Local woman Franchesca Hanna was greeted by the applause of roughly 150 protesters this morning as she walked out of Wells Fargo and into the cold, bright Arcata sun, fist raised high for the five bank accounts she just closed.

Hanna was one of several locals that closed their Wells Fargo accounts today in protest of the bank’s investment in the Dakota Access Pipeline — an unfinished, underground oil pipeline spanning several midwestern states that many American tribes and environmentalist are looking to stop.

“I was aware that Wells Fargo was one of the banks funding the Dakota Access Pipeline and I am strongly not in support of this,” Hanna said. “I feel like the little things we do can make a difference, where I put my money is something I can control.”

The protest, organized through the Facebook group “Defund DAPL @ Wells Fargo: A Peaceful Gathering of Water Protectors,” began at 9 a.m. at the Arcata Plaza. Local tribal members gave speeches and sang rally cries at the feet of William McKinley’s statue as the crowd filled the town square.

Hoopa tribal member Nah-Tes Jackson addressed the crowd first with his experiences protesting the pipeline at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in the Dakotas.

“I was there for four months at Standing Rock. I’m glad to be home,” Jackson said. “The emotional come down from Standing Rock is very powerful.”

At about 9:30 a.m., protesters began to march down G Street toward the Arcata Wells Fargo, briefly blocking traffic and shouting chants like “we got the power,” and “shut it down!”

Protesters circled the front entrance of the bank, while others stood blocking the rear drive-thru ATMs — some of them slathering their arms in molasses, mimicking the appearance of crude oil.

The protest remained peaceful throughout the morning. After the event, some loaded into their cars and caravanned to the Eureka Wells Fargo where the march is planned to continue.