mzmullerz

“you cannot be a protester and customer at the same time.” 

thedailywhat:

Occupy Movement News Update of the Day: Occupy Santa Cruz protesters who attempted to close their Bank of America accounts were denied service last week because, according to the branch manager, “you can not be a protester and a customer at the same time.”

Reached out for comment by Central Coast News, BoA spox Colleen Haggerty parroted this anti-protesting policy, saying “It is our responsibility to ensure a safe environment for customers to conduct financial transactions. So, due to the disruptive nature of protests lately and the potential for safety or security issues, we do not allow protesters inside of our banking centers.”

“If a customer who is participating in a protest wishes to conduct bank business,” she added, “we ask them to come back when they are not protesting or they may also conduct their bank business at a nearby branch away from protest activities.”

24 Occupy Wall Street demonstrators were arrested yesterday, reportedly while attempting to discontinue their relationship with Citibank.

In response to a video showing the protesters being forcefully locked inside the bank’s La Guardia Place branch to await arrest, Citi released a statement denying Occupy Wall Street’s version of the events.

“A large amount of protesters entered our branch at 555 La Guardia Place around 2:00 PM today [October 15],” said the company’s public affairs department. “They were very disruptive and refused to leave after being repeatedly asked, causing our staff to call 911. The Police asked the branch staff to close the branch until the protesters could be removed. Only one person asked to close an account and was accommodated.”

The statement goes on to note that none of the protesters was “arrested for closing an account,” and that locking the branch with the demonstrators inside was the NYPD’s idea.

In related news, at least 42 people were arrested at last night’s Take Times Square convergence, which was attended by thousands. Hundreds of protesters were arrested in solidarity demonstrations around the country, including as many as 175 people in Chicago’s Congress Plaza.

Some 1,600 cities worldwide held Global Change protests yesterday, joining a movement that will mark its one-month anniversary tomorrow.

[addictinginfo / ccn / huffpo / citi / nydn: 1,2 / ows.]