One Hundred Chicagoans from a variety of movements joined up Monday to organize an event called ‘Flood the Banks!,’ where they targeted various financial institutions that allegedly profit from prisons, home foreclosures, gentrification and climate change. Two bank branches, owned by Wells Fargo and Chase Bank in particular were disrupted by the protests. This action comes during the COP21 Climate Talks in Paris, which organizers say are a prime example of how corporate profits are being prioritized over the well-being of people. As was the case with the 20 previous talks, the negotiations are primarily being driven by political elites and multinational corporations that have no interest in solving the issue of climate change. Organizers thus called on people to work on creating communities that prioritize social good and ecological health rather than profit and capitalism.

During the first leg of the march, protesters marched to the 10 and 30 S Wacker building that houses both Chicago Mercantile Exchange offices and a Wells Fargo Bank branch. There, they called out Wells Fargo for its investments in Barnett Capital, a financial institution that is driving gentrification in Chicago’s Albany Park and Logan Square neighborhoods. Centro Autonomo, an organization currently campaigning to get Barnett Capital to cease tenant evictions in the Albany Park neighborhood delivered a letter to Wells Fargo outlining their role in the displacement of community members from their neighborhood. In addition, protesters also called out Wells Fargo’s investments in for-profit prisons and fossil fuels. Lastly, a connection was also made between tax breaks given to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and its donations to Rahm Emanuel’s campaign for re-election, another instance of the rampant corruption at these institutions. The march was organized by 8th Day Center for Justice, Black and Pink Chicago, Centro Autónomo, Energy Action Coalition, NEXOS, Nuclear Energy Information Service, Rising Tide Chicago, We Are/Somos Logan Square