FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Climate Necessity Defense Moves Ahead in Duluth Wells Fargo Lockdown Trial

Duluth, MN, October 18, 2018 — The trial of Scot Bol, Ernesto Burbank, and Michael Niemi — the three people who performed an act of civil disobedience last January 12 at the downtown Duluth branch of Wells Fargo — will take place tomorrow morning, October 19, at 9AM in front of Referee John Schulte at the St. Louis County courthouse in Duluth. The defense plans to call three expert witnesses at trial in its presentation of the “climate necessity defense” — including Dr. Christina Gallup, Associate Professor of Geological Sciences at UMD, Ryan Jones Casey, Asset Management Specialist at Natural Investments LLC, and Tara Houska, National Campaigns Director at Honor the Earth — as well as the three defendants.

“Wells Fargo finances Enbridge’s destructive activities,” said Scot Bol, one of the defendants. “Business as usual cannot continue. We acted as we believe we must, in light of the imminent threat that Wells Fargo is posing to our communities.”

Members of the public and press will be permitted to attend the trial, which is expected to last approximately one half day. Following last week’s acquittal of the “Valve Turners” in Bagley, Minnesota, at which the prosecution failed to prove its case, this will be the first time the “climate necessity defense” will be presented at a criminal trial in Minnesota.

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Contact: Ellen Hadley, 763-227-9361 ellene798@msn.com, Wells Fargo Three Support Committee