One way to fight global warming is to shut a bank down for a couple hours. At least that is what protesters in Asheville suppose. The event was part of a week-long camp hosted by the Southeast Convergence for Climate Action. Among other scheduled activities, participants were to receive training in climbing, blockading, and dealing with the media.
In case you missed it, Massey Energy does business with the Bank of America, and Massey has blown the tops off a few mountains to strip-mine coal.
Lest you believe the protesters were all youth looking for a date by identifying with a common cause, it is important to remember that last year, City Councilman Bryan Freeborn participated in an act of civil disobedience perpetrated by Rising Tide/Critical Mass. Rising Tide was one of the higher-profile sponsors of the recent bank blockade.
Last year, to raise awareness about how our carbon footprint and the Bush Administration were responsible for Hurricane Katrina, bicyclers across America rode in protest. In Asheville, they rode onto the interstate, bogging down traffic, before congregating downtown.
Freeborn cooperated with the press when asked if it had not entered the group’s collective mind to obtain a demonstration permit or request a police escort. Freeborn said he had tried sell the group on the latter, but they weren’t interested.
Last year, as a final blow to Big Oil, one protester locked his bike chain around the bank doors, leaving onlookers quizzical. This year, five people were arrested for chaining themselves together inside the bank and refusing to leave until the bank apologized for “funding the coal industry.” Two of the five were from out-of-state.
