Occupy Greensboro joins Occupy Raleigh to reclaim an evicted family’s foreclosed home
Posted 12 years ago on April 9, 2012, 2:40 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
Update, 4/10: from Occupy Raleigh:
On April 9 in Raleigh, N.C., over 30 community members came out to help defend a victim of mortgage fraud from her and her family’s impending eviction (see details below).
At approximately 2:45pm, more than 40 police and over 10 SWAT Team members descended on the home with battering rams and shields. As they marched in, a woman started shouting: “Do you work for Wells Fargo now? Are you okay with a family getting illegally kicked out of their home?!”
Seven peaceful people, from young to old, chose not to leave the premises and were arrested. Two were later arrested when they returned to the home to collect belongings.
Everyone arrested has now been bailed out. Additional home defenses are planned for this month. If you can contribute bail support to those fighting illegal evictions, you may do so here: https://www.wepay.com/donations/bond-fund-for-eviction-defense-action-in-raleigh
Original call to action and background from Occupy Greensboro:
A family in Raleigh has been evicted and forced from their home through an illegal foreclosure. They have been ordered to remove all personal property from their home by Sunday April 8, 2012. The family has bravely chosen to fight eviction and foreclosure and is requesting community support. Evidence of robo-signing by the bank, which is a fraud, has been uncovered and the entire foreclosure process is under attorney review.
It is up to us to send a clear message that we will not allow this to happen.
On Monday, April 9th, community participants will enter the house and refuse to leave as an act of civil disobedience. Another 10 families in this predominantly African-American neighborhood are facing similarly illegal foreclosure and eviction.
A coalition coordinating with Max Rameau of Take Back the Land and including; Mortgage Fraud NC, Occupy Raleigh, Save Our Homes and Occupy Greensboro are quickly mounting a public protest and home defense. The objectives of this action are: We demand that Nicole and her family be allowed to reclaim possession of their home. We call for a NATIONAL MORATORIUM on all foreclosures, evictions, and utility shut-offs. We demand that banks negotiate loan modifications that include principal reduction. We call for the creation of a community land trust.
This foreclosure eviction protest is one of a growing movement across the country. Take Back the Land, the Occupy movement and others are partnering with homeowners to demand that housing be recognized as a human right. In the last year, successful eviction resistance has been used nationally from Los Angeles to Atlanta and Washington DC. This will be the first use of civil disobedience in defense of foreclosed homes in North Carolina.
The time is now. SAVE OUR COMMUNITIES: FIGHT FORECLOSURE!
Updates posted to: http://occupygreensboro.org and http://twitter.com/occupygso