ABOVE: Activists in Bellingham march to U.S. Bank in protest of the DAPL.
Story and photos by Erasmus Baxter // AS Review
On a cold and rainy Saturday morning around 100 protesters, ranging from toddlers to the grey of hair, assembled in downtown Bellingham’s U.S. Bank. They were demanding that the institution cease its financial support of the Dakota Access Pipeline, also known as DAPL.
This February 4 protest was just one of many actions taking place around the United States as part of the “Divest from DAPL” campaign. Organizers said that 35 actions are planned around the country in the coming week.
The national campaign has sought to pressure financial institutions to withdraw their support of Energy Transfer Partners, the company seeking to build the Dakota Access Pipeline, through protests and closing accounts. Among those targeted have been U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo and Chase.
Melody Reudiger, a Western sophomore, closed her account with U.S. Bank as part of the action.
ABOVE: Melody Ruediger closes her account at U.S. Bank, and instead opts to use a local credit union.
“I refuse to put my money in a company that is not respecting the rights of those who were here before us,” she told the crowd. “It’s so simple and it makes a big difference.”
She now plans to open an account with Whatcom Employees Credit Union, a local bank, instead.
Cities and other institutions have joined the movement to divest. The Seattle city council finance committee recently approved an ordinance to transfer their money away from Wells Fargo, as did the Muckleshoot tribe.
In December, the Bellingham #NoDAPL coalition held a similar protest inside a Wells Fargo at Barkley Village. The coalition is now asking the Bellingham city council to follow Seattle’s lead and move its account to a local credit union instead. The Bellingham account is worth $80 million, according to protest organizers.
After leaving a phone message for Bellingham Mayor Kelli Linville from inside U.S. Bank, protesters marched to Bellingham City Hall where they posed for a photo on the steps. As they marched, a three-piece band provided accompaniment.
ABOVE: Activists pose on the steps of Bellingham City Hall.
Michelle Vendiola, one of the leaders of the protest, invited people to the city council meeting about the issue on Monday, February 13 at 7 p.m.
“We want to show [the] city council we have a lot of people willing to show up to the city council meeting on the 13th,” Vendiola told the crowd.
The “Divest from DAPL” movement has gained urgency in recent weeks with the inauguration of President Trump and his order that cleared the way for construction to continue on the pipeline. In recent days, 70 protesters were arrested, and the total number of protests climbed to 600, according to organizers.
In the past months, the Bellingham #NoDAPL coalition has held several marches. When Governor Inslee came to Bellingham they confronted him on Western’s campus to ask him to sign a letter opposing the pipeline, which he refused to do.
Opposition to the pipeline has centered around its infringement on Native sovereignty and the potential that a leak could pollute the Missouri river that members of the Standing Rock tribe rely on for their drinking water. Speakers at the bank also pointed out that the burning of oil from the pipeline will exacerbate climate change, with results that will disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.
ABOVE: Protesters made sure man’s best friend had a voice too!