Media Advisory: Protests in Four Cities to Urge Biden to Reject BlackRock Executives as Appointees
For Immediate Release: Monday, August 10th
For More Information Contact:
Pete Sikora, New York Communities for Change (NYC) 917-648-7786 pete.sikora@gmail.com
Mary Cerulli, Climate Finance Action (Boston) 617-838-1731 mary07mac@gmail.com
Nancy Mancias, CODEPINK(L.A. and San Francisco) 415-342-6409 nancymancias@codepink.org
What: BlackRock’s executives are reportedly short-listed for top positions within a potential Biden Administration, leading activists to protest outside the Wall Street goliath’s offices to urge Biden not to appoint such conflict-ridden insiders if he wins the election.
In particular, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Global Director Brian Deese are being pushed for Treasury Secretary and as a top White House climate and energy policy advisor. Climate hawks have increasingly been expressing concerns about Biden working with advisors who have ties to the financial and fossil fuel industries.
In January, BlackRock, which controls $7 trillion and is the world’s top investor in fossil fuels, made headlines announcing it would put sustainability at the core of its investment strategy. Yet their announcement has proven to be, in effect, hot air, with the company continuing as the world’s top investor in fossil fuels and continuing to vote against climate action as a top global shareholder.
In addition to protesting the global giant’s inaction on climate, protesters will also highlight the company’s funding of weapons manufacturers and racial injustice. The protesters will make photogenic images while maintaining social distancing and mask-wearing.
Who: Activists from environmental and community groups including Climate Finance Action, CODEPINK, New York Communities for Change, and Extinction Rebellion, 350.org and Sunrise Movement local affiliates.
When: Tuesday August 11th
New York City at 12:30pm EDT
Boston at 3:00pm EDT
Los Angeles at 12:00pm PST/3:00pm EDT
San Francisco at 12:00pm PST/3:00pm EDT
Where: In front of BlackRock offices as follows:
New York City
BlackRock Headquarters
51st Street bet/w Madison & Park Avenues
Visuals: Hot Air Balloon “BlackRock is Full of Hot Air on Climate”
and Banner “Biden Say NO!”
Livestream: New York Communities for Change facebook page
Boston
BlackRock office
60 State Street
Downtown Boston
Visuals: Activists in Red Balloon Suits “BlackRock is Full of Hot Air on Climate”, Signs
Los Angeles
BlackRock Santa Monica office
2951 28th Street
Visuals: Signs and banners: “BlackRock says it cares about racial justice, but invests in tasers; Divest from war; BlackRock says deforestation is a risk, but takes no action and violates human rights”
San Francisco
BlackRock office
400 Howard Street @ 1st Street
Visuals: Signs “Biden Say NO!, BlackRock is Ballooning; BlackRock says it cares about racial justice, but invests in tasers; Divest from war; BlackRock says deforestation is a risk, but takes no action and violates human rights”
