Earth Quaker Action Team

And you're invited to attend Philly Thrive’s birthday party on October 11! Sign up here: www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrate-...

Donate to Support A Philly EJ Community During Federal Funding Cuts, organized by Philly Thrive In 2015 when the largest oil refinery on the East Coast was pl… Philly Thrive needs your support for Support A Philly EJ Community During Federal Funding Cuts

Let’s have Philly Thrive’s back as they navigate serious impacts from federal funding cuts. You're invited to donate here: www.gofundme.com/f/stand-with...

Philly Thrive

As we prepare to celebrate our own anniversary, we're also celebrating 10 years of Philly Thrive -- community leaders and environmental justice champions shaping the city’s future for a healthier, more equitable city for ALL (www.phillythrive.org).

We’re part of a powerful movement of people of faith taking bold action for climate justice. We know the wisdom, joy & hope that come from our faithful commitment to live by our values. Check out @sundayofaction.bsky.social & @greenfaith.bsky.social for more! #Faiths4ClimateJustice #SunDayofAction

A collage of four images. Clockwise from top left: 1) Four people with matching shirts stand in front of glass and brick building that says Vanguard. 2) Two people stand outside on an overcast day; one is waving their hands in the air. 3) Two people stand in front of a stone building and one of them has a guitar. 4) Close up of one person sitting in the grass with their eyes closed reflectively, in front of a Vanguard sign. Photos by Lee Smithey, Rachael Warriner, and Ray Bailey

So, more of us showed up at the Vanguard offices. We rallied, sang & held silent worship, calling on Vanguard to invest for a livable future. Then, not having gotten to talk to CEO Ramji yet, a few of us went to his apartment building in song, to see if we could catch him on his way home.

Five People Arrested at Vanguard Asking for a Meeting to Discuss the Dangers of Vanguard's Fossil Fuel Investments Climate change is expected to cause a significant blow to Vanguard customers’ savings Malvern, PA – This morning, members of Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT) arrived at the executive office building on...

Persistence for Existence, we called it. After many months, literally thousands of contacts & no response yet, we walked up to the Vanguard executive office building & asked CEO Salim Ramji to meet with us. Vanguard responded to our request by having us arrested.
eqat.org/press-releas...

Two people in EQAT T-shirts jump in the air outside a building; one plays a guitar, the other poses mid-jump. Some details in the background were edited to blur.

We persist for existence, morning, noon, and night. We’ll keep showing up until Vanguard makes courageous decisions – for its customers and for all of us.

#VanguardSOS #Faiths4ClimateJustice #SunDayofAction #SUNDay @greenfaith.bsky.social @stopmoneypipeline.bsky.social

Two people in EQAT T-shirts pose outside a building; one holding a guitar, the other making a peace sign.

Vanguard is the world’s largest investor in fossil fuels, with $444 billion of its customers’ money in coal, oil, and gas – and $184 billion of that just in fossil fuel expansion! Science tells us with resounding clarity that we must not keep extracting and burning more fossil fuels.

In the morning, we went to Vanguard to ask to meet with CEO Salim Ramji. At lunchtime, we returned with more people to repeat our demands. And, in the evening, we visited Ramji’s home, to try to catch him as he was returning from work. We brought music with us, lifting our voices songfully.

[Alt text: A person speaks into a microphone while looking at another person, and others stand around them holding signs. Photo by Rachael Warriner]

[Alt text: A person speaks into a microphone while others stand behind them, holding banners and signs, including one that says “fossil fuel-free funds.” Photo by Rachael Warriner]

As the world’s largest investor in fossil fuels and one of the worst when it comes to asking portfolio companies to do better, Vanguard especially has a responsibility to do what it can to invest for a safe and healthy future.

#Faiths4ClimateJustice #SunDayofAction #SUNDay

[Alt text: A person sustains a large red banner with white text that says “free our future from fossil fuels” in front of a sign that says “Vanguard.” Photo by Rachael Warriner]

[Alt text: A person stands with their eyes closed in reflection while they hold a sign that says “fund the future,” with other people holding other signs around them. Photo by Rachael Warriner]

So, in the afternoon, many more of us showed up at Vanguard to rally in support of those arrested and reiterate the request for Vanguard leaders to meet with campaign representatives. We shared song, speeches, and silent worship.

@afsc-org.bsky.social @stopmoneypipeline.bsky.social

Five People Arrested at Vanguard Asking for a Meeting to Discuss the Dangers of Vanguard's Fossil Fuel Investments Climate change is expected to cause a significant blow to Vanguard customers’ savings Malvern, PA – This morning, members of Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT) arrived at the executive office building on...

In the morning, five of our F/friends went to the office building where Vanguard executives work to ask that CEO Salim Ramji meet with representatives of the #VanguardSOS campaign. Instead of speaking with them, Vanguard had the group arrested.

eqat.org/press-releas...

They were released after about 7 hours in detention. We anticipate they'll face fines and legal expenses, and we could use your help! If you’re able, please donate to our legal support fund: secure.everyaction.com/fDLsP21JnEyf...

[Alt text: A few people getting arrested by police officers in front of an office building. Photo by Lee Smithey]

When asked again for a meeting, Vanguard had the group, ages 22 to 72, arrested by local police. Vanguard, why are you scared of people in matching t-shirts? 🤔

#VanguardSOS #Faiths4ClimateJustice #SunDayofAction #SUNDay

[Alt text: People people in matching red shirts pose for the camera in front of a building that says “Vanguard Victory.” Photo by Lee Smithey]

🚨Happening now🚨 After many months of 1,000s of people contacting Vanguard, 5 people went to Vanguard’s executive office building today to request that CEO Salim Ramji meet with #VanguardSOS campaign representatives.

Tomorrow, we’re going to corporate headquarters to remind Vanguard leaders of actions that would move us toward a more livable future – like offering fossil fuel-free investment products and adopting a comprehensive Indigenous rights policy. See you there? secure.everyaction.com/7UKP4BCoGEKV...

To make sure Vanguard leadership is hearing us, thousands of people have reached out to corporate decision makers. 3,000 people emailed CEO Salim Ramji and some called other corporate leaders, and then we hand delivered letters to Vanguard HQ and the homes of the CEO & CIO.

Get ready with me — well, us — as we prepare to take spirit-led nonviolent direct action at Vanguard, world’s largest investor in fossil fuels!

#VanguardSOS #Faiths4ClimateJustice #SunDayofAction #SUNDay

A person poses in front of mailboxes, holding a package containing a letter and other items. Photo by Harrison Mace

After going to Vanguard CEO Salim Ramji’s home, we also visited President & CIO Greg Davis’s home to try to talk with him. No one was home, so we left our letter and a little gift.
1,000s of us have contacted Vanguard. We know they’re hearing us, so why aren’t we hearing from them? #VanguardSOS

Two people stand in a park and pose for the camera with party hats and necklaces, a noisemaker, birthday candles, a letter, and a shirt wrapped in a bow. Photo by Richie Schulz

A few of us went to Vanguard CEO Salim Ramji's home on his birthday to drop off a gift plus a letter asking him to meet with us. 1,000s of us have emailed, called & visited Vanguard's offices, bringing our campaign demands. We know they're hearing us, so why aren’t we hearing from them? #VanguardSOS

Hear from some of our partners whose communities are facing the destructive impacts of companies that Vanguard supports. This action will be welcoming to new and experienced activists. 💚

@afsc-org.bsky.social @greenfaith.bsky.social @stopmoneypipeline.bsky.social @sundayofaction.bsky.social

Through song, signage, speeches & more, we’ll remind Vanguard leaders of actions that they can take today – like offering fossil fuel-free investment products & adopting an Indigenous rights policy – that will start to move us toward a more livable future. 🎶🪧📣

A person speaks into a microphone while others look on from behind. Over the image, there is text that says "Persistence for Existence / Wed 9/10 12pm Malvern, PA / Vanguard S.O.S EQAT Sun Day" Photo by Rachael Warriner

We know that so much is at stake – with increasing climate disasters & the gutting of climate protections – & we do not back down! ➡️Join us in action on Wed 9/10 at 12pm in PA at the world’s largest investor in fossil fuels, Vanguard.⬅️
More info & sign up: secure.everyaction.com/7UKP4BCoGEKV...

Subscribe to EQAT — Earth Quaker Action Team Get updates on EQAT's work to build a just and sustainable economy. Join us in taking grassroots and nonviolent direct action.

Vanguard has a responsibility to do better. We're going to keep working with others to make sure it does. Get involved: eqat.org/subscribe/

-- Marc, EQAT volunteer 4/4

In fact, Vanguard seems to be drifting ever farther away from taking responsibility to reduce the harmful effects from its vast investment in fossil fuels or to make any effort to support shareholder votes for climate solutions on behalf of all of its clients. 3/4

Two people look across the street towards two other people standing near a large white and red sign that says Vanguard. Photo by Rachael Warriner

It caught my attention that Vanguard claims to be for democratic investing when we know it's unresponsive to requests to talk from some of its institutional customers -- and it refuses to address the very real threats to customers' long-term investments from climate change. 2/4

Salim Ramji: The Industry Uses Complexity As a Mask to Charge More One year into his tenure, the Vanguard CEO reflects on the push to get investors into private securities, the future of advice at Vanguard, and whether the firm has addressed its customer service and ...

Vanguard CEO Salim Ramji told Morningstar that Vanguard's philosophy is that everyone should have access to investing and financial advice (www.morningstar.com/funds/salim-...). So, how does that hold up in practice? 1/4

This is tomorrow! Thursday, August 28th at 5:30PT / 8:30ET. See you there?
www.mobilize.us/afsc/event/8...

@afsc-org.bsky.social @oilgasaction.bsky.social @planetoverprofit.org

Follow the Money: How We Can Hold Big Companies Accountable · American Friends Service Committee Big finance and tech companies are fueling climate change, the genocide in Gaza, and the rise of authoritarianism worldwide. How can everyday people hold these corporations accountable and push them t...

Join us from anywhere on Thursday, August 28th at 5:30PT / 8:30ET! More info and sign up: www.mobilize.us/afsc/event/8...

We’re partnering with @afsc-org.bsky.social @oilgasaction.bsky.social @planetoverprofit.org to discuss how people power is rising up against the profiteers of these great harms – and how everyday people like you and me can join campaigns for change.