
Demonstrators surround the Wells Fargo bank during their protest on Friday Feb. 10, 2016. [Photo: Miriam Mimi Madrid]
The thunderous sounds from the large drum carried by five men reverberated in the atrium lobby as passersby and security stopped to witness the unfolding action.
Wells Fargo officials offered no comment.
Demonstrators began at the State Capitol where elder Robert Cross asked supporters to bring good thoughts for protections during a traditional Eagle whistle prayer of honoring the seven directions.

Demonstrators gather on the west steps of the Capitol before marching to the Wells Fargo Center building on 1724 Lincoln St. [Photo: Miriam Mimi Madrid]
Groups present with the Colorado Chapter of the American Indian Movement included Black Lives Matter 5280, Buried Seedz of Resistance and the International Indigenous Youth Council created last August in the camps at Standing Rock to empower youth to become leaders.
IIYC member Hokshila Luta IronShell said how important it is to keep the spiritual umbilical cord between them and mother Earth.
“These youth need to know that,” IronShell said. “One day they are going be sitting in this Capitol building. They are going to be writing laws and fighting for us.”

IIYC member Hokshila Luta IronShell addresses audience during rally in Solidarity for Standing Rock on Friday Feb. 10, 2016. [Photo: Miriam Mimi Madrid]
“We don’t ask for permits on our land,” he said. Led by elders and young people carrying sacred items the group walked from the Capitol on Lincoln Street straight toward Wells Fargo Center building with signs that read – Standing with Standing Rock, Ban Pipelines Not People, #NoDAPL, #REZpectOurWaters.
Organizers eluded locked doors and security guards within the building and eventually found their way into the bank lobby where they met a dozen police officers with zip-tie handcuffs hanging from their belts. Bank tellers watched as business stood still while chanting, drums and elders yelled towards the corporate offices in the back.
![Elders and children at the front line inside the lobby of Wells Fargo on Friday February 10, 2017. [Photo: Miriam Mimi Madrid]](https://post-telegraph.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/COAIM-300x291.jpg)
Elders and children at the front line inside the lobby of Wells Fargo on Friday Feb. 10, 2017. [Photo: Miriam Mimi Madrid]
Wells Fargo officials refused to meet with organizers, and after 45 minutes of occupying the lobby, police ordered the crowd to disperse. The order was engulfed by the loud chants of the group.
Morris shouted into the bullhorn, “Wells Fargo you are criminals. Your money is covered in oil and blood. If you think this is the last time you will see us, you are mistaken.”
AIM announced plans to bring this issue to city council as residents in Seattle did a few weeks ago to get their city to successfully divest $3 billion from a relationship with Wells Fargo.
“If you didn’t learn anything from ripping off your own customers,” Morris said, “you are going to learn something from ripping off native people.”
The crowd exited the lobby shouting, “We will be back!!! We will be back!!!…”
16. March 2017 at 11:18 AM
Mimi,
The quotes you used from the event were really effective in moving the narrative along. Very powerful stuff, specifically the quote you used to end the story.
Wonderful photos, as well!