PPEHRC

Minneapolis, MN - Over 50 people gathered at the home of Leslie Parks, Nov. 13, to declare solidarity for Leslie Parks and her mother as they fight foreclosure and eviction.

Ms. Parks has made it clear that she will not be put on the streets when the ‘redemption period’ ends on Nov. 30. “IndyMac Federal Bank needs to come to the table and give my family justice. I have no intention of walking away from the place I call home,” she said before the event.

Thirty-five days into the popular occupation of 3138 Clinton, Rosemary Williams (one of five Minnesota women publicly resisting eviction - TCIMC/PPEHRC video) was inside her home when it was raided by the Minneapolis Police Department around 2:45pm Friday afternoon.  Three supporters were inside.  Police claimed they would give ample time to move out remaining belongings, and those inside did so, aided by several dozen who rallied to the scene.

But later in the afternoon, the MPD's plan for a quiet, obedient eviction was foiled.  After rallying the crowd, a handful of activists crossed the yellow tape roping off Clinton Avenue on either side of the house and were promptly assaulted by the police with kicks and pepper spray.  Other supporters crossed the now-removed yellow tape from the opposite direction to ensure the activists' safety.  Officers responded aggressively; one shoved someone to the ground with a two-handed shove to the chest. A TC Indymedia volunteer was sprayed directly in the face while on the "public" side of the police tape.

Four or five people sat down in front of the house in an act of civil disobedience.  An officer pointed to another man standing motionless with the crowd outside the police cordon, grabbed him and arrested him.  Eventually, seven were taken waiting vans in the alley and arrested.  An MPD spokesman said they were charged with obstruction of legal process, though they have not actually been formally charged as of tonight.  As of midnight, all have been released from jail.  This video (1:50) shows the police conduct during the civil disobedience.

Download video (MP4) 8.4MB | YouTube | Related: Video: Before the arrests  | Article from Fight Back News | Foreclosure Solutions Forum Sat. 9/19  | TC Daily Planet article w/ video Williams interview | Upcoming: Saturday 10am Leaflet at 7th/Hennepin outside Obama event | Sunday 2pm Press conference outside Rosemary's house

Have videos, photos, or updates?  Post them as a comment or publish to the newswire.

Rosemary Williams and four other Minnesota women have decided to resist the foreclosure and eviction monster that's destroying our communities.

People from the Twin Cities are helping these women defy eviction, the Hennepin County Sheriff, and the big banks that want to steal their homes. Produced by Twin Cities Indymedia and the Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign. Here's the 110-second trailer; the full 12 minute video is posted below the fold...
 

110-second trailer URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGZCXaXSbbA
12-minute video URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQeNyVjHuvQ

Latest (8/20): Anti-foreclosure activists crowd mayor's office; Rybak hides, doesn't support foreclosure moratorium.  "Call 311," says an aide.

Talks broke down between Rosemary Williams and the companies preventing her from owning her home, organizers revealed Tuesday at 3138 Clinton Ave.  But plans were also announced about how the eviction resistance will continue.

The offer from GMAC and Aurora Loan Services - two of the plethora of companies in the picture (a hard-to-follow flowchart was handed out on Tuesday) - was for Williams to rent the home, reportedly at $850 a month, for a mere 12-month period with no option to buy and no guarantees against a future rent increase. Without the deed to the property that she says she's paid for "a million times over," Williams considers the deal unacceptable.  Cheri Honkala called it "really not an offer."  As such, although fears of a raid don't seem to be on people's minds, a 24-hour presence at the home is still being maintained.

In response to the stalled talks - which were, admittedly, an improvement over GMAC's previous position offering $5,000 to end the campaign - PPEHRC and the People's Bailout Coalition are now planning a "major protest" at a different politically advantageous site each week in an attempt to force the issue and keep supporters active.  First up: Mayor RT Rybak's office at 11am on Wednesday (meeting first at the Government Plaza LRT Station on 5th Street).  Beyond that, Honkala hinted at plans to take the fight to Pittsburgh for the upcoming G20 summit resistance (schedule/organizing bodies, latest organizing update), at which an economic justice march has been scheduled for Saturday, September 20 preceding other marches and actions the entire next week, and shortly thereafter to an action in Washington, DC.

Occupation coverage archive | Photos

UPDATE 4:20pm Friday from MN PPEHRC: "At this very moment Rosemary is on the phone [Correction: a conference call is being set up] with GMAC and her lawyer to work out details of a possible real deal that Rosemary could accept. Again we cannot allow ourselves to let our hopes skyrocket high until papers are signed!"

* * * * * * * *

With a deal allegedly on the table, the tactics have changed on the 7th day of the occupation, with the goal of allowing Rosemary to live in a semi-normal state in her home.  Organizers are still on the watch for police action, however, as they wait to hear further word from GMAC lawyers.  | Photo of email from Elizabeth Glidden about offer from GMAC CEO

"I slept like I didn't think the cops were going to come, and they didn't!" - PPEHRC organizer

Waiting around: "So you guys are all on the same schedule, right?  GMAC's schedule?  They determine our lives and what we do?" - PPEHRC organizer

"The police were trying to push this one out the door and he wouldn't go.  He grabbed the policeman's leg and wouldn't let go of it!" - Rosemary, describing her grandson after the Sheriffs came on Friday

Related: Misplaced Blame at the Heart of Stories Like Rosemary's by Gail Rosenblum/Star Tribune

Most photos below were taken Thursday, August 13.

Noon Tuesday: Police in unmarked cars doing drive-bys and parking down the block from Rosemary's.

URGENT UPDATE: Help needed at Rosemary's at 3138 Clinton in Minneapolis.  GMAC offered Rosemary $5000 to leave her long-time home.  When she declined, GMAC said that they would file a trespassing complaint and send the police to evict her.   Police could arrive  at any time.  All kinds of support needed--media, solidarity, civil disobedience.

Cancelled: TAKE ACTION:  Tuesday morning at 9:30am meet at Rosemary's house--3138 Clinton-- then go together to the mayor's office at 10am to demand a just resolution to Rosemary's situation.

Related: MPR Update says police waiting for opinion of city attorney | Fighting foreclosures in North MPLS from TCDP 

Monday evening:  Ninety to a hundred people attended a candlelight vigil at Rosemary Williams's house. Religious folks and other community activists spoke.  "God opened the door," said one speaker, describing the occupation. 

Monday: 4th day of occupation; approx. 15 people stayed at the house last night; many more there this morning. | Article & Video from Fight Back News

Sunday Update: Press conference at Rosemary's house, 8am Monday.

The occupation at Rosemary Williams' home at 3138 Clinton in Minneapolis enters its second night tonight. On Friday night, about 20 people, including Rosemary Williams herself, spent the night at the home after a no trespassing order was given earlier in the day. At a 4pm press conference this rainy and humid Saturday, the usual crowd of activists from MN PPEHRC and the Coalition for a People's Bailout (twitter feed), bolstered by growing support and donations of food and supplies from neighbors, rallied to the defense of Williams' home. Some pushed for GMAC to finally negotiate; others concluded that the only option left is to defend the house with their bodies.

The question now is what the Minneapolis Police will do next. A police spokesman has said they'll respond if a trespassing complaint is received - but what that means is anyone's guess. For now, says Rosemary, "We can't give up, that's the bottom line. We have to band together to make this happen." People will continue to occupy the house around the clock.

Previously: Sheriffs Arrive, Leave