Today a group of climate protesters staged a rally in front of Citibank in New York City. There were about 150 of them in all and a couple dozen of them got arrested.

Twenty-three people were taken into custody during the first of a series of planned protests that organizers are calling the Summer of Heat on Wall Street, according to an early NYPD count...

“Planet over profit!” the group bellowed as officers began to arrest some of the participants...

“They’ve arrested dozens of us today because we’re out here for the kickoff to Summer of Heat,” one man said on a video posted to an X account called “Planet Over Profit.” “CitiBank is funding … hundreds of billions of dollars to the fossil fuel industry, while putting all of our lives at risk.”

The group behind this said it was more like 60 people arrested. In any case, here' they are:

HAPPENING NOW: It’s a rocking chair rebellion!

Elders blockade the doors at @Citibank with rocking chairs to demand the bank stop funding oil, gas and coal.

There is no Planet B. Our grandchildren deserve to live. pic.twitter.com/UM7p2OJ8Jg

— New York Communities for Change (@nychange) June 13, 2024

Here's one of the arrestees giving a spiel about fossil fuels.

BREAKING: NYPD arrests elder outside of @citibank as he pleads to the bankers blocked from entering the building:

“Citibank is burning your future…you do not want to be an accomplice in burning up the planet. It’s your future and your children’s future.”#SummerofHeat pic.twitter.com/nksnknPQW6

— New York Communities for Change (@nychange) June 13, 2024

Some of them were dressed as Orcas because...???

On Tuesday, activists from Planet Over Profit dressed up as Orcas and blocked the entrance of Citibank in New York City. pic.twitter.com/AIfq5q8LOP

— Stu (@thestustustudio) June 13, 2024

BREAKING: Nearly 100 orcas have emerged from the ocean to shut down Citibank’s HQ, the second biggest financier of fossil fuels.

The orcas won’t take it anymore. They’re taking a stand for all life on earth, orcas and humans alike.#SummerofHeat pic.twitter.com/8f7fvrG6c2

— New York Communities for Change (@nychange) June 11, 2024

That was this morning. This afternoon, Code Pink (and maybe others) staged an anti-Israel protest in the same location.

After several straight days of climate demos, Citibank also was the site of a protest for Palestine this evening.

Around 100 then marched to City Hall, outside of which there was one arrest for putting up a sticker. pic.twitter.com/xEi3iZ4Pd5

— PRO_NYC (@protest_nyc) June 13, 2024

That protest dragged on for more than two hours. You can watch the whole thing here if you're so inclined. Apparently, this is supposed to continue for several more days with all of the protesters targeting Citigroup. The anti-capitalist protesters are calling it #SummerofHeat:

Summer of Heat brings together a multiracial, multigenerational, cross-class movement for a campaign of sustained nonviolent direct action that demands that Wall Street stop investing in, financing, and insuring fossil fuels...

At the core of the social, economic, and environmental crises we face today are centuries of colonialism, racism, capitalism, and other systems of oppression. Our work is grounded in addressing the root causes of the climate crisis, and we remain vigilant to the ways these systems can creep into our work. 

Stop all the isms! There's also a FAQ on their site that let's people know getting arrested in New York City is no big deal.

Do protesters who get arrested at protests need to post bail?

The short answer is: usually not. The longer answer is that the risk of having a bail imposed is fairly low since bail is not considered in many cases in New York City. In the unlikely situation that a Summer of Heat participant is required to post bail, we would work with the NYC Action Bail Fund to post your bail.

It's just a big street party thanks to New York City's policies. I'm sure we're going to see a lot more of this. Will it get completely out of hand at some point? It usually does when progressive activists are involved.