“Make Wall Street Pay” rallies are planned in Sequim and Port Townsend on Saturday.
Both will be hosted by MoveOn councils.
Clallam County MoveOn has organized a rally at 11 a.m. at the corner of Sequim Avenue and Washington Street in Sequim near Bank of America.
The Jefferson County MoveOn council is hosting a rally at 10 a.m. in the triangle park at Kearney Street and Sims Way in Port Townsend.
The rally will turn into a march with stops at Chase, Wells Fargo and Bank of America, culminating at 1 p.m. with a teach-a-thon at the plaza in front of the Pope Marine Building.
The public is welcome to participate.
The rallies are part of a national day of action in which those who attend will be urged to move their accounts from international banking firms to local institutions.
“We believe the national economy is broken,” said Kathryn Grosz, co-coordinator for the Clallam County organization.
“The rich are getting richer while the middle class and poor are struggling,” she said.
“Local banks put our money to work by making loans to small businesses that create jobs here in Clallam County,” she said.
“We are therefore encouraging people to move their accounts from big banks to local banks or credit unions to demonstrate that we refuse to support their businesses if they do not support America by paying their fair share.”
Bailout, bonuses
Said Carol Gallup of the Jefferson County MoveOn Council: “We bailed out the Wall Street banks in 2008, believing they would use this money to renegotiate mortgages to avoid foreclosures or give loans to small businesses.
“Instead, they held on to the bailout money and lavished bonuses on top executives.”
The rally, scheduled on a Saturday, is meant to attract students and those who work, Gallup said.
Participants are urged to carpool or take public transportation to the rally site.
Some signs will be available, but demonstrators are encouraged to create their own protest placards.
To sign up, visit www.moveon.org.
For more information about the Sequm rally, phone Sam Woods at 360-683-1954.
For more about the Port Townsend rally, phone Gallup at 360-379-4795 or Diane Jones at 360-379-9193.