Dec. 6, 2019 Milwaukee People's Climate Coalition Bank Sit-In, Rally and Demonstration
|
On December 6, 2019, hundreds of people from grade school kids to seniors rallied at Zeidler Park in Milwaukee in support of the Global Climate Strikes. As the speakers addressed the rally and the crowd marched to the corner of Wisconsin Ave. and Water St., eleven people prepared and entered Wells Fargo Bank to peacefully protest Wells Fargo's extensive investments in the fossil fuel economy. Their peaceful sit-in changed business as usual. The police eventually arrived and the eleven protestors were arrested and taken, separated by gender, to two police stations where they were charged with trespassing. A court date of February 3, 2020 was set.
|
|
Due to time conflicts, three of the protestors paid their fines and court costs.
At the February 3, 2020 court appearance, Emily Bell, the attorney representing the remaining eight defendants (pro-bono) learned that the paperwork for the four male defendants had been “lost in the system.” During the court appearance, because a representative of the City Attorney was not available to bargain regarding the charges, the attorney entered a plea of Not Guilty and the case was rescheduled for February 21 for the four remaining women defendants. Meanwhile the males were given letters indicating that they would not be charged unless the records appeared within two years.
At the February 21, 2020 court appearance, the charges for the four women were changed from trespassing to disorderly conduct and the fine was reduced to $90.
That same day, at least one of the men received a letter with a new court date of April 20 – Earth Week! Due to Covid-19, that court date was eventually postponed into August at which time the men pleaded not guilty. A court date was set for October.
At the February 3, 2020 court appearance, Emily Bell, the attorney representing the remaining eight defendants (pro-bono) learned that the paperwork for the four male defendants had been “lost in the system.” During the court appearance, because a representative of the City Attorney was not available to bargain regarding the charges, the attorney entered a plea of Not Guilty and the case was rescheduled for February 21 for the four remaining women defendants. Meanwhile the males were given letters indicating that they would not be charged unless the records appeared within two years.
At the February 21, 2020 court appearance, the charges for the four women were changed from trespassing to disorderly conduct and the fine was reduced to $90.
That same day, at least one of the men received a letter with a new court date of April 20 – Earth Week! Due to Covid-19, that court date was eventually postponed into August at which time the men pleaded not guilty. A court date was set for October.
|
The eleven people arrested are members of the People's Climate Coalition @PCC.MKE (in addition to other Milwaukee climate groups). These eleven people (many of whom are students) will have total fines between about $1300 and $1700 depending on the eventual fines for the men.
You weren't arrested, but you can contribute by donating to help with their fines. Please donate $3, $10, or more. Your help will go towards the fines of these eleven people. Thank you, 350 Milwaukee |
Organized by the People's Climate Coalition @PCC.MKE
|
The Wells Fargo December 9, 2020 Sit-InOn December 6, 2019, hundreds of people from grade school kids to seniors rallied at Zeidler Park in Milwaukee in support of the Global Climate Strikes. As the speakers addressed the rally and the crowd marched to the corner of Wisconsin Ave. and Water St., eleven people prepared and entered Wells Fargo Bank to peacefully, Non-Violent Civil Disobedience (NVCD), protest Wells Fargo's extensive investments in the fossil fuel economy. Their peaceful sit-in changed business as usual. The police eventually arrived and the eleven protestors were arrested and taken, separated by gender, to two police stations where they were charged with trespassing.
|
More in the News
December 9, 2020 Climate Strike and Rally
|
On December 6, 2019, The People's Climate Coalition held a rally and demonstration in downtown Milwaukee in accordance with the International Youth Climate Strikes and the Sunrise Movement National Climate Strikes.
Eleven individuals were arrested during a peaceful sit-in at Wells Fargo Bank on Wisconsin Ave, while hundreds rallied and marched to the intersection of Water and Wisconsin demanding that Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase Banks stop loaning to fossil fuel companies and their executives and instead reinvest those funds in renewable energy, green infrastructure and sustainable and equitable practices. Collectively, the two banks have loaned more than $347.3 Billion to fossil fuel companies and their executives since The Paris Agreement in 2016. We had nearly 400 people in attendance, with our youngest participants being in the second and third grades from Greenfield Bilingual. Our march was led by a members of North Division High School's drum-line and Mark Denning, an incredible organizer of The Protectors of the Menominee River, and an enrolled member of the Oneida Nation. |
Photograph: Joe Brusky
|
|
Photograph:
Photograph: Joe Brusky
Photograph: Joe Brusky
Photograph: Joe Brusky
Photograph: Joe Brusky
Photograph: Joe Brusky
Photograph: Joe Brusky
Photograph: Griffin Larson
Photograph: Griffin Larson
|
Photograph:
Photograph: Joe Brusky
Photograph: Joe Brusky
Photograph: Joe Brusky
Photograph: Joe Brusky
Photograph: Joe Brusky
Photograph: Griffin Larson
Photograph: Griffin Larson
Photograph: Griffin Larson
|
