Author
marco
ef locked down inside a staples in georgia this past weekend.
I think people were released yesterday, I still have to read
the rest of the stories.
Beth Lavoie, IMC/Atlanta
Atlanta, Saturday, Feb. 17th 2001
This afternoon, members of the environmental group Earth First! and other activists
occupied the new Staples office supply store on Ponce de Leon Avenue to protest the
company’s sale of paper made from clearcut southern forests.More than sixty
individuals from around the Southeast came to participate in the action that resulted in
8 arrests.
The event was part of a nationwide campaign, launched this past November, to raise
consumer awareness and pressure Staples to use more recycled paper products.
According to protest organizers, 97% of the paper products currently sold by Staples
are made from virgin wood fiber, fiber that is primarily supplied from clear-cut southern
forests. “This [Staples] is the largest corporate consumer of paper in the country”, says
Scott Quaranda, “if we can get them to shift their practices, to start using more recycled
paper, others in the industry will follow.” The community activist went on to explain the
issue was particularly pertinent to the southeast where 75% of the forests are privately
owned and therefore unprotected from clear-cutting.
At 12:30 pm, protestors gathered in the parking lot at Staples before entering the store
chanting and carrying signs. 8 participants blocked the paper aisle with 4 on either end
locking down using “bloody tree stumps” effigies. 2 police officers arrived on the scene
shortly and told all protestors to vacate the premises. The majority of participants,
minus those in lock down and several support people, moved outside to the sidewalk
in front of the business. From there the rally, which included a banner drop from the
store’s roof, continued with minimal police interference.
Throughout the action Staples management exhibited frustration while sales
associates remained calm. The managers refused to comment and told their sales
associates to do the same. However many expressed interest and sympathy to
protestors. On the other hand one sales associate felt the action was off target. “They
are in the wrong place. They should be at the White House protesting George Bush”,
he said, suggesting that the issue should be handled legislatively by making the
“proper law”.
A handful of customers continued to enter and leave despite the police line tape
cordoning off the store entrance. Some were supportive but most seemed indifferent to
the ongoing protest. A few even stepped nonchalantly over the people in lock down to
peruse the paper aisle. Meanwhile, larger numbers of police streamed into the store.
The individuals in lock down, who were informed several times by police that they
risked arrest, received one final warning from the store manager before the law
enforcers made their move. The officers, having dismantled the tree stump lock down
boxes, appeared at a loss as to how they would de-link the arms of the protestors
which were chained together inside of heavy gauge metal pipes. Eventually, the 8
protestors in lockdown were arrested and removed, (some walking, some being
carried,) from the store with their arms still linked. Participants in the action voluntarily
“unlocked” before entering the police van for transportation to the Atlanta City Jail.
Contrary to assurances made by APD Deputy Chief Derrick, who told organizers and
members of the media that the charge would be only misdemeanor criminal trespass,
the arrested protesters were also charged with felony obstruction of justice. The felony
charges have resulted in exorbitant bail being set for the eight nonviolent protestors.
They are expected to remain in jail until Monday when they will face arraignment.
For more information, contact Mickey Valis at 404-753-7496