May 9, 2017 - Water Protectors Shut Down JP Morgan Chase in Seattle

Seattle, WA – On May 8th, a coalition of Native peoples and 350 Seattle followed through on their promise to shut down JP Morgan Chase bank if they did not issue a statement stating that they would not give project level loans to TransCanada to build the Keystone XL pipeline.

“We told JP Morgan Chase that we would shut their banks down if they did not provide a statement saying they would not issue project level loans to finish the Keystone XL Pipeline. They did not issue that statement, so we took 13 of them over. I was a part of the Indigenous Leaders affinity group and not only did we shut banks down, we closed bank accounts, we sang songs, acknowledged the land we stood upon, and listened to teachings. We are doing the work we were created for. This fight is far from over, we are fighting for our future generations. Every decision we make today impacts them.” ~Rachel Heaton (Muckleshoot)

The coalition targeted JP Morgan Chase due to its past financing of TransCanada and other Tar Sands pipelines.

The proposed Keystone XL pipeline is a 1,179-mile long pipeline that would run from the oil sands in Alberta to Nebraska where it would link to an existing pipeline on-route to the Gulf Coast for export. It would carry up to 830,000 barrels of oil per day.

TransCanada does not currently have project level loans to build the Keystone XL pipeline.

“The big banks aren’t just complicit in the climate crisis, they are enabling it. Between 2013 and 2015 the big banks provided $765 billion in loans for new fossil fuel projects. Without those loans, fossil fuel corporations couldn’t afford to build these new projects. That’s why we’re taking the climate fight to the banks: if we stop the flow of dollars, we stop the flow of oil.” ~Alec Connon 350 Seattle

13 JP Morgan Chase banks were shut down entirely and 26 arrests were made.

by Wakíƞyaƞ Waánataƞ (Matt Remle- Lakota)