Willits protester spends 8th day on Caltrans equipment

WILLITS, Calif. (KGO) -- A protester perched 50-feet high in a piece of Caltrans equipment is on day eight now.

He received food and water after another activist snuck past CHP officers. Will Parrish climbed up on the equipment Thursday to stop work on a controversial freeway project in Willits in Mendocino County.

A local film maker shot video of CHP officers as they blocked protesters from sending up supplies last weekend. But yesterday evening, a man managed to climb a second nearby tower and send over supplies on a rope.

Caltrans wants to build a four-lane freeway around Willits. Critics say a smaller, cheaper road would do the job without so much environmental damage. Caltrans says continued protests have cost the state more than $1 million. (Copyright ©2013 KGO-TV/DT.

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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.

View the original article here