A group of West Seattleites, dressed up like Dr. Seuss’ Lorax, stood in front of Wells Fargo Monday morning, Oct. 23, waving signs that read: “Divest Now.”

The main character in the cautionary tale of “The Lorax” advocates for the health of the trees against corporate powers.

Similarly, the protesters gathered in front of Wells Fargo were trying to draw attention to the plight of the environment – especially when Mother Nature steps into the ring with big banks.

A couple children in the crowd chanted a rhyme inspired by the book “I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees/ I speak for the trees for the trees have no tongues/ And tar sands oil, you see, is hurting our lungs.”

One of the children went inside the bank to try to read a letter to the bank manager, which closed with a powerful line: “Not only shall we be boycotting your bank, but we will also be encouraging individuals, institutions and cities around the world to move towards banks that place people and the Earth before profits.”

Attached to the letter was a petition signed by more than 150,000 individuals.

The bank would not allow the child to meet with the manager.

The group remained out on the sidewalk championing their cause, before marching off to the next bank. Their goal was to reach six banks during the day – two locations each for Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Chase.

West Seattle resident Diane Hetrick said the effort is part of a mass movement called “Divest the Globe,” led internationally by the indigenous coalition Mazaska Talks.

In Seattle, various groups have joined to target 100 banks in the same day. Actions were also planned in at least 35 cities throughout the nation.

“Groups from around the globe, and certainly around the country, are doing this,” Hetrick said.

She explained that 92 of the world’s largest banks were meeting in Brazil on Oct. 23 to discuss environmental and social risk management policies, regarding the climate and Indigenous People’s rights.

“But their track record isn’t so good,” she said.

Hetrick wants local banks to know that they are financing projects that abuse indigenous communities and are a disaster for the climate.

“We’re here because of the risks to the water and the air,” she said. “Tar sands are the dirtiest of all fossil fuels. It’s three times worse than oil production. Using tar sands is like game over. It’s the tipping point.”

Hetrick was inspired by Seattle’s Michael Foster who stood up against the Keystone Pipeline.

“This man is willing to go to jail for this; what am I willing to do?” she asked herself. “I need to step up too. It can’t just be one person doing this.”

Al Geiger was among those joining her in the protest. “I have grandchildren,” he said. “I’m worried about their future.”

Azure Faloona, 11 years old, said he was worried about future and current generations.

“The bank will survive if they don’t fund this,” he said. “The bank can make other investments.”

Faloona said that being out on the sidewalk spreading the word is critical.

“It’s the best way to get the message out there,” he said. “The people going into the bank will all realize what’s happening.”

For more information about Divest the Globe, visit https://mazaskatalks.org/