PORT TOWNSEND — About 40 demonstrators marched from downtown Port Townsend to the Jefferson County Courthouse this afternoon to demand that the county pull its assets out of Bank of America and invest in a local bank.
“Jefferson County has large accounts at Bank of America, and we ask that these be emptied and closed,” the Occupy Port Townsend demonstrators chanted outside Treasurer Judi Morris’ window.
“We also ask that any monies you place under control of the Washington state treasurer be moved elsewhere until the state ceases using Bank of America as a financial institution.”
The demonstrators began at Pope Marine Park and marched down Water Street, detouring through the Bank of America drive-up lane.
They continued onto Sims Way before turning up the hill on Washington Street to the county courthouse.
Port Townsend Police Sgt. Troy Surber followed the demonstrators as they walked in the southbound lane and did not allow any traffic to pass for the 20 minutes it took them to cover the route.
Surber said that the police had received some traffic complaints but decided to allow the demonstration to proceed unimpeded.
