Orick CA: The Rural Cleansing of America
(Joining The Ranks With Klamath Falls)
Donald C. Amador - Blue Ribbon Coalition 07.07.01

ORICK, CA. July 1, 2001 -- "It isn't about threatened and endangered species. It isn't about water for the fish. It's about control," Helen Franklin told a crowd of patriotic Americans gathered in protest of the National Park Service during an Independence Day rally in Orick, California. "Whoever controls food production and water usage in this country will control the people."

Franklin, founder of United Coalitions for a Constitutional Government, added, "What has happened in Orick is not an isolated event. There is an effort to put an end to the production of all natural resources in this country. Ranchers are losing their grazing rights. Farms are without water, and timber harvest is at a minimum. Two years ago Will Steele, former director of the National Marine Fisheries Services said, 'We will control who raises a garden and who raises livestock.'"

Speakers ranging from book authors, local fishermen, landowners and pro-recreation activists, made their way across the stage one by one, decrying how NPS has treated the community of Orick and its citizens and how the Green agenda is destroying this country from within.

Judy Schmidt, the president of the Orick School Board, cited various studies including a recent 1999 Humboldt State University report that showed the population of Orick had decreased from about 1500 residents before the Park was established to about 300. She also said that the school population had dwindled from a high of 255 students before the timber industry was shut-down to about 50 pupils today.

Holly Swanson, noted author of "Set Up and Sold Out" and battle hardened land-rights advocate didn't pull any punches with her articulate explanation of how our country is being taken over by radical environmentalists and the Green Party.

Swanson said, "They guarantee people a job, food, shelter and health care. The Green objective is to convince the American masses the only way to achieve these goals and save the environment is to abandon capitalism and let the government take control of their lives."

Don Amador, western representative of the Blue Ribbon Coalition and facilitator of the protest rally, added, "It bothers me greatly that the Green Party appears to have placed its supporters into some very high positions in our federal land agencies and it is for that reason that the NPS has chosen to sign an economic death warrant for the town of Orick by closing down the beaches to RV camping, tourism, and surf fishermen."

Having witnessed the devastation of Orick as a community, locally elected officials have joined in the fight against a heavy-handed federal government agency. "My participation at Orick has brought a benefit to Coos County, (Oregon)," Coos County commissioner John Griffith told the crowd.

"A Bureau of Land Management proposal to request a National Park Service grant was forwarded to me for my endorsement. I strongly refused the request and said that if BLM goes forward with it, to expect me to be a persistent, loud and aggressive opponent. There is absolutely no way I want NPS or any potential nexus to NPS to be established anywhere I go now that I've seen what a terrifying neighbor it is to the community of Orick, California," Griffith said.

Congressman Wally Herger (R-CA) who was unable to attend said, "I regret that I am unable to be there with you at your Freedom Flag Brigade, and I commend you for coming out to this peaceful demonstration against radical environmentalism."

"As I've said on numerous occasions, we are at war with radical
environmentalists across the country who are doing everything in their power to abridge our individual rights as citizens...While ours is an uphill fight, we can never give up, because protecting the environment and providing for our communities need not be mutually exclusive goals." Herger concluded.

Local grocery store owners, commercial fishermen, wood carving businesses, and war veterans joined forces with members of the Klamath Bucket Brigade to say with a loud voice that they are not going to stand by and allow the NPS to destroy a rural community.

Amador continued the program with a story about his dad serving in General George Patton's 3rd Army in WWII. He said, "I believe that General Patton at the end of the war correctly identified socialism and communism as the new enemies of the United States of America. "

Swanson offered a quote from her book, "If we are too afraid to discuss the 'C' word, the Communists have successfully made it politically correct to submit to their program. This is not about environmental protection. We all support that. This is about making distinctions and choosing our future."

A local commercial fisherman who will not be able to pass on his fishing permit to his sons said the NPS will not honor a transfer that would allow his family members to access the beach wave-slope.

Norm Carr, the president of the California Beach Fisherman's Association, told the assembly that the NPS has continually lied and tried to deceive him through the public process associated with the new closure-oriented General Plan. During the comment period, Carr had obtained an "internal memo" that basically said it was the Park's intention all along to close the beach and put the local commercial wood gatherers and fishermen out of business.

When Carr confronted the Park Superintendent with this memo, he was told "not to worry about any closures" and that the memo was not meant to be seen by the public.

As Carr continued to talk, he said the he had been very discouraged but that the crowd today who gathered to rally for support and to ask President Bush to reopen the beach was a real boost for his spirits. He said he appreciated the folks who had traveled down from Oregon and over from the Sierra to attend the event.

Barry Clausen, author of "Burning Rage," climbed up on the stage and offered up a joke or two before settling into the very serious subject of eco-terrorism in this country. Clausen, a Vietnam veteran, spoke about how members of Earth First! and the Animal Liberation Front have declared war on corporate America.

Clausen then told about how media giant, Ted Turner, has given millions of dollars to radical environmental groups and how Turner's Foundation with an endowment of nearly $500 million is the largest eco-charity in the country. In fact, journalist and Earth First! sympathizer Dan Oko referred to Turner as "Daddy Greenbucks."

The presentation was closed with a description about Habitat Conservation Plans and how they do not protect the property owner from excessive government oversight and regulation. In fact, HCPs invite environmental groups and all other members of the public to play a major role in how you manage your own lands.

Griffith also said, "Citizens have a moral, constitutional, and human right to hold elected officials accountable. They have the same rights to hold bureaucrats accountable as well. The citizens of Orick have been visited with every insult, assault and lie a federal government could create, a government that has shown it has no respect for them and wants to see their town gone."

"State, federal and county governments make private property developers live up to often expensive and exhaustive requirements before granting land use permits. The citizens of Orick should be afforded that same thoroughness of expectation, review and detail when the 'development' is introduced by the federal government. If a private developer does not fulfill the requirements placed on his permit, it is revoked. The same standard should apply to the federal
government," Griffith continued.

"The National Parks Service so far has failed on all its promises to the people of Orick. It must explain why. I have not made my three visits to Orick to create trouble for the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors. But I say that the residents of Orick are entitled to answers from their elected officials, just as the citizens of my county are entitled to the same from me," Griffith stated.

During the program, Amador held up a T-shirt that a number of women were wearing. The shirt had a multiple-choice questionnaire imprinted on the front. It said, "Who lives in Orick according to the NPS? -- 1. A crack-whore, 2. A low-life scum, 3. none of the above, 4. all of the above. "

This shirt was made in response to a recent incident where a local female hiker was on a NPS trail when she encountered a park ranger and asked the agency representative why there were so few tourists in the area. In response to her question, the ranger said, "The reason why there are so few visitors is because they have heard that anyone who lives in Orick is either a crack-whore or a red-neck." The young lady who told Amador her story said that even her 85 year-old grandmother is wearing one of those T-shirts as a sign of protest.

Amador said, "No wonder the town of Orick feels betrayed by this government agency."

Larry Toelle, a field director for the People for the USA, was the last speaker and he explained about how rural communities have been confronted with an agonizing barrage of county, state, and federal regulations the are quite literally strangling the life out of ranchers, farmers, and other multiple-use interests.

Toelle urged everyone to become S.O.B.s. After telling folks that most people thought he was one, he said that those of us fighting back against the socialization of our natural resources by the radical environmental movement have to become tough and take on the persona of a S.O.B.

Toelle said, "Our enemies in the Green Party who are seeking to destroy this country are tough customers and we have to become even tougher...become one mean and tough S.O.B."

The great French philosopher, Alexis De Tocqueville, once said, "Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude."

The town of Orick has asked President Bush to help them reopen the beaches and to save their community in a letter sent to him several months ago.

To date, the President has ignored their requests. However, the Save Orick Committee and others are determined to fight the NPS's attempt to perform "rural cleansing" on this small coastal town where so much has been promised... and so little delivered.

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