Seattle Protesters Close 12 Chase Bank Locations Over Keystone XL Pipeline

SEATTLE, WA - A coordinated group of protesters shut down 12 Chase Bank branches in Seattle Monday in a demonstration against the Keystone XL pipeline. As of Monday evening, Seattle police had arrested 26 protesters, including Jon Grant, a candidate for Seattle City Council. The protests were organized by 350 Seattle, a climate justice group.

"To stop Keystone XL, we’re organizing the Northwest’s largest-ever action targeting a bank because of its fossil fuel funding," 350 Seattle said of Monday's protest actions.

JPMorgan Chase is one of the main backers of Keystone XL's developer, TransCanada. The pipeline would stretch nearly 900 miles from Montana to Nebraska. President Donald Trump in March allowed TransCanada to proceed with cross-border construction of the pipeline; Barack Obama had previously blocked the pipeline's construction.

The pipeline has been a target of environmental activists because it would transport oil pulled from Canada's tar sands, which is seen as an exceptionally dirty way to get oil. That's because the refining process contributes to global warming, and because the mining process uses lots of water, and renders it too contaminated to use.

According to 350 Seattle, protesters shut down Chase banks in Fremont, Wedgwood, Northgate, the University District, Queen Anne, the Central District, Capitol Hill, and downtown. About 200 people took part in the protests, according to the group, including City Councilman Mike O'Brien.

Seattle police said that protesters at each location were given time to leave. Some protesters told police that they wanted to be arrested, police said.

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