Extinction Rebellion Santa Cruz Legal Defense Fund
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Extinction Rebellion Santa Cruz (XRSC) is part of a worldwide movement attempting to minimize the risk of human extinction and ecological collapse due to an accelerating climate crisis and ongoing ecocide. Globally, Extinction Rebellion is committed to a strategy of nonviolent civil disobedience, which means that some people are willing to risk arrest and sometimes go to jail in defense of the planet and all beings.
On February 28, five members of XRSC were arrested for protesting inside a Chase Bank branch in Santa Cruz and charged with interfering with a business, which falls under the general heading of trespassing.
JPMorgan Chase is the world's largest funder of fossil fuel exploration, extraction and combustion in the world--by far. XR, Greenpeace, Rainforest Action, 350.org and other organizations are working together on a Campaign called Stop the Money Pipeline aimed at convincing Chase to divest from fossil fuel funding. The campaign is asking customers to close their Chase accounts and cut up their Chase credit cards.
The five arrestees are now facing lawyers' fees, court costs and possible fines. If convicted, they could be sentenced to $400 in fines and 90 days in jail. If they plead not guilty and lose, court fees could add another $1,000 each. XRSC is establishing a legal defense fund to help these activists with their costs. Any money left over will remain in the legal defense fund.
XRSC expects their will be many arrests in the future. The more financial support the fund can provide, the more people (particularly those who are not privileged enough to absorb these kinds of costs) will be willing to put themselves on the line to save the living things that inhabit this beautiful world. Please give what you can to support our struggle!
With gratitude,
The people of Extinction Rebellion Santa Cruz
On February 28, five members of XRSC were arrested for protesting inside a Chase Bank branch in Santa Cruz and charged with interfering with a business, which falls under the general heading of trespassing.
JPMorgan Chase is the world's largest funder of fossil fuel exploration, extraction and combustion in the world--by far. XR, Greenpeace, Rainforest Action, 350.org and other organizations are working together on a Campaign called Stop the Money Pipeline aimed at convincing Chase to divest from fossil fuel funding. The campaign is asking customers to close their Chase accounts and cut up their Chase credit cards.
The five arrestees are now facing lawyers' fees, court costs and possible fines. If convicted, they could be sentenced to $400 in fines and 90 days in jail. If they plead not guilty and lose, court fees could add another $1,000 each. XRSC is establishing a legal defense fund to help these activists with their costs. Any money left over will remain in the legal defense fund.
XRSC expects their will be many arrests in the future. The more financial support the fund can provide, the more people (particularly those who are not privileged enough to absorb these kinds of costs) will be willing to put themselves on the line to save the living things that inhabit this beautiful world. Please give what you can to support our struggle!
With gratitude,
The people of Extinction Rebellion Santa Cruz
Organizer
Craig McLaughlin
Organizer
Santa Cruz, CA