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Rites set for forest activist Chain's relatives to travel from Texas to attend local memorials Last week it was a Pacific Lumber road leading to a logging site near Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park. This week it's the "Gypsy Free State" -- an around the clock blockade maintained by environmental activists. Earth First activist David "Gypsy" Chain, 24, of Coldsprings, Texas, died last Thursday after a tree fell on him. PL officials maintain the death was accidental and that loggers didn't know anyone was in the area when they cut the tree that fell on Chain. Earth Firsters say they were in the area trying to engage the loggers in dialogue about their activities and that the loggers were purposely falling trees in their direction. About 30 activists were at the blockade Wednesday morning. The entrance to the road was blocked by logs, rocks, branches, bales of hay, and couches. About five people were linked behind the barrier in sleeve devices and one had a bicycle lock linking him to a barrier. A little farther up the road at PL's metal gate, another blockade was formed with an old car, logs, and rocks. Some activists spent the night in sleeping bags between the car and the barrier. Earth First spokeswoman Karen Pickett said Wednesday that as far as she knew, there had been no arrests or logging activity Wednesday. PL officials said Wednesday in a news release that here will be no operations today at the logging site where Chain was killed. Chain's funeral is today in Pasadena, Texas. Earth Firsters will hold a demonstration beginning at noon today. "This will be a sad day for everyone," PL President John Campbell said. "It is my hope that after a day of careful reflection on Thursday, we will all finally be ready to give up the past so that we can begin working together for the future of the North Coast," Campbell said. Members of Chain's family will come to Humboldt County next week for a couple of memorial services. One will probably be on Monday at the site, Earth Firsters said. Another is planned for Tuesday -- the evening before Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year. An investigation by the Humboldt County Sheriff's Department continues, and officials don't know if any charges will be filed. Redway attorney Jay Moller said in a letter to District Attorney Terry Farmer, that at the very least involuntary manslaughter charges should be filed against the logger who cut the tree that killed Chain. If a jury was to convict the logger of involuntary manslaughter, it would have to believe beyond a reasonable doubt that a reasonable and "ordinarily prudent, careful person" would not have fallen the tree under the same circumstances, Moller said. Moller also requested that the crime scene be preserved and an independent investigator be assigned to the case. He hasn't spoken directly to Chain's family, but thinks it's likely a civil suit will be filed. Farmer said he's not going to decide whether charges should be filed until the investigation is complete. "You want to look at all the facts before you draw any conclusions," he said Wednesday. "Cases are not made on rumors on superstition." Farmer said he's confident the Humboldt County Sheriff's Department can conduct a thorough, impartial, and complete investigation. If other agencies think they should come in and investigate, officials will cooperate, he added.
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