WENATCHEE — A giant pair of scissors were used by three protestors to chop an equally large “Funding Fossil Fuels” credit card behind Wells Fargo Wednesday afternoon as their fellow protestors flashed signs urging drivers on North Mission Street to “#DefundClimateChange” and “Support the Earth.”
The protestors, of an older demographic, were among a nationwide call to action, “Stop Dirty Banks” to urge the four biggest banks, including Wells Fargo, to move investments out of the fossil fuels industry.
“We’re part of a 100 nationwide events to encourage the four biggest fossil fuel funding banks to change their investment strategies or the depositors and the public will withdraw their money,” said Pierre Dawson, Cashmere resident and protestor. “Since the Paris climate accords were signed in 2015, these four banks have invested over a trillion dollars in new financing for fossil fuel projects. (It’s) local and national working at the same time to maximize our input.”
Senior citizens in cities nationwide participated in similar protests in an effort to pressure banks to stop financing fossil fuels and heed warnings from scientists about the need to phase out oil, gas and coal, according to The Washington Post. The four banks include Chase, Citibank, Wells Fargo and Bank of America.
