Protesters rally outside Wells Fargos SF HQ, banking it will change its business practices

Protesters gathered outside Wells Fargo’s headquarters in San Francisco, blocking the entrance to demand that the bank divest from fossil fuel projects. The Oil and Gas Action Network coordinated the protest, asserting that Wells Fargo’s recent actions to abandon climate commitments are unacceptable. Activists, including members of the Standing Rock Sioux and Cheyenne River tribal nations, condemned funding for initiatives such as the Dakota Access Pipeline. Leah Redwood, a San Francisco organizer, emphasized that the protest marks the beginning of a broader response to the bank's complicity in various injustices. Police intervened after protesters occupied the entrance, threatening arrests if they did not disperse.

Local activist Susan Freinkel expressed her dismay over Wells Fargo's financial practices and their implications for climate change and social justice. Many participants acknowledged that while they did not expect immediate change, they hoped to educate the public about the bank's actions. The protest reflects growing frustration with corporate complicity in environmental degradation and social issues.