Protesters in hazmat suits set up a fake oil spill inside a Chase bank branch in downtown Seattle.
Protesters in hazmat suits set up a fake oil spill inside a Chase bank branch in downtown Seattle. SB

Organizers with 350 Seattle are reporting that 12 activists, including City Council candidate Jon Grant, have been arrested at demonstrations at Chase bank branches across the city today. The Seattle Police Department reported that arrests have taken place, but have yet to confirm the number.


350 Seattle and indigenous leaders are demonstrating at 13 Chase bank branches in various Seattle neighborhoods to protest the bank's relationship with the Keystone XL pipeline. Activists say JP Morgan Chase is one of the lead banks providing credit to TransCanada, the corporation behind the Keystone XL pipeline project. Despite decisions from the Obama administration that rejected and stalled the controversial pipeline, President Trump has resuscitated the tar sands transportation project by signing an executive order directing his administration to approve pipeline permitting.

Today, 350 Seattle published an open "demand letter" to JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, asking Dimon to issue a public statement pledging not to fund the Keystone XL project, or any other tar sands infrastructure project. Seattle City Council member Mike O'Brien and 350 Seattle organizer Alec Connon also published an op-ed in The Stranger explaining their decision to protest.

In Capitol Hill, one of the protested Chase branch locations shut down preemptively, and activists say they've managed to shut down five more. I haven't yet been able to confirm those other five branch shutdowns with Chase, but did see protests unfold at three different Chase locations downtown and in the International District this morning and afternoon.

Shortly before noon, City Council member Kshama Sawant stopped by a small gathering of activists at Westlake Center and City Council member (and kayaktivist) Mike O'Brien showed up at a demonstration at the Chase branch on 5th Avenue and Union Street.

"We need our banking industry to stop funding these awful investments like Keystone pipeline," O'Brien said. "What we're asking Chase right now, is to state unequivocally that they will not invest at the project level in Keystone pipeline."

Inside the branch, 10 protesters dressed in yellow hazmat suits—"Keystone XL Toxic Cleanup Crew"—held signs, chanted, and pulled out "caution" tape. Police eventually issued a dispersal order, and the protesters left.

A Chase branch in Capitol Hill closed down in anticipation of these menacing environmental protesters.
A Chase branch in Capitol Hill closed down in anticipation of these menacing environmental protesters. SH

A few blocks away, at the 2nd and Union Ave Chase branch, indigenous leaders led a demonstration that included drumming and a round dance inside the building. Several activists wore signs that read, "Water is life," one of the mottos of the Standing Rock pipeline resistance movement. Seattle mayoral candidate Nikkita Oliver was also present, and participated in the chants and dancing. One activist, Mike Dash, 67, announced that he was helping his mother close her $100,000 Chase account.


At the Chase branch inside Uwajimaya grocery store in the International District, several more protesters held up signs and attempted to educate police on the pipeline.

By mid-afternoon, 350 Seattle reported that 12 activists had been arrested, including Seattle City Council candidate Jon Grant. I've not yet confirmed Grant's arrest, or the other numbers, but some Twitter accounts are sharing this photo of Grant:


I'll update when I know more.

3:13 p.m.: This post has been updated with confirmation from the Seattle Police Department that protestors have been arrested while demonstrating at Chase Bank branches.