Activists rally in Ashland, demand climate action from Wall Street banks

Jackson County, OR — Environmental activists rallied in Ashland on Friday, going from bank to bank to protest Wall Street's involvement in the Enbridge Pipeline, which is set to transport 760,000 barrels of oil a day partially through tribal lands in Minnesota.

"The larger issue, of course, is global warming. And the people in this valley have had a good dose of it this summer. If you're in any doubt that we're in trouble, the 115-degree weather this summer should've ended all your uncertainty," said rally organizer Herbert Rothschild.

The group targeted the Chase Bank, Wells Fargo and Bank of America branches in Ashland. All three have issued loans to Enbridge in the past that are coming due, and the protestors' goals are to try and get the companies not to renew them.

"They're giving lip service. Especially Chase Bank - the worst climate actor there is. They're proudly funding the climate crisis. So to convince them is an uphill battle, but thousands of people are putting pressure on these banks, including green investors," said protestor Carol Dyer.

The rally was part of an ongoing nationwide effort to try and get Wall Street to divest from the pipeline. Hundreds have been arrested protesting it in Northern Minnesota.

"It's just the beginning. It's the first time we've had any kind of activity like this here in Ashland. We see this as the beginning, so we'll just keep coming and continuing to pressure banks and continuing to engage with our community on issues related to the climate, and also indigenous sovereignty," Dyer said.

The event was put on in part by the group Southern Oregon Climate Action Now. The non-profit was established in 2012, with meetings held once a month at the Medford Public Library. In the group's view, more needs to be done beyond just individual actions to cut carbon emissions. Organizer Alan Journet says its mission is to promote awareness and understanding of climate change.

"And to encourage folks to motivate folks to take individual and collective action to address the root cause of climate change, which is our emissions of greenhouse gases," he said.

Journet says over the years there has gradually been an increased awareness of the problem, but that much more work remains. The group advocated for the recently passed Oregon House Bill 2021, which commits the state to a 100 % clean energy policy by 2040.

"The experience we've had in Southern Oregon with the wildfires, and the Almeda Fire for example. It would not have been anywhere near as severe had it not been for global warming and climate change," Journet said.

When asked, Rothschild, Dyer and Journet all said they have not put their money into the targeted banks.