The group, which walked from the city’s Woodland Park to UBS’ Lexington branch office, delivered a letter to company officials regarding MTR’s impacts, according to local news station WUKY.
HOA, which said UBS provided money and financial input to many major producers including Alpha Natural Resources, Arch Coal, Patriot Coal and James River Coal, wanted the institution to sever ties with all of its mining clientele and amend its investment policies.
Protestor Greg Capillo told the station that UBS’ funding should be focused on local education initiatives as well as healthcare and economic development efforts.
“You owe these people a future. You’ve robbed them of that,” he said.
Former Virginian coal miner Nick Mullins also spoke to the group about MTR, according to the outlet.
“Banks in foreign countries are making profit from Appalachia at the cost of our health and the health of future generations,” he said.
“The people of Switzerland wouldn't stand for US banks funding the destruction of the Alps, so why should we allow them to fund the destruction of our mountains?”
Tennessee-based HOA said it wanted its Kentucky protest to be the first in a sustained campaign.
The demonstration is the latest in a trend of anti-coal and anti-MTR efforts on the part of opposition groups.
Bank of America was visited by a group of protesters earlier this month, as was the annual general meeting of large coal lender PNC Bank.
