“It’s been a fight that the Indigenous people started over there, and I think it’s our job to get on their side and fight this fight as well.”
Those were the words of Amy Bishop, member of the organization The Pullout Method, who held a sign that read, “Defund Genocide” with the hashtag #DEFUNDDAPL.”
Dubbed the “Pull out Method,” February has been set for a Front Range campaign for divestment in the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), and from the institutions that provide funding towards its construction.
Katie Able said that she turned out, “Because [Chase Bank and Wells Fargo] support and they’re funding things that I don’t support with my money, specifically the Dakota Access Pipeline and the oil and gas industry in general and it’s time to be done.” She added that she would return her money to the bank if it changed its banking practices to invest in more socially responsible projects.
In Boulder on Wednesday those closing their accounts at Chase Bank and Wells Fargo marched with their supporters while carrying signs denouncing the banking institutions’ role in funding the controversial DAPL and other pipelines. The group stood on the corners of Canyon and 13th to protest Chase Bank and later to Canyon and 15th Street to do the same at Wells Fargo.
The Pull Out Method was conceived to work in solidarity with those protecting land, air, and water with the goal of forcing financial institutions behind fossil fuel extraction to defund the pipeline. The hope is to bring DAPL construction to a permanent halt according to organizers.
“Along this pipeline that I have drawn here is more than ten other pipelines that are going on across the US So it’s not just the Dakota Access Pipeline, but all these large banks are funding a lot of pipelines and I think there’s a lot of money in clean energy and new jobs, so I would love to see investments there.”
One person who identified herself as Jessie entered Chase and closed her account. She tore up her bank card after the closing, “I feel like I supported a good cause and I’m happy with my decision.” Jessie talked about the experience closing her account, “She asked me why I was closing my account, and I said I wanted to pull out of the [DAPL] project.”
Four people closed their accounts at Wells Fargo, “I feel like a free woman. I feel like I put my money where my mouth is. It went smoothly and I actually think the teller was on my side,” Jessica, a Denver resident was one of the four, “I’m going to encourage everyone I know to do the same and be a part of any town, city, council meeting that talks about cities and universities divesting because that’s the big target now is getting the big money out.” She added that she was transferring her money to a local credit union.
A similar action under The Pull Out Method is scheduled to take place in Denver on February 17.
