NYC: Dozens Protest Outside Wells Fargo Pipeline Symposium

As reported by Democracy Now! news headlines:

In New York City, close to 100 people protested outside Wells Fargo’s 15th annual pipeline symposium to demand Wells Fargo and other banks stop investing in the $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline. This is Rachel Marco-Havens of Earth Guardians.

Rachel Marco-Havens: "We’re standing here today in front of the Waldorf Astoria, traditionally has held the 1 percent for as long as it’s been standing. Inside, there are pipeline investors, and I just met one. And I met three, and they all say they don’t care about what happens to the people along the lines of the extractive industry. We are here because water is life. We are here because we must stand in solidarity across Turtle Island to take care of each other and to stop this fossil fuel infrastructure and to recognize that we can transition to renewable now. We must defund these corporations."

On Sunday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denied Energy Transfer Partners, the company behind the pipeline, a permit to drill under the Missouri River, halting construction for now. This is Rocio Velandia at the New York City protest reacting to the news.

Rocio Velandia: "They had announced that they were going to stop, but we saw it just like a war tactic to disperse and confuse. But we are the indigenous peoples of Mother Earth, and we are used to the injustices against our people. We know how to survive. We have been here for thousands of years, and we will remain. And whatever happens to the indigenous people is actually happening to everyone on Earth. We have to understand that when the water is gone, we will all be gone."