A protest rally was called for Wednesday, April 27th, the date of a ChevronTexaco Annual Shareholders Meeting. Protesters planned to support Ecuadorian indigenous activists who were attending the shareholders' meeting to demand compensation for the destruction of their homes and livelihoods. People from all walks of life come together for protests like this, since there are many areas of ChevronTexaco's work that are seen as problematic. Protesters intended to point out the fact that ChevronTexaco profits from the war in Iraq. People who live in Richmond and surrounding areas are fighting against ChevronTexaco's pollution of their neighborhoods. Environmentalists oppose ChevronTexaco's intent to drill in the Alaskan National Wildlife Reserve. The rally was held in support of "alternatives to Oil and Oil Addiction! In Opposition to Corporate Greed and Wars for Oil Wherever they Are Fought."

The rally started at 7:00am, and shareholders arrived during that hour. The shareholder meeting took place from 8:00am to 10:00am. Ecuadorian Indigenous activists planned to report back about the meeting at 10:00am, and the crowd continued to rally as the shareholders departed. ChevronTexaco's World Headquarters is located at 6001 Bollinger Canyon Rd in San Ramon (at Sunset, immediately East of Hwy 680). More info, including directions

For more info about campaigns against ChevronTexaco and similar corporations (these groups were not part of organizing this protest), see: http://www.amazonwatch.org | http://www.amnestyusa.org | http://www.seen.org | http://www.globalpolicy.org | ChevronToxico.org

Some past Indybay coverage of ChevronTexaco protests:
September 9th, 2003 in Richmond | Berkeley 5/7/03 | 4/14/03 in Walnut Creek | 11/18/02 in SF | 11/11/2001 in Richmond