MN: Protesters “Foreclose” on Local Freddie Mac Conference 6/7

[annm4peace]

http://occupyourhomes.org/blog/2012/jun/8/mn-foreclose-on-freddie-mac-conf/





Before the plates were cleared from the luncheon, Freddie Mac trainers and dozens of conference attendees were startled by a group of Occupy Homes protesters who taped off the entrance and plywooded the doors to their scheduled “Default Servicing Workshop.”

A dozen protesters chanted in call-and-response: “This is a crime scene, and Freddie Mac is the criminal. They have been conspiring with PNC Bank and countless others to profit off of families getting thrown out of their homes.” Yellow caution tape reading “occupy” was unrolled, emulating the pitched confrontations Minneapolis police have had at the Cruz family home on Cedar Ave in recent weeks.

“We demand that you work with PNC Bank to get the Cruz family in their home,” protesters cheered. As Marriott hotel security escorted the protesters out, they chanted "Eviction stops here!"

The Cruz family fell behind on payments during tough economic times. According to Occupy activist Nick Espinosa, the bank failed to withdraw an online payment due to a glitch in its own system. Instead it demanded a multiple-month payment, and when the Cruz family was unable to oblige, the home went into foreclosure. Recently, the family and protesters have grabbed headlines by repeatedly blocking the sheriff’s eviction, resulting in 23 arrests and massive MPD force to secure the modest home.

Freddie Mac, which owns the title to scores of foreclosed homes like the Cruz home, visited the Twin Cities region to host a week-long training for its servicers to help them manage through the housing recession and, according to the event's web site, "avoid preventable foreclosure."

"If Freddie Mac is committed to avoiding preventable foreclosure, they need to work with families like the Cruzes who can afford to pay their mortgage," said Cat Salonek, an organizer with Occupy Homes MN. "Freddie Mac and PNC have the power to return the Cruz family home today.”


PLEASE SIGN the PETITION

http://act.engagementlab.org/sign/occupyhomes_cruz_pnc_freddiemac/?source=ooh_blog_story

Alejandra and David Cruz need our support. Please tell PNC Bank and Freddie Mac to stop the eviction of the Cruz family, now.

The bank made an error and failed to register an online payment, and when the Cruz family couldn't afford the double payment the next month, the banks have tried to foreclose on them.

[annm4peace]

1. and in Detroit the same PNC bank work to evict a man who is paraplegic

http://occupyourhomes.org/blog/2012/jun/6/mi-jerome-jackson-rally/

Courthouse Rally to Keep Jerome Jackson In His Home

Thursday, June 7, 2:00 pm, 22nd District Court
Inkster, 27331 S. River St.
(One block north of intersection of Michigan Ave. & Inkster Rd, 2 miles west of Telegraph)

Jerome Jackson, paraplegic since age 14, moved into an Inkster home designed for wheel-chair access in 2004. He could not have afforded this modest home without the commitment from Community Living Services (CLS), funded by Wayne County, to share a portion of the mortgage expense.

In 2009, CLS cut Mr. Jackson’s support and he fell into default. Fannie Mae bought the mortgage at sheriff’s auction and is now seeking to evict Mr. Jackson.

We are calling on the court to set aside the eviction and for Wayne County / CLS to honor the commitment it made to help support the cost of Jerome's mortgage. We are also calling on PNC bank and Fannie Mae to modify the mortgage so that Jerome Jackson can live in his wheel-chair-access home.

The banks were bailed out for their reckless profiteering and fraudulent practices because they were “too big to fail.” Jerome Jackson is “too human to discard.”

Call Fred Solomon, PR director of PNC Bank

412-600-2628, cell

412-762-7544, direct

Tell Fred Solomon that you want the eviction order against Jerome Jackson suspended since negotiations are underway to keep Jerome in his house. Tell him of your very strong support of Jerome and that you will not stop until Jerome gets his home back.

Stop the Eviction of Jerome Jackson!

Occupy Detroit, Moratorium Now!, UAW, People Before Banks, UAW Local 600



Call Fred Solomon, PR director of PNC Bank
412-600-2628, cell
412-762-7544, direct
Tell Fred Solomon that you want the eviction order against Jerome Jackson suspended since negotiations are underway to keep Jerome in his house. Tell him of your very strong support of Jerome and that you will not stop until Jerome gets his home back.

[annm4peace]

2. WE have to help each other to fight back to save our homes

There aren't enough politicians who will help, there aren't enough public workers who will help.


We the citizens have to do it. It takes solidarity. There is no one way.. it takes many different ways.. it takes solidarity and bravery.

[annm4peace]

3. Pledge in Defense of Our Homes and Neighborhoods

http://act.engagementlab.org/sign/occupyhomes_pledge/?source=ooh_sidebar

We are the 99%. We are homeowners, renters, students and community members.

I hereby pledge that until the banks do their part to help homeowners and to fix the economy, by writing down mortgage principal to current home values, I will:

I will support homeowners resisting wrongful foreclosure evictions.
I will resist any attempt by the bank to take my home.
If they come to foreclose, I will not go.