E Fink, Eureka Times-Standard, August 2, 1990.
[76] “The Public Outlaw Show: Democracy is Not a Spectator Sport”, Dave Chism and Bob Cramer, interviewed by Dan Fortson on KMUD FM, November 27, 1997.
[77] “Timber Workers Protest Backer of Initiative”, Eureka Times-Standard, August 17, 1990.
[78] “Forests Forever Means More Timber, More Jobs”, by Marilyn Sterling, EcoNews, October 1990.