People's occupation fights eviction

[Communist]

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Rosemary Williams Evicted from her home
Peoples' occupation to resist the eviction taking place (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102664858766&s=1246&e=001EG5D_d_KHtTXFCYQMIdzsNMXnXW_sHj2oS1MLHEUOwITr BTTVMnIxXcAYm0-nOtfB1Fb6WsIob5eehzQLdpU6ZiIJ2RC5HxOmEFbMwYSUY5fAD qVNLlMrhVH_nGa0510e3rUa7JC2YGgcNuenX_2O1-jEigQ4LEcXthQCwqnyJMLIf3ZPyXjoLWpfsxzxCaFuR2vMTKLV YxBEndwf85Lig==)

By Steff Yorek

Minneapolis, MN - Fight Back! News is reporting from the home of Rosemary Williams on the 3100 block of Clinton Ave S. in Minneapolis, MN. Early this afternoon, Hennepin County Sheriff Deputies came to Rosemary's home and evicted Rosemary, her daughter in law and two of her grandchildren. The deputies carried out the wishes of GMAC mortgage with calculated precision. They allowed the Williams family to collect a few personal items, then changed the locks on the home and padlocked the garage. A family locked away from their life so the GMAC can be the proud owners of another vacant home on a block with 7 other vacant homes.

This eviction is not like the others though. Rosemary Williams has been fighting this eviction from the very beginning and that struggle is continuing. Within one hour of the eviction supporters from the Minnesota Campaign for a People's Bailout, Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign, neighbors and many others from the South Minneapolis Community gathered at Rosemary's home. The house was reopened in the name of the Williams family. It is currently being occupied by more than 50 people. Many have vowed to remain in the home for as long as it takes for Rosemary to get her home back from the bank.

Linden Gawboy from the Welfare Rights Committee and the MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout said, "I am here to save Rosemary's home. GMAC are criminals. You can see that the neighborhood and the community has come together because we are sick of seeing people who have worked all their lives for their homes lose them in the blink of an eye."

The Williams family has been devastated by economic crisis and the greed of GMAC Mortgage. While the banks, including GMAC got bailed out by billions in tax dollars, homeowners like Rosemary have been left at the mercy of greedy banks.
While the greedy banks and the fat cats who run them collect huge salaries, this modest home where Rosemary Williams has raised children, nurtured grandchildren has become a living example of the foreclosure crisis playing out all across the country. It is also a living example of a fight back against this crisis.

Save Rosemary Williams Home!
Support the Occupation!

[Communist]

Keep Rosemary Williams in Her Home!
Demand that GMAC Come to the Table! (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102664965000&s=1246&e=001zLqYUOL9uhMz1yM_PYQkbyl9gBKwqAwWZLljUZgTimxxW uZMk42TU0lhESBgCtXjMGDq6X_iocW5DfUN26LUsUBuKNac3_a sJWJN_0A7IFNU-dJGIG980J_-z0e2_bQVQq8t4JOnVe5ZaefE-u7nrD1KlEIG55MznX2_NLm6lvrgZEqASSE_nQ==)

Minneapolis, MN - Rosemary Williams, a 55 year resident of Central Neighborhood, who has stood at the forefront of the fight against foreclosures, was evicted from her home on Friday August 7th.

One hour later, her home was reopened and an around-the-clock sit-in is now taking place.

There is a foreclosure crisis in the U.S. While GMAC is busy foreclosing and evicting people from their homes, the CEO of GMAC raked in over $11 billion for his role as the CEO in 2008.

Rosemary Williams, her neighbors and friends, are taking a stand for justice in our communities.


Call GMAC and tell them to come to the table and negotiate a fair and equitable solution that keeps Rosemary in her home.


Call the headquarters of GMAC and demand to speak to the CEO, Alvaro de Molina at 215-734-8899.


Please join us in this vital campaign!

[Communist]

Rosemary Williams speaks out from her occupied house (http://fightbacknews.org/2009/08/rosemary-williams-speaks-out-from-occupied-house.htm)

By Staff

Minneapolis, MN - On Saturday, August 8, the second day of a round-the-clock sit-in at her house, Rosemary Williams and supporters held a press conference on her front porch. Rosemary was officially evicted from her home on Friday. But within one hour of the eviction supporters from the Minnesota Coalition for a People's Bailout, Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign, neighbors and many others from the South Minneapolis community gathered at Rosemary's home. They retook the house and are resisting the eviction.

They are making a stand for Rosemary to keep her home, and also speaking out for an end to all foreclosures and evictions, which are tearing apart neighborhoods and families around the country. They are demanding that GMAC immediately negotiate with Rosemary Williams so she can stay in her home.

As of Sunday, the round-the-clock sit-in at Rosemary's home at 3138 Clinton Ave S. in South Minneapolis, is now in its third day and is continuing. There has been an outpouring of support for Rosemary and her struggle from neighbors and the community in general.

The first video shows Rosemary Williams speaking at the Saturday press conference, and the second video has Mick Kelly of the Minnesota Coalition for a People's Bailout speaking at the press conference.



Rosemary William Speaks at press conference, August 8, 2009 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z46m_kS581U)

(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102665394779&s=1246&e=001XEqbL8lhumDtF4L45s4lzKNTYO7MoxRwrneFmDU538V_x qkL8Q1xGuMSjfsGEJMYLIJp-DuP6nikwv-5a8-XkJ2zRJeE31iufNqXKB4EeevrLhmk-4ea3-bhrYK6ghKO6p5QojSYiS_wEkf8A2aQew==)
Mick Kelly of the MN Coalition for a People's Bailout speaks at press conference, August 8, 2009 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsAJ_9xJri4)

[Communist]

MINNESOTA
Prayer and candlelight vigil builds solidarity with Rosemary Williams anti-eviction struggle (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102667140736&s=1246&e=001RYKGUW7xUQ-qVduS31DHbwySILtCLf_sevb4JAMHOeSL35nJGOFBNpWTgWsBC F6kg2DAQR-uQ9H2coNOFhGzVQcl4jA2tX7P6QWlISNwFSP7wjWNot94m0KYe RkLzq4slv5fFIAM5RG24mGx82FqY-1xosgIHrhxPsjD0wIhHoQPuXFpgS0sKBS3ECPF3wu7_lv5NYDN uj0E9VEGOMMXnZR2Kz9_9zarNxlBhxNegJLHqpIeFxiu7ohUY5 ReihrC)

By Staff

Minneapolis, MN - On the evening of August 10, 2009, a prayer and candlelight vigil was held in the front yard of Rosemary Williams home. Williams and supporters' round-the-clock sit-in continued into its fourth day. The prayer vigil expressed support from various Twin Cities religious communities for Rosemary Williams struggle against eviction and the broader struggle to end foreclosures and evictions.

The vigil showed the growing support for Rosemary Williams in the face of her eviction last Friday after months of struggle. Within an hour of her eviction, community members and activists reclaimed her house. Williams and supporters have occupied the house since then, under threat of arrest, demanding that GMAC open negotiations with Williams so she can stay in her home.

The following videos by Rosemary Williams, and by Mick Kelly of the Minnesota Coalition for a People's Bailout were two of the contributions to Monday evening's prayer and candlelight vigil.

Rosemary Williams speaks (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102667140736&s=1246&e=001RYKGUW7xUQ83f5vCFYyCUVRNuXSQsFi3k3Rpe3t9MJePF cJv2T6NpT0_xh0AJuiryMnxmBnzuFtW5cpgrAdC622QnddXjU7 jvzbUv69iYGT50TV0_wb4HZkflukH9LXTXtuCiN0SBYnKvQHib s3bcA==) August 10, 2009

Mick Kelly speaks, MN Coalition for a People's Bailout (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102667140736&s=1246&e=001RYKGUW7xUQ-MEWUhA29lZwy_2WpLMbSyRlo0RB6pVtwf_Nn22G1bIe49zgaAl DWkoKNMYvBk_jIoJI7L4nsgQO4tYw0vveSFeXuUn4ud0yDIw1w fdrjWj2BPIaJOnguRLvWzbQnUyfRdoP1zw7HEcw==) August 10, 2009

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[Communist]

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Day 11: Rosemary Williams still in her home
Vows to fight to keep it
(http://www.fightbacknews.org/2009/08/day-11-rosemary-williams-still-in-her-home.htm)
By staff

http://www.fightbacknews.org/2009/08/images/rosemary-williams-aug-18.jpg
Rosemary Williams speaks at press conference on Aug. 18 on her front porch, in Minneapolis, MN



Minneapolis, MN - About 40 supporters and neighbors of Rosemary Williams gathered at her home here, Aug. 18 to hear an update on the latest developments in the negotiations with her mortgage holder GMAC and plans for future actions.

“As negotiations with GMAC and Rosemary Williams continue, we are getting a peek into the dirty world of finance. Names mentioned so far include GMAC, MERS, the bankrupt Lehman Brothers and Aurora Loan Services. These corrupt financial institutions are all lining up to skim their dollars off a family’s misery and the downfall of our communities,” noted a statement from event organizers.

Rosemary Williams stated that she would the fight until she got her home back in her name. Mick Kelly, of the Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout, urged people to join the protest at the Mayors office that is scheduled for Aug. 19.


http://www.fightbacknews.org/2009/08/images/mick-kelly-aug-18.jpg


Mick Kelly of the MN Coalition for a People's Bailout speaks at press conference on Aug. 18 on Rosemary Williams' front porch, in Minneapolis, MN



Since Aug. 7, hundreds of people have come out to support Rosemary Williams to save her family home. Williams has lived on the block for 55 years. She has spent a year speaking out against foreclosure and evictions on every level, always noting that she has not been fighting just for herself but others in the same situation.

On Aug. 7, Sheriffs came to the Williams house, forcing her and her family out. The house was quickly reopened and an around the clock sit-in has been taking place ever since.

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Day 18

Rosemary Williams still in her home, sit-in continues (http://fightbacknews.org/2009/08/day-18-rosemary-willims-still-in-home-sit-in-continues.htm)

http://fightbacknews.org/2009/08/images/angel-buechner-rt-rybak.jpgAngel Buechner of the Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout tells Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak that a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions is a must.

By staff

Minneapolis, MN - More than 40 family, friends, neighbors and other community supporters gathered at the home of Rosemary Williams Aug. 24 to show support for the continued fight against foreclosure and eviction.

Rosemary Williams thanked all who came and stated that she was prepared to continue the fight for as long as it took. Mick Kelly, of the Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout said that efforts would be made to turn up the heat on politicians and bankers in the upcoming weeks.

A statement issued by organizers says in part, “Monday will represent 18 days of the sit in at the home of Rosemary Williams to stand-up against the attempt to foreclose and evict her from her home of 22 years. Over the last 18 days, since Aug. 7 when Hennepin County Sheriff deputies came to evict the Williams family, hundreds of people have come out to support Rosemary Williams and the fight to save her home. When the sheriff deputies left 18 days ago the Williams home was quickly reopened and has been at the center of the effort to stop foreclosures and evictions.”

The statement continues, “For the past year Rosemary Williams has been fighting not only to save her own home, but to fight against foreclosure and evictions effecting thousands of Minnesotans and millions of people around the country.”

Earlier in the day, Rosemary Williams, along with members of the Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout and the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign showed up at a city-sponsored housing ceremony where they demanded a moratorium on home foreclosures.

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[Omegared]

This is the type of action we need!

[chegitz guevara]

Good work, comrades!

[Communist]

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In Minneapolis, hundreds sit-in to stop an eviction (http://www.workers.org/2009/us/minneapolis_0903/)

By LeiLani Dowell

Published Aug 28, 2009 7:10 PM

The struggle to stop foreclosures and evictions is heating up as a sit-in to prevent the eviction of a Minneapolis homeowner and activist entered its 19th day on Aug. 25.

http://www.workers.org/2009/us/RosemaryWilliams.jpg
Rosemary Williams

As ruthless lending and mortgage companies foreclose on the lives of people across the country, activists from Baltimore to California, Michigan and Minneapolis have demanded a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions, while at the same time engaging in bold actions to prevent individuals from losing their homes.

Mick Kelly, spokesperson of the Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout, described the situation in Minneapolis to WW: “Rosemary Williams is a 60-year-old, African-American woman who’s lived in Twin Cities all her life and been an important leader within the community. She’s actually lived on the same block for 55 years and been in the same house for the last 23 years.”

Following the death of her mother, who lived with her, Williams received a 30-year adjustable-rate mortgage on the property in 2005. However, when the monthly payments almost doubled from $1,200 to $2,200, she could no longer afford to pay them.

“Millions of people in the U.S. are being foreclosed on,” Kelly said, “but what’s different and important about this story is that Rosemary decided she wasn’t going to leave. For the last year, she has been involved in building the movement to fight for a moratorium on foreclosures, which has been promoted by the Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout.

http://www.workers.org/2009/us/minneapolis_0903.jpg
Rosemary Williams, center, holds news
conference with supporters before going into
Minneapolis housing court to seek a trial on
the legality of losing her home.

“On Aug. 7, sheriff’s deputies came to her home and proceeded to throw out her family, her grandchildren. They gave her as much time to collect her belongings as it took to change the locks. About 10 minutes after the deputies left, the home was reopened and she moved back in. Today is the 19th day of a round-the-clock sit-in that has involved hundreds of people.”

Williams’ struggle has engaged her community at large. Neighbors have brought food and attended press conferences. The Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout has received calls from others facing eviction who, inspired by Rosemary Williams, plan to refuse to leave when officers arrive to evict them.

Forced to respond by the tenacity of Williams and her supporters, the mortgage companies and lenders involved—which include GMAC Financial Services, Aurora Loan Services and the bailed-out Lehman Brothers—have callously given Williams a series of paltry offers. On Aug. 11, Williams’ lawyer received an e-mail offering her $5,000 to leave. Then, after agreeing to return to the negotiating table on Aug. 13, they offered her the option of renting the house for another year—with no option of renewal.

“None of the investors or mortgage companies have given her an agreement that would keep her in the house as a homeowner,” Kelly explained. “She wants to retain ownership of a home she helped to build with her mom. She sees these offers as just ‘30 pieces of silver.’ We’re going to continue, along with Rosemary, to put heat on politicians and the mortgage companies for a just settlement, and we’ll be working with other people in foreclosure to build resistance.”

At a press conference on Aug. 8, Williams told the gathered crowd: “We can’t give up; that’s the bottom line. My mother lived through segregation and she taught me never to give up. She said always to go out with a fight, and that’s what we have to do. ... These institutions—these banks, these mortgage companies—they can’t treat us like we’re economic slaves. They get our tax dollars to bail them out.”

The fight to keep Williams in her home is part of a broader struggle that is working to prevent the eviction of homeowners across the country. In San Diego, homeowner June Reyno chained herself to her home in November, with the support of union and community activists. In Detroit, activists have helped stall the evictions of Rubie Curl-Pinkins, a disabled African-American senior; Michelle Hart and her mother, who suffers from pancreatic cancer; and Anthony King, who lived at his home for 41 years before facing unemployment and underemployment.

At the same time, organizers have held meetings, challenged legislatures and held protests at home auctions to build the struggle for a moratorium on foreclosure and evictions, on both a statewide and federal level.

In a WW article last Oct. 26, reporter and Bail Out the People Movement activist Sharon Black explained: “Elevating [the demand for a moratorium] politically has the potential to allow working-class communities the confidence to proceed to more direct and immediate methods of stopping foreclosures—that is, stopping the sheriff from removing furniture and keeping families and individuals in their homes and apartments.
“The problem of housing must be looked at on a deeper and more profound level. Why should housing not be readily available to all workers? Why should such a necessity be provided solely on the basis of whether it is profitable for some landlord, bank or real estate company?
“In a country as wealthy as the U.S. there is no reason that anyone should go homeless or find it cost prohibitive to have a roof over their head. Clean, decent, safe and attractive housing must be a right for everyone!”

For more information on Rosemary Williams’ struggle, visit www.mn-peoples-bailout.org (http://www.mn-peoples-bailout.org).


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Articles copyright 1995-2009 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved.

[Communist]

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"Foreclose the war, not people's homes"
Peace movement joins Rosemary Williams fight (http://www.fightbacknews.org/2009/08/peace-mvmt-joins-rosemary-williams-fight.htm)


By staff


http://www.fightbacknews.org/2009/08/images/jennie-awc-rosemary-william.jpg (http://www.mn-peoples-bailout.org/)

Jenny Eisert, of the Anti-War Committee (http://www.antiwarcommittee.org/) and the MN Coalition for a People's Bailout addresses crowd from the steps of Rosemary Williams home.



Minneapolis, MN - The Twin Cites peace movement organized a rally under the call of “Foreclose the war, not people’s homes, ” Aug. 27 to show support for Minneapolis homeowner Rosemary Williams and her fight against foreclosure and eviction. More than 50 people demanded a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions and for the billions being spent on U.S. wars and occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan to be used instead to keep people in their homes.

Jenny Eisert, of the Anti-War Committee, stated, “Here at home because of the recession, the foreclosure crisis has devastated our cities, our state and our country. People are unjustly being driven out from their homes. In Iraq and Afghanistan the U.S.-driven wars are causing more and more people to be displaced. U.S. aggression is creating a housing crisis on the other side of the globe. We want Rosemary to stay in her home and we want the Iraqi and Afghan people to be able to stay in their homes too. We support policies that promote justice and we are proud to stand with people here to say, ‘Foreclose the war, not people’s homes!’”

The Aug. 27 rally was organized by the Anti-War Committee and endorsed by Women Against Military Madness, Students for a Democratic Society/U of M and Iraq Peace Action Coalition.

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[Communist]

Photos from the front lines
Rosemary Williams' eviction from the inside (http://www.fightbacknews.org/2009/09/rosemary-williams-eviction-from-inside.htm)

Photo essay by Kim DeFranco

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http://www.fightbacknews.org/sites/default/files/fb_photos/two_cop_cars_0.jpg
Around noon, two cop cars were spotted at the end of Rosemary Williams’s block. Later, an undercover cop car drove past the house. The Minneapolis police often did this kind of intimidation during the occupation, which began on Aug. 7.


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