Moment CitiBank guard punches climate change activist in face during protest at firm's NYC HQ

A climate protester was hospitalized with facial injuries on Wednesday after being punched by a security guard at Citibank's New York headquarters, Common Dreams reports. 

The incident occurred as activists with the Summer of Heat campaign were gathered in the bank's lobby.

Eren Can Illeri, the injured protester, was part of the protest demanding a meeting with Citibank executives to address the bank's continued investment in fossil fuels.

Summer of Heat, a coalition backed by New York Communities for Change, Planet Over Profit, and Stop the Money Pipeline, has made Citibank a primary target this summer.

Video footage of the incident shows Illeri filming with his phone when a security guard approached him and attempted to grab the device.

A climate protester was hospitalized with facial injuries on Wednesday after being punched by a security guard at Citibank's New York headquarters, according to protest organizers

Eren Can Illeri (pictured) the injured protester, was part of the protest demanding a meeting with Citibank executives to address the bank's continued investment in fossil fuels

The guard then punched Illeri in the face and pushed him to the ground

'We have been asking Citi to meet with us for weeks to talk about what it can do to tackle the climate emergency,' Alicé Nascimento, a spokesperson for Summer of Heat told Common Dreams. 

'But rather than meet with us, they have sent their security guards to physically attack peaceful climate activists after weeks of intimidation and threats.'

'Citi backs violence and it's sickening,' said Alice Hu, a climate campaigner for New York Communities for Change, who said the violence that took place at the company's HQ is a direct reflection of 'the violence of fossil fuels and climate chaos.'

"We're not asking Citi to do anything radical. We're simply asking them to support the energy transition in the way that is necessary to rein in catastrophic climate change,' Alec Connon, a lead organizer of the Summer of Heat campaign, told DailyMail.com.

'Yet, they have ignored our last three requests even for a meeting. It seems as if they would rather have their security attack us than sit down and talk with us like grown-ups.'

Since its launch on June 10, Summer of Heat has mobilized over 4,000 people in protests targeting Citibank. 

Over 475 individuals have been arrested, including a cello-playing grandfather last week, in connection with these protests. 

Protesters also reported being shoved by a top Citibank lawyer last month.

'Citi keeps proving their violent business is rooted in violent people,' said Planet Over Profit. 'This can't go on.'

In an email statement to DailyMail.com, Citibank wrote: 'These activist groups have repeatedly been given many avenues to engage constructively but instead they continue to pursue acts of intimidation, trespassing and vandalism. 

Since its launch on June 10, Summer of Heat has mobilized over 4,000 people in protests targeting Citibank. Over 475 individuals have been arrested, including a cello-playing grandfather (pictured) last week, in connection with these protest

'These activist groups have repeatedly been given many avenues to engage constructively but instead they continue to pursue acts of intimidation, trespassing and vandalism,' Citibank said in an email statement to DailyMail.com

'We are grateful for the assistance of the New York City Police Department in addressing this unacceptable behavior, which damages our property and disrupts our colleagues’ ability to get into their workplace.

'Our position on our work to address climate change through our financing has been clear, and is evidenced by our track record. We work with our clients as they decarbonize their businesses, while also meeting the energy needs of today. 

'We remain committed to helping to support the growth of renewable energy and clean technology through our $1 trillion sustainable finance goal while at the same time we continue to support the transition to a low-carbon economy through our commitment to net zero by 2050. These activities are not mutually exclusive.'