Anchors Away! 

Two high school seniors from Southern Humboldt spoke out against the U.S. Navy's plans to create a target practice range off the coast of Humboldt County at a rally in Eureka Saturday.

"The animals don't have voices so we have to speak for them," 17-year-old Kali Persall of Shelter Cove told 50 activists who gathered at the foot of F Street to protest several issues including the proposed widening of Highway 101 at Richardson Grove and the tug of war over the reuse of the Jefferson School site in Eureka.

Persall and fellow senior Katrina Warner, who are studying broadcasting at South Fork High School, were invited to speak at the rally after they aired a public affairs program on KMUD Radio opposing the Navy's plans (for details see Heidi Walters, "Naval Battle," Oct. 28, 2010).

"I understand there are national security reasons (for the test range) but I am against the target practice if it happens at the expense of animals," Warner said.

John McAlinn, a retired teacher and member of Humboldt Veterans for Peace, also spoke at the rally. He is particularly alarmed at the potential use of armor piercing depleted uranium shells.

 "The mammals, fish and ecology of entire coast will be affected," he said.