Students Challenge Unethical Investments by Bank of America

Divestment campaigns at university campuses have caught like wildfire across the nation. By using our influential capacity within our universities, we can challenge the multi-billions going into funding projects so massively destructive that they can be seen from space. While this is a good start, it is still only a drop in the bucket. It is time to draw a line in the sand. Not only can we use our influential capacity to challenge the choices of our universities, but also the multi-billion corporations with which they associate. This is why, yesterday, we acted in solidarity with students across the states and disrupted Bank of America's college recruitment process.

Over the past 48 hours, students around the country have drawn the line in the sand and seen who stares across from them. Bank of America has invested $6.4 billion dollars into the coal industry over the past two years. As the largest investor of coal financing, they continue to wager profits over public health and climate security. While doing this they have also spent millions in marketing campaigns aimed to pull the wool over the eyes of the american public. Advertisement which tells us that they make “honest and ethical decisions” could not be any further from the truth.

As a students whose future is at risk, we need to stand on the side of reality. We can no longer allow institutions who jeopardize our own well being openly recruit and disseminate their multimillion dollar greenwashing campaigns on our campuses. If students are serious about divestment campaigns, our university endowments are not enough. Students at UNC- Charlotte, NC State, Boston College and UC Berkeley have all made the decision to act and we encourage you to do the same.

Bank of America’s divestment from the coal industry is long overdue. It is up to us to help convince them. While many of us prepare to graduate into the “real world”, Bank of America is looking to recruit our friends and fellow students into their destructive business plan. We can not allow this to go unchecked. It is time that we let them know that we are watching and that we will not stand idly by as they continue to jeopardize our future. As we may have taken this first step, I encourage you to walk with us and start a wave of action across the nation.