Protest Of Vanguard Climate Policy Ends In 8 Arrests in Malvern

MALVERN, PA — Eight climate activists were cited Wednesday with defiant trespassing charges after refusing to leave the outside of a building on the Vanguard campus, police said.

The small group of activists from Earth Quaker Action Team and Extinction Rebellion Philly held a banner saying “Vanguard Stewards Climate Destruction.”

The group was hoping to meet with John Galloway, Global Head of Investment Stewardship.

Instead, Tredyffrin Township police were trying to get the protestors to leave.

Lt. Tyler Moyer said the small group of protestors were inside the campus unannounced and refused several requests to leave after multiple chances.

As a result, they were taken to the Tredyffrin police department where they were fingerprinted, photographed and charged with defiant trespassing.

The group was planning to return to Vanguard on Friday with Indigenous leaders from Peru, but the trip was postponed until because not all members have visas.

“We know that as the largest investor in companies like Exxon and Chevron, Vanguard has major responsibility for pushing the fossil fuel industry away from climate destruction,” said Dana Robinson, Vanguard customer, grandfather, and action team board member.

On Earth Day, April 22, a larger group of more than 100 protested outside the building.

Vanguard was aware of the protest in advance and the group was off the property, standing outside the entrance.

Vanguard said on its climate change website that the company’s climate change policies will have far-reaching consequences that will shape the future trends in economics, financial markets, politics and society.

The group had a much larger protest on Earth Day with 100 people holding banners .

The difference between the two protests is the Wednesday protest did not have permission to go on the property, police said.

The protest in April was outside the gate of the property.