Protester vows to stay in ancient tree at US-Mexico border
Activists say the incident unfolded when a lift truck raised a basket carrying firefighters from Mexico to an activist perched in an old-growth cottonwood tree, where she was protesting its removal for
border wall construction.
On the evening of Oct. 8, the firefighters allegedly cut down the platform holding the woman’s food, water and other supplies, leaving her stranded in the tree without food and dehydrated, according to an activists’ news release. Despite the ordeal, sheremained in good spirits, the release said
The person sitting in the tree had chosen to remain there “in order to prevent the murder of the ancient tree and prevent the destructive wall from being built,” said Aryanna Tischler, a spokesperson for No More Deaths, an immigrant-rights activist group.
Border Patrol allowed at least two water deliveries to the activist in the tree, though the amount was insufficient, Tischler said.
It marks the latest chapter in a months-long standoff between environmental and immigrant-rights activists and the U.S. government.
The U.S. Border Patrol did not respond to a request for comment. Fischer Industries, a Tempe-based company contracted to build the border wall in the area, also did not respond. Activists said a lift owned by the company was used to reach the platform where the tree-sitter had been staying.
Cut down: Workers destroy the last cottonwood tree at Arizona border wall site
Protecting 'Abuela'
Activists in Lochiel, a small town in southern Arizona, spent 71 days in and around a cottonwood tree in an effort to save it from destruction. Three other cottonwoods, each estimated to be 150 years old, were cut down in July.
On Oct. 5, workers cut down the last remaining tree after clearing the area of protestors.
The next day, a person climbed a tall cottonwood tree in Sonora, just across the border,
Activists called the four cottonwoods on the U.S. side “Grandmother” trees and named the lone old-growth cottonwood on the Mexican side “Abuela,” the Spanish word for grandmother.
Under arrest: Border Patrol detains 18 wall protesters near cottonwood tree
The tree-sitter, who asked to remain anonymous, wore a safety harness and was secured by a safety line. She also relied on a platform to store food, water and other essential supplies, Tischler said.
At around 10 p.m. on Oct. 8, according to a release from the Sonoran Desert Press Office, firefighters from Mexico loaded into a basket and were hoisted up to there the woman and the platform were perched.
The woman, Tischler said, scrambled up higher in the tree, out of the reach of the lift.
The firefighters cut down the platform and damaged the safety to which she was harnessed, according to the news release.
Activists have asked Border Patrol to use a helicopter to rescue the woman but officials have refused, according to the news release.
The person has committed to staying in the tree and was in good spirits as of the late afternoon of Oct. 9.
Temperatures in the area were in the upper 80s, but the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel were expected to affect southern Arizona by the weekend. The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for Sunday, warning of gusts reaching around 38 mph.