trump’s State Department has approved the permit for the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.

By reversing course on the controversial Keystone XL project, Trump has put the desires of fossil fuel companies before the rights of our communities. This pipeline will pollute our heartland, contaminate our clean air and water, and tread on the on the rights of Indigenous people and private landowners. This pipeline will be an absolute disaster — but you can help stop it.

The pipeline it still faces obstacles and one of the biggest is funding. TransCanada, the energy giant behind Keystone XL, will need major support from their banking partners if they want to complete their gigantic tar sands project. That why we’re asking you to put the US banks on notice: DO NOT fund Keystone XL.

Tell Citi, JP Morgan, Wells Fargo, TD Bank and Bank of America they must NOT provide any financial services to TransCanada that could help construct the Keystone XL pipeline.

The Keystone XL pipeline will carry 800,000 barrels of tar sands oil daily across the US, to be refined, exported and burned, and this pipeline will have devastating effect on our climate and set the stage for increased fossil fuel dependence for years to come. Financial institutions can no longer get away with funding climate chaos.

Banks funding highly controversial pipeline projects like Dakota Access have already drawn the resistance of tens of thousands of people and protests around the world. Any financial institution associated with bankrolling the Keystone Pipeline should expect to meet similar scrutiny, reputational risk, and opposition every step of the way.

Sign the petition now demanding Citi, JP Morgan, Wells Fargo, TD Bank and Bank of America honor their climate commitments and NOT provide any financial assistance for Keystone XL.

The Keystone XL pipeline was stopped the first time round by a powerful alliance of Indigenous communities, ranchers, farmers, and climate activists. Millions of people, like you, friend, made phone calls, sent emails and letters, and spoke up to friends and neighbors, and I know we will come together again to do everything in your power to stop any attempt to restart this project.

Please join me in telling US banks they need to say NO to financially supporting the Keystone Pipeline and protect our communities and our planet. This movement is powerful and we will resist this project — with our allies across the country and across borders — and we will continue to build the future the world wants to see, one without fossil fuels.

Keep resisting,
Diana Best
Senior Climate and Energy Campaigner, Greenpeace USA

P.S. We can’t continue to let the banks ignore their climate and human rights commitments. The time is now to call them out and let them know we mean business. Demand the US banks commit to absolutely no financial services for the Keystone Pipeline.

BREAKING: Gov. Rick Scott might try to remove Florida’s first Black head prosecutor from office simply because she did the right thing¹—and we have to stop him. Will you sign the petition?

Aramis Ayala is part of the less than one percent of Black women who are head prosecutors in the country. Last week, she took a heroic step and pledged not to seek the death penalty, and Rick Scott wrongfully removed her from a key case–even though Ayala was supported by the victim’s family in her decision. Now, he might be trying to get her out of office permanently?!

This is an attack on democracy and Black political leadership. Aramis Ayala’s bold move is in direct response to the needs of the voters who put her in office. Yet, Gov. Scott is overstepping his authority and sending a scary and unfair message: the voters’ choice in who they elect to serve justice does not matter.

I’m not sure if you saw Rashad’s email from this weekend–but we need as many people as possible to stand up with Aramis Ayala in this moment. Over 40,000 Color of Change members have already called on Gov. Rick Scott to let Ayala do her job–will sign the petition too?

Thanks for taking a stand.

–Scott, and the rest of the Color of Change team

P.S. Here’s the email Rashad sent this weekend:

Aramis Ayala, the first Black woman state attorney in Florida history, just made a heroic move by refusing to seek the death penalty in any case–and Florida Governor Rick Scott removed her from a key case and handed it over to a white prosecutor in another county.²

Even the victim’s family is in support of Ayala’s decision to not pursue the death penalty.³ Gov. Scott is punishing her for doing the right thing and undermining the voters who chose her–and he must be stopped.

In November, Ayala ousted incumbent Jeff Ashton. She ran on a daring and progressive platform in which she championed dramatic changes to the criminal justice system that would shift the power and control from law enforcement to enhancing safety and well-being of community members. As State Attorney, Ayala understands that justice deserves to be in the hands of the people. Now, she’s facing a careless and disrespectful move from a governor who continues to trample on any real progress towards criminal justice reform–we must have her back to make sure other prosecutors follow in her footsteps.

Demand Governor Rick Scott respect the people’s choice, reverse his decision and put State Attorney Aramis Ayala back on the case.

This is about more than just the death penalty. Black communities and our allies have built a movement over the last year to replace the worst prosecutors with leaders who want to change the system from the inside out–like Aramis Ayala and Kim Foxx in Chicago. Just like every other movement that has built power for Black people, this movement is being met with anti-Blackness, right wing resistance, and anti-democratic tactics intended to keep our communities trapped under the leadership of white conservatives.

We’ve seen it before. After the election of the first Black President, we saw a wave of voter suppression laws intended to constrain Black political power and right-wing politicians refusing to let President Obama conduct the most basic aspects of his duties like appointing a Supreme Court Justice. We have to send a clear signal that when it comes to real leaders like Aramis Ayala, we’ve got their backs.

Governor Rick Scott must let state attorney Aramis Ayala do her job. Tell him to reverse his decision NOW.

During his tenure, Governor Rick Scott has repeatedly failed to step up to other state attorneys when they did not serve justice. He shunned the family of Trayvon Martin. In 2012, when 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was killed by cop wannabe George Zimmerman, Governor Scott moved too slowly to pursue justice for the teenage boy and his family. It was only after urgent pleas from protesters and community members that Scott finally stepped up and appointed a special prosecutor. But who he appointed was damaging–Angela Corey–whom he knew would support his “Stand Your Ground” law where he saw fit. Instead of fighting for justice, Corey allowed Zimmerman to get off. Since then, the Governor hasn’t done a thing about the criminalization of Black folks or the laws that allow them to be killed in cold blood.

Yet, Governor Scott did not even wait a day to take State Attorney Aramis Ayala off this crucial case, diminishing and undermining her position as a prosecutor. He is sending a scary and unfair message — the voters’ choice in who they elect to serve real justice does not matter.

Local prosecutors are the most influential decision makers in the criminal justice system and their work has an enormous impact on the lives of the most vulnerable among us. Our communities cannot afford to have elected leaders put their own interests and power above the people. That is why Orange-Osceola County State Attorney Aramis Ayala–someone who will stay committed to making justice a reality for all people–is the kind of leader that we need. We cannot stand by and let someone like Governor Rick Scott silence her and the voters who elected her to fix our criminal justice system. Let’s show up for Ayala’s bravery and integrity.

Sign the petition.

Until Justice is real

Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Clarise, Anay, Enchanta, Malaya, and the rest of the Color of Change Team

References:

1. “State attorney likely to be booted, WFTV analysts predict,” Orlando Sentinel, 03.19.2017 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/7606?t=9&akid=7138.1174326.ADWpUq

2. “Gov. Scott appoints special prosecutor after Ayala says she won’t pursue death penalty, ” Orlando Sentinel, 03.16.2017.  http://act.colorofchange.org/go/7602?t=11&akid=7138.1174326.ADWpUq

3. “Father of Sade Dixon speaks out about prosecutor’s stance on death penalty, ” Fox 35, 03.16.2017.
   http://act.colorofchange.org/go/7603?t=14&akid=7138.1174326.ADWpUq