People of faith rally at Citi HQ for end to oil, gas financing

GreenFaith

Posted Aug 2, 2024

Hundreds of people of diverse faiths rallied today outside Citi’s headquarters to call on the bank to stop financing new fossil fuel projects and invest in a rapid and just energy transition.

Participants gathered in a revival-like atmosphere, expressing themselves in somber, grief-stricken and joyfully resolute ways with prayers, speeches, and songs lasting over two hours. On an afternoon when the heat index topped 100 degrees, a Dixieland jazz band joined Peace Poet founder Lu Aya, Goldman Prize Winner Sharon Lavigne of Rise St. James, and Jewish, Christian, and interfaith clergy to call for change. Organizers distributed water and popsicles to help attendees stay hydrated in the oppressive heat. “We’ve come with deep faith to bring our prayers, songs, and poems to this space,” said Aya. “Those who are in power can be part of healing the planet rather than poisoning it.”

The event followed an act of civil disobedience two days earlier where 23 faith leaders were arrested at CitiBank’s headquarters. “Citi’s decision to continue funding fossil fuels poisons local communities and desecrates the planet,” said the Rev. Chelsea MacMillan, New York Organizer with GreenFath, one of the event’s organizers. “This week’s events show that people of faith care deeply about this issue and that we will not be silent.”

Today’s event included Lavigne describing the call she received from God to oppose Formosa Plastics’ toxic contamination of her Louisiana community. Her descriptions of the illness and death suffered by residents of project-impacted communities were followed by prayers and anthems grieving climate-induced suffering and expressing faith communities’ commitment to action. Rev. Mira Sawlani-Joyner of Riverside Church called on Citi to divest from fossil fuels and instead “to invest in an equitable, renewable energy transition and show active care for people and the planet.”

Event leaders delivered petitions, signed by over 48,000 people, calling on Citi to stop financing Formosa Plastics and new fossil fuel projects. Participants wrote prayers on notecards calling on Citi to change. One attendee was arrested trying to tape a collection of prayers to the front door of Citi’s office complex. Participants broke into prayer and song as the activist was led away. “Enough is enough,” said Imam Saffet Catovic of Justice for All. “Climate change is destroying life. We stand with those who are most vulnerable and we say with one voice: Enough! Justice demands an end to the fossil fuel industry and the beginning of a new era.”

This action was part of the Summer of Heat campaign, a series of demonstrations, educational programs, meetings with bank officials and direct actions to demand that Wall Street stop investing in the coal, oil, and gas projects. The summer-long effort has focused in substantial part on Citi, which is the world’s second largest fossil fuel lender since the Paris Agreement, pouring a total of $396.3 billion into coal, oil, and gas projects. In addition, Citi is the world’s largest funder of methane gas expansion.

Rabbi Jacob Siegel expressed his deep concern for future generations, saying “As people of faith, we have moral clarity that we must do all we can to stop funding new fossil fuel projects and instead invest in clean energy solutions. The climate crisis is accelerating too quickly, devastating communities already struggling to get by.”

GreenFaith is working alongside climate organizations to pressure banks to phase out finance for coal, oil and gas, while upscaling lending for renewable energy. The organization recently released a report entitled Sacred Earth, Stained Profits to raise awareness in faith communities about the need for banks to change their energy finance. GreenFaith is also seeking to organize a meeting at which religious leaders whose congregations have Citi accounts can express their concerns. To date, Citi has refused to meet in person with religious leaders.