CITI: WE ARE NOT YOUR FUTURE WORKERS!
Why Citibank?
Citibank is the world’s largest financier of fossil fuel expansion, and the second-largest financier of the industry overall, having poured over $396 BILLION into fossil fuels since the 2016 Paris Agreement.
Citi’s investments in fossil fuel expansions like LNG and petrochemical projects are perpetuating environmental racism and disproportionately harming historically marginalized communities, especially in the Gulf South. Not only are these projects not aligned with Paris Agreement goals of cutting emissions, but that they are hurting the communities and people that we love. We know that the time to take action is now.
Citibank is the largest foreign bank operating in occupied Palestine. israel needs money and arms to carry out its genocide – Citi helps with both.
Since October 2023, Citi has supported israel’s war machine by financing a $500 million bond to israel and billions of dollars in bonds to war profiteers Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.
Citibank "boasts the largest presence of any foreign financial institution in israel.", and is deeply invested in israel's tech sector (over 50% of which is tech surveillance). During a time of apartheid and genocide – that's nothing to brag about.
Citibank has also actively facilitated billions in israeli military weapon funding, helping to power the infrastructure that keeps apartheid running financially.
Since October 7th, Citi has participated in…
Financing the state of israel by being the sole underwriter of a $500 million bond to the State of israel in January 2024.
Being the underwriters for bonds to Lockheed Martin totaling $2 billion in January 2024. Citi financed an estimated $120 million of those bonds.
Being one of the underwriters of $4.5 billion in bonds to Raytheon in November 2023. Citi financed approximately $1.176 billion of those bonds (Bloomberg Terminal 2024).
Why are we pledging not to work for Citi?
Big corporations and businesses rely on recruiting new employees from colleges and universities every year, and hold large amounts of power at these institutions -- funding courses, departments, internship programs, and holding positions as Trustees and administrators -- all while minimizing or hiding their role in fueling climate chaos and genocidal violence.
Recruitment disruption has a long history in student organizing movements, especially around resisting recruitment by the military and military-industrial complex. This tactic specifically against fossil banks has recently seen success in Canada and Europe, and we’re excited to bring the fight here!
What’s our plan?
In 2024, we’re ramping up the fight against the climate crisis, US militarism, and capitalism. College students will put power behind this disrupting Citi’s recruitment efforts and campus presence until they do.
Join us! If you are a student or recent graduate, take action to tell Citibank: We Are Not Your Future Workers -- we will not work for you while you continue to bankroll genocide and cut checks to the fossil fuel industry, harming the planet, our communities, and our futures.
We have the power over our campuses and the workforce we are being prepared to enter. As the primary audience for recruiters, as the future workforce of these corporations, it’s young people that hold the power. Big banks cannot proceed if we don’t let them - if they don’t stop the money pipeline, we’re cutting off their access to youth talent.