Climate Protesters Gather Outside Providence Chase Bank

PROVIDENCE, RI — Protesters gathered outside Chase Bank's new downtown Providence branch on Tuesday morning to protest a planned ribbon-cutting. Unbeknownst to them, the event had been previously canceled due to a scheduling issue, the company said.

A group of climate protesters gathered outside the bank, carrying signs calling the company a "funder of fossil fuels" and a "climate change profiteer."

Chase Bank told Patch that the cancellation was unrelated to the protest, as the decision to reschedule was made several weeks in advance due to an internal scheduling conflict, and said it will be held at a later, not-yet-determined date.

In a blog post from November, the Climate Action Rhode Island called for members to cut up their Chase cards on camera to make a statement.

"Then we’ll post the videos on social media to demand that the No. 1 funder of fossil fuels worldwide, JPMorgan Chase, divest from fossil fuels by 2030," the blog continued. "JPMorgan Chase is by far the biggest funder of the fossil fuel industry. The #CutTheChaseChallenge is one of dozens of projects that have been organized across the US for the climate, demanding that Chase change its ways."