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Our response to news that Brian Deese, managing director at BlackRock -- the world’s largest asset manager -- will head the National Economic Council (NEC) under the Biden administration: a thread
“Biden’s pick of a BlackRock executive to head the National Economic Council is a slap in the face to climate and racial justice activists everywhere.
“Finance executives like Brian Deese are responsible for financing environmental devastation while profiteering from Black and Indigenous communities.”
- Saqib Bhatti, Co-ED
- Saqib Bhatti, Co-ED
“While Deese is quick to take credit for the U.S. being a part of the Paris Climate Accord, the truth is he was a supporter of fracking and fossil fuel production.
“Under his watch at BlackRock, the firm paid lip service to racial & environmental justice, while continuing to vote against shareholder proposals that sought to address these issues, especially proposals related to corporate political spending disclosure& oversight.
“BlackRock has a long history of financing climate devastation, like the Amazon fires, and racist institutions like police foundations.
"BlackRock should not be given any power in economic policymaking by the federal government nor should any investment firm’s executives be considered to lead major public economic institutions.
“We are in the midst of a global pandemic that has devastated the economy & destroyed the lives of millions of people. We urgently need diverse leadership at powerful economic institutions like the NEC...committed to economic policymaking that will prioritize people & the planet.
“We demand that President-elect Biden rescinds Deese’s appointment & other private sector executives for economic positions, & instead, pull together a short list from the many qualified policymakers of color who will do right by people & the planet.” -Vasudha Desikan, Pol Dir
