For the past 12 weeks, we’ve been telling you about the Summer of Heat on Wall Street where we’re taking action to end the finance of fossil fuels. All kinds of people have taken action at the global headquarters of Citibank, the largest funder of fossil fuel expansion.
So far, nearly 500 people have been arrested and more than 3,500 people have taken action with Summer of Heat. Tensions and temperatures have been rising. In past statements to the press and in public, Citibank CEO Jane Fraser has said that she thinks Citi is behaving well by investing in women. But that hasn’t stopped her (or Citi) from rejecting the demands of female movement leaders like Roishetta Ozane, nor has it prevented her employees from using violent tactics to suppress and intimidate critics.
We know our tactics are working—Citi is feeling the heat. In July, Bloomberg reported that our protests are “beginning to wear on Citibank employees and executives alike.” So we we took our demands to the doorstep of the person with the most power to end Citi’s financing for fossil fuels: Jane Fraser, the CEO.
But Fraser and her leadership team still refuse to meet with us or make real changes to Citi’s finance of fossil fuels. Core organizers have been targeted and arrested on trumped-up charges. And last week, a Citi security guard punched a protester in the face and battered him to the ground.
Fraser is often applauded as the first female CEO of a big Wall Street bank—but under Jane Fraser’s leadership Citigroup became the #1 funder of new fracked gas infrastructure, and has continued to finance fossil fuel projects that are driving the climate crisis. So we’re trying to bring her the message to stop funding climate chaos in a different, feminist, way.
This march will gather in Washington Square park near the Triangle Shirtwaist factory memorial. We’re asking that you wear bright colors: Floral prints, pink, yellow, orange and other bright tones! We will be passing out paper flower crowns and holding banners and signs that celebrate the beauty, strength, and power of our natural world. Kids of all ages are encouraged to wear costumes and bring instruments and noisemakers.
We will gather, honor the feminist fighters who came before us, sing, and then march on Citi’s leadership. If you are interested or ready to take part in nonviolent civil disobedience, that’s great! We will prepare everyone with a full briefing and legal support. Whether you’re ready to take non violent civil disobedience, or you want to participate in the family-friendly march, there is a role for everyone in this action.
Join us on Sunday August 25 to show Jane Fraser and Citibank that we’re not going anywhere.