Washington, DC -- Just weeks before Bank of America’s May 9th shareholders meetings, thousands of students are pledging to move their money and take to the streets to demand Bank of America stop financing dirty coal and bankrupting our future with predatory lending and student debt. Energy Action Coalition, along with student and youth organizations across the country are organizing a day of action against Bank of America in 7 cities Wednesday, the day students debt will rise to $1 trillion. Over 2000 students have pledged to not do business with Bank of America and continue to take action.

“As leaders of the next generation, we have an incredible opportunity to use our financial power to get Bank of America to clean up their act,” said Maura Cowley, director of Energy Action Coalition. “Students and young people are one of the most important demographics to Bank of America, and it’s time that they hear what we have to say.”

Bank of America is the #1 financier of the U.S. coal industry, the #1 forecloser on American homes, and one of the biggest holders of student loan debt. In the lead-up to BoA’s May 9th Shareholder Meeting, environmental and economic justice groups are joining together to demand that Bank of America stop bankrupting our future.

Wednesday’s Day of Action against Bank of America and student debt will include students at George Washington University hosting a teach-in on student debt outside a campus branch of Bank of America, students at University of Massachusetts, Amherst burning their students loans outside their Bank of America branch, along with students at Yale University, University of Chicago, University of Oregon, University of Texas, and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill taking creative actions against Bank of America and student debt.

“Today we’re delivering our demands to Bank of America to stop financing dirty coal and bankrupting our future” said Tait Chandler, a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, “Students across the country are using their financial power to demand Bank of America clean up their act, and we’re delivering those demands right here in North Carolina, where Bank of America is headquartered.”

###

Energy Action Coalition is a coalition of 50 youth-led environmental and social justice groups working together to build the youth clean energy and climate movement. Working with hundreds of campus and youth groups, dozens of youth networks, and hundreds of thousands of young people, Energy Action Coalition and its partners have united a burgeoning movement behind winning local victories and coordinating on state, regional, and national levels in the United States and Canada.