Nineteen Acton and area activists stood out in 8 degree weather in front of the Citizens Bank on Rte 2A on Jan. 24 to protest Citizens Bank funding for building and operation of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) prisons. The standout was part of a coordinated, simultaneous action taking place at about 40 northeast Citizen branches.
The standouts were organized by the De-ICE Citizens Bank Coalition and groups affiliated with Indivisible. Acton’s local standout was organized by 350 MA MetroWest, a node of the climate advocacy organization 350 MA.
According to the Coalition’s website, Citizens Bank funds CoreCivic and the GEO Group and that they are major builders of prisons where migrants are detained and are reporting abusive treatment. Organizers said that Citizens Bank is known for being community centered and socially responsible, yet it undercuts its own mission by continuing to fund those companies. The Coalition is asking Citizens to stop its investment immediately, and for customers to be aware of how their deposits are used and to communicate any reservations to the bank.
