Whitney Yax, 24, an organizer with PUSH Buffalo, transferred her money out of HSBC Bank, because she wanted to take it out of Wall Street and put it back on Main Street.
Charles Lyons, a 61-year-old elementary school teacher, pulled his checking and savings accounts, because he wants more jobs and services for the poor, and less going to CEOs, executives and shareholders.
Rachel Wilson, 26, a family-violence counselor, wanted to make a statement about Wall Street bailouts and tax relief.
And Brian Trzeciak, 35, who holds down three jobs, wanted to issue a wake-up call to the big banks.
Saturday was Buffalo Bank Transfer Day, part of a national movement encouraging people to transfer their money from large multinational banks to local credit unions, where the money stays in the community.
Close to 100 people gathered outside the HSBC Bank branch at Elmwood Avenue and West Utica Street, before heading to the nearby Bank of America branch and then marching downtown to Niagara Square.
The event, sponsored by Buffalo First!, was marked by speeches, chants, car horns honking their support and even a bit of street theater to make the demonstrators’ points.
There’s huge overlap between those participating in Bank Transfer Day and the folks camping out in Niagara Square as part of the Occupy Buffalo movement. In fact, some of the most recognizable signs from the Niagara Square encampment made it to Saturday’s bank protests.
“The 99 percent movement is all about finding ways for people to change the economy that is benefiting only the 1 percent,” Yax said.
“Bank Transfer Day is about the power of individuals to take their money out of institutions whose profits go almost entirely to Wall Street and keep that money in our community, where we can control it,” she added.
Wilson, the family-violence counselor, said that Wall Street first wanted a bailout, then asked for tax relief, amid cuts to workers’ wages, benefits, public services and school aid.
“They are demanding that we eat the crumbs from the cake they have every day,” she said.
Trzeciak, an online English professor, freelance sculptor and coffeehouse worker, summed up the view toward big banks.
“The only interest the banks have in me is to make a profit on my hardship,” he said. “Whenever I fall on hard times, they’re not there to help me.”
The protest also included some street theater, with Eric Gallion, a semiretired mechanical engineer, donning a scarf, bowler and pretzel- stick cigar, to portray the character Big Bank.
“We’re doing fine,” he told the crowd. “Our profits are way up. Our bonuses are way up. There’s nothing for you to worry about. You can all go home now.”
That was greeted by a chorus of lusty — good-natured — boos.
Source: Buffalo News
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