Protester climbs onto equipment at controversial Willits project

WILLITS, Calif. (KGO) -- This is day five for a protester who is perched 50-feet high on a piece of Caltrans equipment in Mendocino County.

Last Thursday, protester Will Parrish climbed up on construction equipment at the controversial Willits freeway project. He's part of an environmental coalition trying to stop a bypass being built on wetlands.

Nearly 45 people tried to bring Parrish food and water on Saturday, but California Highway Patrol officers moved in.

Four people were arrested and remain in jail. Parrish is still refusing to come down.

Caltrans wants to build a four-lane freeway around Willits, but critics say a smaller, cheaper road would do the job without so much environmental damage.

(Copyright ©2013 KGO-TV/DT.

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