Jewish Youth Climate Movement and CARI Protest Chase Bank's Fossil-Fuel Investments with Zombie-themed Action

The Jewish Youth Climate Movement of Rhode Island partnered with Climate Action Rhode Island (CARI) on Friday to protest outside the Chase Bank location on Thayer Street in Providence. The protest was part of a national, youth-led day of action for a fossil-free future.

To dramatize the deadly consequences of Chase’s immense fossil-fuel investing, many protesters and supporters attended the action in zombie costumes.

JP Morgan Chase has lent $317 billion to the fossil fuel industry since the Paris Agreement, noted protesters, “prioritizing short-term profits over humanity’s well-being.” The Fossil Free Future Day of Action was planned and executed in advance of the United Nations Climate Conference in Copenhagen, happening now.

“When Chase Bank finances new oil and fracked gas pipelines and new offshore oil infrastructure, they are destroying our hopes for a livable future,” says Abby Huber, vice president of CARI.

“I was tired of hearing about how our world was in danger and not doing anything about it,” said Daniel Vilker, a Junior at East Greenwich High School and co-founder of the RI chapter of the Jewish Youth Climate Movement. “We as Jews have a duty to heal the Earth. In Hebrew it’s called Tikun Olam. I first approached Rabbi Philmus because I knew he was passionate about this and he could help me organize and protest with other Jewish teens to repair the climate.”

Rabbi Aaron Philmus said is proud that teens, from both his synagogue, Torat Yisrael, and the greater Rhode Island Jewish community, who have mobilized to co-lead this action. He believes that participating in a nationwide day of action with environmental organizations is a way to make a national impact through local action. He considers it a religious obligation to fulfill our role as Shomrei Adamah, Keepers of the Earth, and maintain the systems of life that support us and the future generations.

CARI has been leading protests against Chase Bank’s investments in fossil fuels ever since Chase opened its first branch in Rhode Island in 2019 – the same Thayer Street branch that will be protested at this event.

See previous reporting here: