Cellist activist arrested for playing Bach in Citibank protest

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A 63-year-old climate activist and cellist was arrested on Thursday 9 August while performing solo Bach outside the headquarters of Citibank, one of the world’s largest fossil fuel financiers, in downtown New York.

John Mark Rozendaal, an early music cellist and former instructor at Princeton University, faces up to seven years in prison following his arrest for criminal contempt in public park outside the bank’s headquarters, as measures to stop nonviolent climate protesters in the city increases.

Rozendaal was arrested along with Alec Connon, director of the climate non-profit group Stop the Money Pipeline. The two are alleged to have been in breach of a previous restraining order against Citibank security worker, James Flynn.

‘We’re going to Citibank on Thursday, not with the intention of breaking the law,’ Rozendaal said in advance of the protest, according to Inside Climate News. ‘We’re going there with the intention of defying Citibank’s intent to intimidate us.’

Fourteen other climate activists were detained for alleged obstruction of governmental administration, as they linked arms in a circle around Rozendaal to protect him while he performed Bach.

Since 10 June, climate activists have been peacefully protesting against banks’ fossil fuel financing in what has been dubbed the ‘Summer of Heat on Wall Street’ campaign. At least 3,700 people have participated in the nonviolent civil disobedience, repeatedly blockading the entrance to its global headquarters. More than 475 people including faith leaders, scientists and elders have been arrested during the protests.

Citibank is the second largest financier of fossil fuels and the largest financier of fossil fuel expansion since the 2015 Paris climate agreement, according to the latest Banking on Climate Chaos report.

The arrests have garnered criticism from New York City council members. ‘The Summer of Heat campaign has mobilised thousands of everyday people and brought financial executives face-to-face with the very communities they are harming through the billions they bankroll in fossil fuels,’ said council member Alexa Avilés.

‘Rather than engage on the merits of their arguments and acknowledge the role they play, Citibank has chosen to unleash a brutal police crackdown on organisers… You cannot incarcerate your way to a livable planet.’

Democratic New York City councilwoman Sandy Nurse said in response to Rozendaal’s arrest: ‘It’s alarming that Citibank is resorting to scare tactics to intimidate climate activists that are simply trying to get the bank to stop financing the fossil fuel industry that is killing our planet and polluting our communities.

‘Citi should stop targeting activists and focus instead on ending its support for fossil fuels,’ Nurse added.

The ‘Summer of Heat on Wall Street’ is set to continue next week, as immigration rights groups are planning to lead a ‘Migrants Grieve and Rage Against Climate Destruction’ day of action outside Citibank’s headquarters on 13 August.

Playing

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