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July 3, 2013

Anti-Bank Protester Acquitted for Chalk Slogans in San Diego; Activist Detained in Pennsylvania 
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A protester in California has been acquitted of all charges after being
tried for writing protest slogans on a sidewalk. Jeff Olson faced up to
13 years in prison and $13,000 in fines on misdemeanor vandalism charges
after using washable chalk outside three Bank of America branches in San
Diego. Olson's messages included "No Thanks, Big Banks" and "Shame on
Bank of America." He has accused a Bank of America executive, Darrell
Freeman, of pressuring local prosecutors to go through with the case.
After the verdict, Olson urged supporters to protest big banks by moving
their money to local credit unions.

Jeff Olson: "There's one way for them to send a message that will be
heard, and that's to close your account at a big Wall Street bank and
move your money to a local, non-profit, community credit union. If
you're mad about this, if you think this wasn't fair what happened to
me, close your Wall Street bank account."

Olson's acquittal comes days after a similar arrest in Pennsylvania.
Healthcare activist AJ Marin was detained for using chalk to write a
sidewalk slogan against Republican Governor Tom Corbett's decision to
reject federal funds for expanding Medicare. Marin wrote: "Governor
Corbett has health insurance, we should too." He's been charged with
disorderly conduct.

 

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