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For Immediate Release
March, 20 2017, 07:00am EDT
Contact:
Charlie Jiang / charlieyj12@gmail.com / 773-930-6723
Devyn Powell / devynwpowell@gmail.com / 503-333-0169
Residents Campaigning to End DC's Ties with Wells Fargo Over Bank's Investments in Dakota Access Pipeline to Hold Rally, Support Bill
Community members will rally to publicly close Wells Fargo accounts, then will attend City Council hearing to show support for new bill that would end DC’s relationship with the bank
WASHINGTON
On Monday, March 20, and Tuesday, March 21, DC-area activists with #DCReInvest, a new grassroots coalition, will hold two back-to-back events to push DC's City Council to cut financial ties with Wells Fargo over its investments in the Dakota Access Pipeline. A rally on Monday afternoon will build momentum for a bill to be introduced to City Council on Tuesday morning that would recommend severing DC's relationship with Wells Fargo.
The #DCReInvest campaign publicly launched on February 22: the day that the Army Corps of Engineers and the North Dakota government evicted Dakota Access Pipeline protesters from the Oceti Sakowin resistance camp, which resulted in the arrests of more than 30 people and several injuries.
WHAT: Two back-to-back events in support of a new, community-led campaign to call on Washington, DC to cut ties with Wells Fargo over its investment in the Dakota Access pipeline.
- At a rally on Monday afternoon, activists with #DCReInvest will hold a rally in support of community members who are supporting the campaign by publicly pledging to close their personal Wells Fargo accounts.
- On Tuesday morning, activists will then pack the room for a City Council hearing to support the introduction of a bill by Councilmember David Grosso that would recommend ending DC's relationship with Wells Fargo, which is currently the city's bank of record.
WHO: Activists with #DCReInvest, a recently-established coalition of local grassroots organizations and indigenous organizers including: Rising Hearts, 350 DC, Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) DC, and more are organizing both Monday evening's public rally and Tuesday morning's show of support for Grosso's bill.
WHEN:
- RALLY: Monday, March 20, 2017, 4:00 - 5:00 PM
- HEARING: Tuesday, March 21, 2017, 10:00 - 11:30 AM
WHERE:
- MONDAY RALLY: Wells Fargo Bank, 1700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20006
- TUESDAY HEARING: John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004
WHY: Wells Fargo is a major investor in the Dakota Access Pipeline. By cutting ties with Wells Fargo, DC would be following the lead of Seattle, San Francisco, and Davis in ensuring our city does not fund this ongoing violation of Indigenous rights, land, and water. Wells Fargo also has a long history of predatory lending, discrimination against communities of color, and investment in private prisons.
MORE DETAILS:
- Facebook event for Monday rally: https://www.facebook.com/events/214980852316397/
- Facebook event for Tuesday hearing: https://www.facebook.com/events/1253748328065480/
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