Queer Nation To Protest At NYSE

Via press release:

In the latest in a series of ongoing, high-profile demonstrations against the Russian government’s anti-gay laws, Queer Nation will protest outside the New York Stock Exchange while Russian government officials at the Exchange ring the closing bell. The protest will take place on Monday, November 18, at 3:15 PM, in front of the Federal Hall at 26 Wall Street. November 18 at the stock exchange is “Russia Day,” an event that will promote investment in Russia. The day is sponsored by the stock exchange, several Russian companies, and Cleary Gottlieb, a U.S. law firm. Sergey Belyakov, Russia’s deputy economics minister, has been selected to ring the closing bell.

“It’s outrageous that the Stock Exchange invited representatives from the Russian government to ring the closing bell,” said Alexis Danzig, a Queer Nation member. “The Exchange is now complicit with the Russian government’s violence and attacks against LGBT Russians, political dissidents, and undocumented immigrants," she continued. “The members of the Stock Exchange should be encouraging divestment, not investment, in Russian assets.” In response to pressure by activists, including Queer Nation, Goodwin Procter, LLP, a U.S. law firm; James R. Silkenat, the president of the American Bar Association; and the Office of the Mayor of the City of New York all ended their association with a separate forum promoting U.S. investment in Russia that was to be held at the Midtown offices of Goodwin Procter, also on November 18.

More details at their Facebook page.