Post by Jesse Russell on 3/10/2011 2:20pm
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Update 3 p.m.: A call to M&I's Capitol Square branch confirms the bank is closed for the rest of the day.
When the firefighters arrived at the Capitol this morning they started the chant "MOVE YOUR MONEY!" Firefighters Local 311 President Joe Conway told the audience they should move their money out of M&I Bank. The bank was one of the leading contributors to the Walker campaign due to contributions by current and former executives and board members. Detailed contributions are available via the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. In a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last month the bank said "Individual employees may choose, at their own discretion and based on their political beliefs, to make contributions to political campaigns."
Following speeches by Conway and Wisconsin Professional Firefighters Association Mahlon Mitchell, the firefighters marched to the M&I Bank across the street and picketed the bank and withdrew $192,00o. Video of the firefighters arriving this morning and part of Conway's speech is posted below. (edited: verified by the Wisconsin State Journal)
M&I Bank received $1.7 billion in bailout money via President George W. Bush's Troubled Assets Relief Program. The bank was acquired by the Bank of Montreal in December of 2010 for $4.1 billion in stock.
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