Upset over fossil fuel funding, protesters block main entrance of Bank of America tower
NEW YORK -- Climate change protestors are making their voices heard for another day Tuesday in New York City, and it's all linked to Climate Week.
Many gathered outside the Bank of America tower near Bryant Park. Protestors rallied outside, at times even blocking its entrance, hoping their message is loud and clear.
"We're here to show they have blood on their hands," one protestor said.
Twenty were arrested.
"They're funding more fossil fuel projects. That's why we're doing this," one protestor said.
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"Fossil fuels are the number one cause of the climate crisis. With the climate crisis is coming more extreme weather, climate disasters, food shortages, droughts, climate migration, climate chaos all over the world," Alice Hu of New York Communities for Change said.
The protestors say Bank of America is a major culprit. A "Banking on Chaos" report showed it, among other major U.S. banks, at the top of the largest fossil fuel financiers since the Paris agreement.
Bank of America declined to comment, but highlights its ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability with a goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in its financing activities, operations and supply chain before 2050.
"Those commitments are not enough. They're not living up to them, and we need to hold them accountable," Ernesto Archila of Rainforest Action Network said.
It was just one of a series of rallies in New York City during Climate Week.
Protestors took to Wall Street Monday, following a massive "March to End Fossil Fuels" the day before.
The group is also calling on President Joe Biden to declare a climate emergency.
Activists came from far and wide to take part, including Seattle resident Margo Polley.
"We have asked again, and again, and again that these big financial institutions stop funding fossil fuels, and they do not. They are not listening," Polley said.
So they're raising their voices and said they don't plan to stop until the banks listen.