Business & Tech
16 Arrested In Protest Of Vanguard Climate Policy In Malvern
Protestors were arrested Wednesday morning for trespassing on the Vanguard campus in Tredyffrin and East Whiteland townships, police said.
MALVERN, PA —Sixteen climate activists protesting outside Vanguard's Malvern headquarters complex were arrested this morning after blocking the entrances for employees during the morning rush hour and refusing to leave, police said.
Earth Quaker Action Team and Extinction Rebellion Philadelphia groups began protesting at 8:30 a.m. at the Vanguard entrance at the intersection of Brennan Blvd. and Foundry Way, Tredyffrin Township, and at the Vanguard Boulevard entrance in East Whiteland Township.
A total of 13 protesters were arrested at the Tredyffrin entrance and three others at the East Whiteland entrance, police said.
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All 16, ranging in age from 22 to 84, were taken to the Chester County Prison to be processed.
“It was quite a scene,” Lt. Tyler Moyer said. "They wanted to be arrested. Once again, they draw attention to their protest of Vanguard investing in fossil fuels.”
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During the morning rush hour, 22 protestors blocked four driveway entrances, staging an intervention in what they called "Vanguard's business as usual to demonstrate the urgency of Vanguard's climate crisis."
About 80 others rallied to convince Vanguard to stop investing in fossil fuels.
“This is an all hands on deck moment for addressing the ecological crisis," said Frank Fortino, a member of Extinction Rebellion Philadelphia who was arrested. "I’m here today because I feel that urgency and because we need Vanguard leadership to also feel that urgency."
Eve Gutman, the spokeswoman for the rally, said the protest is part of “Vanguard S.O.S,” an international campaign to demand that Vanguard chart a new course away from climate catastrophe and toward truly sustainable investing,
Last year, eight activists were charged with defiant trespassing.
Moyer said some of the protesters arrested today were the same as those arrested in September for trespassing.
Vanguard was aware of the protest in advance and was prepared to prevent disruptions.
Vanguard has a 20-page report available on the economics of climate change.
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