Mission

The Minnesota Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign is committed to uniting the downsized and the impoverished as the leadership base for a broad movement to abolish poverty.

Williams Raided

Watch the video and read the article here:
twincities.indymedia.org/2009/sep/eviction-crime-cops-respond-eviction-resistance-raid-assaults

Willams Still In Home

For immediate release
August 18, 2009

Rosemary Williams and supporters to take demands to Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak

On Wednesday, Aug. 19, 11:00 a.m, Rosemary Williams, her supporters and neighbors will gather outside Minneapolis City Hall at 350 S 5th Street (south side, across from the light rail station). From there, we will be taking our demands to Mayor R.T. Rybak’s office.

We will demand that Mayor Rybak use his powers to allow Rosemary to keep her home. Mayor Rybak has connections with the powers that be in the city, statewide and nationwide – with the non-profit and business communities, with the movers and shakers in the DFL and, of course he has discretion over the Minneapolis police department. But most important, as mayor, he should be doing everything in his power to avoid another empty foreclosed home blighting the city.

Since August 7, hundreds of people have come out to support Rosemary Williams to save her family home. Ms. 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. Ms. Williams is proving to be ray of hope to other families facing foreclosure around the country.

GMAC, the main servicer of Ms. Williams’s mortgage, tried to evict her bodily from her home on Aug. 7. They tried to buy her off with $5000 and an order to “leave quietly.” They offered for her to be renter…in the home GMAC took from her. Ms. Williams has been declaring for year that she intends to keep the home in the family. And the community is behind her.

Stand off Continues

Stand-off continues at the home of Rosemary Williams

A fifth day has passed without arrests of supporters who are occupying the home of Rosemary Williams. A very moving candlelight vigil was held on her front lawn Monday evening with participation by people of many faiths.

The next day Tuesday, August 11, 2009, plans were scrapped to hold a demonstration at the mayor’s office due to the following letter received by Rosemary Williams’ lawyer, sent from the law firm of Faagre & Benson LLP that represents GMAC:

“GMAC offered $5000 to Ms. Williams to assist in her relocation costs and to allow her to move out of the home peacefully and avoid further complications. Please discuss this with your colleague Emily Chow (766-8012) before noon. If we do not hear from you by that time, GMAC will proceed with contacting the Mpls. Police to secure the property.

As officers of the Court, we have an obligation to abide by the law and the Court’s ruling in this case. We presented and argued our cases before the Court and the court has ruled. You have elected not to appeal that ruling, so the Order is final. I hope that you consider your obligation seriously as you advise your client about her options. GMAC has done everything possible to help Ms. Williams, except giving her the property for free. It has negotiated with potantial buyers, extended the deadline for eviction and significantly discounted the sale price of the home. There is nothing left to do. Even all the protestors and so-called supporters who are claiming to help her can’t come up with the money to buy the propery at the reduced rate. This is an opportunity for your client to vacate the property peacefully so she can move on with her life and GMAC can start the process of preparing the home for resale. I sincerely hope you and your client will choose the peaceful option.”

So how did Rosemary respond to GMAC’s offer? “NO WAY!” –which immediately spurred us on to step up our demand for an END TO EVICTIONS AND A MORATORIUM ON FORECLOSURES!

Eviction in Progress

Minnesota Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign

URGENT!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SHERIFF EVICTING ROSEMARY WILLIAMS AT THIS MOMENT:
COMMUNITY MOBILIZED TO SAVE HER HOME, ARRESTS LOOMING

After months of fighting for her home of many decades, Rosemary Williams is being evicted at this moment, 2:15pm, Friday Aug. 7, by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Department. While the Sheriff’s office has locked Rosemary’s belongings in her home, and Rosemary is sits weeping on the front lawn, the community has mobilized to demonstrate and stop this eviction.

The Minnesota Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign and the Coalition for a People’s Bailout have been organizing in the community to resist this and other evictions for months. Both organizations and other community members have vowed to use civil disobedience to save Rosemary’s home. Scores of supporters have assembled at 3138 Clinton Ave. South.

This eviction is taking place despite this community mobilization and the support of Councilwoman Elizabeth Glidden. Last week’s offer of an arrangement to save her home by a local community development corporation was withdrawn in an unexplained move.

The Sheriff’s department surprised Rosemary by beginning the eviction today rather than Monday as they previously communicated to Rosemary.

No more evictions, no more foreclosures! Housing is a Human Right!

Press Contacts:
Lynette Malles, 651 497-4644
Ann Patterson, 612 940-1040
Cheri Honkala, 267 439-8419

MN Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign
612 821-2364
310 E 38th St
Room 126
Minneapolis, MN 55406
www.mnppehrc.wordpress.com
www.economichumanrights.org

Deal To Save Home Fals Through

Deal to save Rosemary Williams’s home falls through.

Coming together AGAIN to stop Rosemary’s eviction:
News conference: Monday, August 3, 11:00 a.m.
3138 Clinton Ave S, Minneapolis

On Friday, July 31, at about 3:00 p.m., Rosemary Williams got word that the deal with Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation (GMHC) to buy her home fell through. This, after the drama of July 24, when shortly after a 24-hour eviction notice was served, she got word that GMHC was to purchase her home and arrange to lease it back to her. A week of relief and celebration and hope was capped off by Friday’s devastating news.

Rosemary is not giving up on trying to save her home, and the community is not giving up either. We are mobilizing community members, organizations and all those who want to fight the housing crisis to stand guard at Rosemary’s house and do whatever we can to stop the eviction.

At Monday’s news conference, we will give an update on our plans to save Rosemary’s home, as well as any additional information about the current situation.

Rosemary Williams is a 55-year resident of the Central Neighborhood in south Minneapolis. She has been fighting to save her home for almost a year now. After months of non-communication from the mortgage holders, an eviction was ordered this spring. Ms. Williams, along with dozens of community supporters, tried to use the courts to stop the eviction, only to find out that pursuing “justice” would cost us $49,000. Meanwhile Rosemary has also been desperately trying to get financing to save her home, a process that takes time, especially in this economic and bank climate. Through it all, Ms. Williams makes it clear that she is standing up to inspire everyone to fight against these unjust foreclosures and evictions.

Victory for Rosemary

Media Alert
For Immediate Release: 7-24-2009
Today, July 24, at 9:15 a.m., the Hennepin County Sheriff’s office knocked on the door of Rosemary Williams, 3138 Clinton Ave S, Minneapolis. They handed her an eviction notice, stating that she and her family (including two grandbabies) had to be out of the house by Monday. Ms. Williams, along with the MN Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign and the MN Coalition for People’s Bailout were already prepared with a press conference to announce plans to resist the eviction.
Twenty minutes before the press conference, Rosemary Williams got a phone call from Minneapolis Councilmember Elizabeth Glidden. Word came through that a buyer had been found for the house, and that Ms. Williams could get a chance to lease her home with an option to buy it outright. In any case, the sheriffs were called off. And Rosemary stays in her home.
“This victory shows that when you fight back, you can win,” said Linden Gawboy, of the MN Coalition for a People’s Bailout. “Rosemary has lit the path for millions of others in this country. Stay, stay, stay. Never give up. Our communities depend on us staying.”
Cheri Honkala, of the MN Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign stated, “Rosemary’s victory proves the strength of people’s power. Through a unified struggle made up of directly affected people and allies, mega-corporations like GMAC have run scared. Rosemary has won.”
Rosemary Williams has lived on the same block in South Minneapolis for 55 years. Since she began her fight against foreclosures, she has been speaking not just for herself, but for all others in the same situation. She has testified at the legislature, before the city council and attempted a ground-breaking court case to save her home. She is a heroic example to everyone that taking a stand can have results.
“This is what happens when organizations and community come together and work collectively,” said Rosemary Williams. “I just want to encourage everyone to not just leave in the night like they want you to. Fight for what is yours.”

IT CAN BE DONE!

Press Release – Rosemary Williams

POOR PEOPLE’S CAMPAIGN CALLS COMMUNITY TO RESIST FORECLOSURE OF COMMUNITY ELDER

Minnesota Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign calls for community intervention in imminent eviction of 55 year Minneapolis Central Neighborhood resident Rosemary Williams. Press conference to be held at Ms. Williams’ house tomorrow, Friday July 24th 1 pm.

Today, Thursday July 23, at about 11:00 a.m., Judge Zimmerman issued a “Writ of Recovery” on behalf of GMAC. This means GMAC can seize Rosemary Williams’ home as soon as Friday, July 24th (tomorrow). The sheriff could post the eviction notice as soon as July 23rd (today). Then the sheriff wants the house vacated in 24 hours.
Community members prepared to be arrested will be called to stand guard at the house as soon as the eviction notice is posted.

–Press conference:
Friday, July 24, 1:00 p.m.
Rosemary’s house: 3138 Clinton Ave S, Minneapolis

Rosemary Williams is a 55-year resident of the Central Neighborhood in south Minneapolis. Rosemary has been a fighter against the foreclosure crisis for nearly a year, giving inspiration to others to fight back. Now is the time for all the community to show support.

Cheri Honkala, of the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign said, “We cannot allow more destruction of housing and neighborhoods. The big financial institutions get billions of dollars to avoid losses from their bad loans but the victimized homeowners still get thrown out on the street. Unfortunately, like other government officials, the judge’s only concept of justice involves backing financial institutions at the expense of the people.”

###

-30-

EMERGENCY SIT IN

EMERGENCY ALERT. Save Rosemary’s Home!

Today, Thursday July 23, at about 11:00 a.m., Judge Zimmerman issued a “Writ of Recovery” on behalf of GMAC. This means GMAC can seize Rosemary Williams’s home as soon as Friday (TOMORROW). The sheriff could post the eviction notice as soon as TODAY. Then the sheriff wants the house vacated in 24 hours.

Here is the plan:
–Right after the sheriff posts the notice of eviction, we will put out a call to have EVERYONE stand guard at Rosemary’s house – 3138 Clinton Ave, Mpls. Make plans now as to what your role will be as we stop this eviction. Again, it is likely that we will have to be there tomorrow.

–Press conference:
Friday, July 24, 1:00 p.m.
Rosemary’s house: 3138 Clinton Ave S, Minneapolis

SOME CALLS TO MAKE:
Call GMAC: Call GMAC in the Twin Cities and the national headquarters.
Twin Cities: 952-806-9705
GMAC Headquarters: 215-734-8899
Tell them to retract the writ of recovery and let Rosemary try to save her home. She has been desperately trying to get financing to save her home, a process that takes time.

Call Fraegre and Benson: GMAC is represented by the law firm of Fraegre and Benson. Rosemary asks that you call them at 612-766-7000 and tell them to “undo the Writ of Recovery” on Rosemary’s home.

Call these elected officials
Mayor RT Rybak: 612-673-2100
U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison: 202-225-4755
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar: 202-224-3244
U.S. Sen. Al Franken: 202-224-5641
Demand that they call GMAC and order GMAC to retract the writ of recovery. Banks got billions of dollars in bailout money. Now is their chance to help the people who the banks screwed over.

Rosemary Williams is a 55-year resident of the Central Neighborhood in south Minneapolis. Rosemary has been a fighter against the foreclosure crisis for nearly a year, giving inspiration to others to fight back. Now is the time for all the community to show support. Clear your calendars and take a stand!

We will put out more info later.

Barbara Byrds Story

Barbara Byrd is a 50 year-old African American working woman who is fighting eviction. Her duplex in Brooklyn Park was financed through EMC. The Bear Stearns Companies, LLC and its subsidiary, EMC Mortgage Corporation, recently agreed to pay $28 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they engaged in unlawful “predatory lending” practices in servicing consumers’ home mortgage loans.

Barbara is to appear in Hennepin County district court tower, 300 South Sixth Street in Minneapolis, at 1:30 in Room 1453 on Monday to appeal her eviction. In March of 2009, after Barbara had lost her tenant and fallen behind in her payments, EMC made notary date-errors in the foreclosure documentation. During her June eviction hearing in housing court, the judge had assured her that she should not have to move. Still a 24-hour eviction was posted on her door July 6th, and Barbara spent sleepless nights in fear of being thrown out.

Please join us in court to support Barbara’s courageous stand against predatory lending. She has been receiving counseling and legal support through Jewish Community Action. On a personal note, yet another bank repossessed her car last week even though she had been trying to make arrangements and was only eight payments away from paying off the loan. Two days later, to make matters even worse, she sprained her ankle and now has been commuting by bus on crutches. This is late-notice so spread the word!

Sorry!
Lynette

ps: This just in-at 1pm today the realtor visited Barbara’s home, asking “Are you still here? We’re installing a lockbox on the 28th.” To which Barbara replied, “I’ll be in court on the 20th.” The plot thickens…..