[*BCM*] Activists Blockade Bank of America to Protest Funding of Coal

[madhettie at hushmail.com]

Update-

The four kids in lockdown were cut out and arrested after more than 
2 hours. About 50 other people protested, with signs, noisemakers 
and singing. There were more than 20 cops there, with cop vehicles 
double parked along one whole block of Boylston. Reporters and 
photographers from the Globe, Herald and Metro covered the event. 
The Globe already has a story on their web site at 
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/04/april_fool.ht
ml.
It's very one-sided, but there's basically no such thing as bad 
publicity for this kind of action.

Peter

On Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:43:20 -0400 Boston Fossil Fools Day 
<bostonfossilfools at gmail.com> wrote:
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>Photos available soon at <www.fossilfoolsday.org>
>
>*Activists Blockade Bank of America to Protest Funding of Coal*
>
>
> *Boston, MA* – Copley Square, April 1, 2008. April Fools! As of 
>9:00AM, in
>conjunction with a downtown rally, four activists have locked 
>themselves to
>the front entrance of the Bank of America branch in Copley Square. 
>They are
>protesting the bank's funding of coal and energy companies who are 
>among the
>worst contributors to climate change, and directly responsible for
>innumerable human rights abuses in communities where coal is 
>extracted and
>burned.
>
>
> The April Fools prank took place as part of the Fossil Fools Day 
>of Action,
>in coordination with over 100 rallies, protests, and acts of civil
>disobedience around the world. These actions are intended to 
>challenge and
>disrupt the fossil fuels industry, which scientists say is 
>primarily
>responsible for global warming.
>
>
> Bank of America has lent over $144 billion to companies like 
>Massey Energy,
>Arch Coal, and Peabody Energy, who are infamous for their human 
>rights
>violations, strip mining, and mountaintop removal coal mining. The
>demonstrators are demanding that Bank of America stop providing 
>funding for
>coal companies engaged in all forms of surface mining and cancel 
>all loans
>to new fossil fuel burning power plants.
>
>
> "Without the financial support of large banks like Bank of 
>America, the
>fossil fuels industry could not continue destroying the earth and 
>our
>communities," said Elise Ansel, who locked her arms to other 
>activists in
>order to prevent the bank from doing business as usual.
>
>
> Coal-burning power plants are responsible for 40% of U.S. 
>greenhouse gases
>that cause global warming, and are a leading cause of asthma and 
>lung
>cancer, causing over 24,000 premature deaths a year. "It's not 
>just an
>environmental issue. The people who are most affected by the coal 
>industry
>are already disadvantaged by this economic system," said Laila 
>Murad of
>Brighton, who also locked down to the bank, "Coal plants are often 
>built in
>low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, and the coal is 
>most
>often mined in poor areas and on indigenous land. Coal mining is 
>just
>another chapter in a long and bloody story of colonialism and 
>injustice."
>
> The Fossil Fools Day of Action was called for by Rising Tide 
>North America,
>Rainforest Action Network, and the Energy Action Coalition. More 
>information
>on the actions taking place around the world is available at <
>www.fossilfoolsday.org>.
>
>
> Boston Fossil Fools Day Media Contact:
>
>Colleen Cronin
>
>781-308-2458 / *bostonfossilfools at gmail.com*
>
>
> National Fossil Fools Day Media Contact:
>
>Monica Vaughan, Rising Tide North America
>
>541-521-1832 / *fossilfools at risingtidenorthamerica.org*
>
>

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