Protesters arrested at S.F. demonstration in Financial District

Protesters take to the streets of San Francisco's Financial District Monday to demonstrate against institutions involved in funding fossil fuel production. Protesters take to the streets of San Francisco's Financial District Monday to demonstrate against institutions involved in funding fossil fuel production. Photo: Rising Tide North America Photo: Rising Tide North America Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Protesters arrested at S.F. demonstration in Financial District 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

About a dozen protesters were arrested Monday after several chained themselves together to block entrances to the Bank of the West in San Francisco’s Financial District and others took to the streets to disrupt traffic, police said.

The demonstrators said they were targeting companies and financial institutions that harm by funding fossil fuel operations and exploration.

Police were called to the Bank of the West branch at Montgomery and Bush streets after at least four protesters sat in front of entrance doors and chained themselves together, police said. Officers arrested the protesters when they refused orders to leave the bank.

Meanwhile, seven protesters were arrested outside the bank for refusing to budge after police ordered them and more than 100 demonstrators to get out of the street.

“The idea here is to stop business as usual,” said protester Laurel Sutherlin, 38, who was not among those arrested. “The urgency and stakes of the climate crisis are demanding that we take action today.”

The protest started about 8 a.m. at Justin Herman Plaza before moving to the Chevron corporate office on Howard Street. The protesters also staged a demonstration at the Wells Fargo Bank headquarters on Montgomery Street.

Representatives of the companies protested against could not immediately be reached for comment.