Bank Takeover Recap: No New Oil

This week, rebels and allies from across the city came together for a powerful multi-day series of actions directed at Citi and their unconscionable commitment to backing the expansion of fossil fuel companies, and continuing to fund projects that breach Indigenous rights.

For three consecutive days, we staged a sit-in and stayed overnight at the headquarters of Citi, the second-largest fossil fuel funder in the world. As Citi shareholders rejected two resolutions related to climate justice and Indigenous rights at Tuesday’s Annual General Meeting, we made our presence felt to remind them that the world is paying attention. We called out the commitments that Citi has made and ignored, and reminded employees of their power to mobilize internally for change.

We simultaneously carried out direct action at seven bank branches across the city, including Citi, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo locations. Graffiti with phrases like "Climate Criminals" and "No New Oil" were spray painted to draw attention to the banking industry's poor sustainability record. Our New York actions also were conducted in tandem with ally actions at Wells Fargo headquarters in San Francisco and at Bank of America headquarters in Charlotte, coinciding with each of their shareholder meetings. Read more about our actions!

The media was paying attention as well, here’s a round up of the best coverage:

• Reuters: “Climate activists spray protests on U.S. bank offices on eve of annual meetings”

• Mother Jones: “Climate protesters call out US banks over fossil fuel funding”

• AMNY: “Extinction Rebellion activists arrested for spray painting Citibank branches”

And we refuse to stop. While the window for action is closing, it is not too late. We vow to continue to rebel until the financial industry ceases to support new coal, oil and gas projects.

Will you fund the Rebellion and support us to keep applying the pressure? Every training and action organized costs money. Your help is needed now more than ever as momentum builds. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation.