Activists gathered outside Pacific Continental Bank’s headquarters in downtown Eugene today. They say the bank’s associated with a trust that supports several hate groups. KLCC’s Brian Bull reports.
The Northwest Accountability Project’s Executive Director, Peter Starzynski, was joined by a handful of people holding signs and handing out flyers. The message they’re trying to get out is that Pacific Continental board member Jeff Pinneo is a trustee for the Murdock Charitable Trust.
Starzynski says the trust has given thousands of dollars to civic groups, churches, and universities, to support research or community work.
“And that’s why it’s hard to understand why they would fund like the Alliance Defending Freedom, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has just designated as an anti-LGTBQ hate group," says Starzynski.
"Or the anti-worker organization based in Washington State, called the Freedom Foundation, whose set goal is to undermine labor unions. It doesn’t add up.”
Starzynski hopes to meet with Pacific Continental Bank officials on the matter.
Meanwhile, a spokesman says while Pinneo is a respected board member, the bank has no relationship with any of his business or other board interests, and further comments should be directed to the Murdock Trust.
Copyright 2017, KLCC.