9/11. Just came back from a raid on a foreclosed home

Rosemary William has been fighting foreclosure, and then fighting to stay in her home.
With help from many friends, and community activist she fought a good fight and today the police raided the house. Arrested and jailed 7. Pepper sprayed many. and over 30 cops guarded the home front and back for 6 hours as the bank had metal boards put up on the windows.

The sheriff came over a month ago and changed the locks. That night, activists/friends/neighbors were back in the house and for the past month have been squating in this house.

Today, the day before Obama comes to Minneapolis, our tax dollars were used to show the force of the Minneapolis Police force.

How much does it cost for 30+ cops, 2 police vans, 2 detectives with the Crime lab with cameras, and several others were at the house for at least 6 hours?
all for a home in a poor neighborhood, that is listed as worth $ 90,000.
That is probably the cost of the cops for that one day.

What a sad day. The community was strong. Over 100 of us were there once we got the call or email.
Several religious leaders, lawyers, neighbors, community activists, 2 other woman who are fighting foreclosures.

You can watch it here. ( I didn't find out till 6pm so I missed a lot of it)

http://twincities.indymedia.org/2009/sep/urgentimmediate-raid-believed-underway-rosemarys-house



Update 5:35pm: 7 arrests confirmed.

Update 5:15pm: MPD has some kind of chemical weapon in green canisters and also has sponge rounds. Haven't used 'em yet, but they brought chemical weapons to use against a small group of ordinary citizens including older folks.

Update 5pm: At least two arrests--Angel from PPEHRC and Jenny from the Anti-War Committee. Order to disperse has been given around back the the alley, which is also where police are taking people to arrest them.

Update, 4:45pm: raid is in progress at 3138 Clinton. MPD arrived and broke up a toddler's birthday party to raid Rosemary's house. They're boarding up the windows and doors with heavy reinforced fiberglass or metal instead of regular plywood.

Rosemary and three other people are in the house and are being given time to move some stuff out. It's unclear if there will be arrests.

Overheard: MPD spokesperson Jesse Garcia making a phone call, saying, "We're looking like bad guys."

Per City Council member Elizabeth Glidden, after they finish evicting Rosemary GMAC plans to hire private security to guard the house. Are local police unhappy doing GMAC's dirty work?

Further updates as they come in. Public presence is needed at 3138 Clinton.

3pm on Friday 9/11: Received a single sentence phone call reporting a police raid at Rosemary Williams home. 3138 Clinton Ave S. Caller and others at home are not reachable to confirm. Supporters are being asked to mobilize ASAP.



*** And another Woman is Homeless ******


A video on Rosemary and other Women facing foreclosure and eviction

http://twincities.indymedia.org/2009/sep/video-fighting-foreclosure-5-minnesota-women-refuse-leave-feat-rosemary-williams



to find out more on Rosemary's situation you'll have to read more.

http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&source=hp&q=rosemary+williams&btnG=Google+Search

Fucking banks. And we bailed them out with our tax dollars for this shit? So their CEOs could get bonuses?

:grr:

enforcement wasn't involved at all.

I don't know Ms. William's story, though I think I've seen a couple threads here about it, but did those lawyers do everything they could professionally to help her?

nt

There were a bunch of people advocating squating in foreclosed homes in the same piece.

http://minnesotaindependent.com/44498/endgame-protesters-arrested-pepper-sprayed-as-rosemary-williams-is-removed-from-home


Endgame: Protesters arrested, pepper sprayed as Williams is removed from home

Minneapolis police officers removed Rosemary Williams from the home that she owned for nearly three decades on Friday afternoon. The 60-year-old grandmother had vowed to stay in the residence on the 3100 block of Clinton Avenue even after the home went into foreclosure and sheriff’s deputies evicted her from the premises last month. Williams almost immediately re-entered the property and continued to live there.

Her plight has become a rallying point for activists seeking a moratorium on foreclosures and more assistance for struggling homeowners. As Williams’ belongings were removed from the residence by supporters, at least 50 people gathered on the surrounding sidewalks. They chanted “Housing is a human right, eviction is a crime,” and “Not one more empty home, not one more homeless family.”





Shortly before 5 p.m. Williams peacefully departed the house carrying a few belongings. She ducked under the yellow crime tape that surrounded the street in front of her former home.


She was embraced by supporters who have kept a near constant vigil at her home in recent months.


Protesters then attempted to occupy the property and skirmished with police officers. Pepper spray was deployed to disperse the crowd.

in the video you can hear an activist say.. that guy is from the Salvation Army,, he fixes up homes for the Homeless. The Salvation Army guy is confronted by an independent reporter.

How sick is that? well I guess that keeps the Salvation Army in business.

Anyone else notice how "It's a Wondeful Life" has more meaning these days?

If each one of them kicked in a hundred bucks she'd be able to stay in the house.

There's things I just don't get about this deal. I just have sort of a nagging feeling that it did not have to go down this way.

:shrug:

that is a lot of supporters.. we responded from emails, twitters, and phone calls.. thsi was not a plan ahead event. That is how much the people in Minneapolis stick up for each other.
This isn't just about rosemary.. this is about the millions of people who are losing their home.

Here is another update.

http://twincities.indymedia.org/2009/sep/eviction-crime-cops-respond-eviction-resistance-raid-assaults

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 at the time. 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 in front of the house and were promptly assaulted by the police with kicks and pepper sprays. 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. An indymedia reporter was sprayed directly in the face while on the "public" side of the police line.

Soon people continued to sit down on the sidewalk directly in front of the house in an act of civil disobedience. Ironically, in arresting them, the MPD dragged some through Rosemary's house to the backyard. An officer pointed to another man standing motionless with the crowd outside the police cordon, grabbed him and arrested him. Eventually, seven in total were taken to the backyard 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.

Related video: Before the arrests

Upcoming: Saturday 10am Leaflet at 7th/Hennepin outside Obama event | Sunday 2pm Press conference outside Rosemary's house

Check back for an extended article soon plus more video. Have videos, photos, or updates? Post them as a comment or publish to the newswire.

At the time of the raid, occupants of the house were preparing for a two-year-old's birthday party. The party was moved to a nearby home. MPD spokesman Jesse Garcia later lied in front of reporters by denying that the child's party had been disrupted.

Garcia was later heard saying into his cell phone what sounded like, "we look like the bad guy."

A man and woman from the MPD crime lab were inside the police lines, taking video and photo of activists. For a significant time they refused to identify themselves, but eventually gave their badge numbers after extended jeers from the crowd.

The building was boarded - or, more accurately, the windows were sealed shut by unfamiliar sheets of durable metal - by workers from Vacant Property Security of Chicago, Illinois (where the Cook County Sheriff has boldly declared a moratorium on foreclosure evictions). The special materials are supposedly designed to make breaking in more difficult. They were also used on the second story windows; the city of Minneapolis typically only boards the first-floor windows of vacant buildings.

According to City Council member Elizabeth Glidden, who has offered tepid support for Rosemary throughout her struggle, private security has been hired by mortgage company GMAC to patrol the property, and the MPD will not pay it special attention. A man wearing a private security uniform arrived on the scene as police and protestors prepared to leave, and spoke with an officer. He refused to identify himself or his company, or say whether his company was the one hired to patrol.

Glidden said the police action "makes no sense," and was saddened by the scene Friday. She says she "scoured what she could do" and "tried to be a personal advocate for Rosemary," though some supporters have questioned her commitment to seeing Rosemary keep her home no matter the method. She refused to condemn the MPD, saying they were "caught in the middle." Notably absent from the scene of the raid, however, were any other politicians, including mayor RT Rybak.

Just before 5pm, Rosemary emerged for the first time from inside her house, holding a bouquet of flowers in the air to tremendous applause from the crowd, which began to chant, "It's not over yet!"

Soon thereafter the civil disobedience and arrests began. As the arrested activists - some going limp - were dragged to the alley away from the crowd and most media, many began call-and-response chants with the gathered suporters.

Shortly after the action subsided, one officer's arm was being bandaged with what looked like a small blood stain soaking through.

Later, others were allowed to continue moving out some belongings. Around 8pm, the workers finished boarding and drove away, followed by most police officers. When it was all done, a crowd of about three dozen still remained.

A Small Sampling of Overheard Professional Remarks from the Minneapolis Police Department:

Officer I. Raichert, pointing to a legal observers' cap (NLG legal observers have traditionally worn the green caps for years): "So, is that leftover from the RNC?"

Unknown officer leaning from second story window, to a supporter in a neighbor's yard: "If you don't get out of the yard, we'll put a 45mm in your face."

Unknown officer when asked about his badge while leaving: "I'll take it off and we can figure this out aruond back, if you want." He refused to give his badge number.

The corporate property owners can unleash state sponsored violence on poor individuals at will.
The middle class can be 100% depended on to back that violence.

Property before people.

since the market went bust.

it was one of those loans where the interest starts low, then adjusts high.

50 people could come up with $5000 once or twice, but could they continue doing it every month?

& she's just one foreclosed person.

She must have either been pressured into it or got some terrible financial advice.

...so many made, that by the time the loan reset she'd be able to sell or refi. :shrug:

If so, then the law worked as it was supposed to.

There's nothing progressive about being irresponsible.

& she wanted to help them, or any number of other scenarios.

her loan started out at $1200/mo & ballooned to $2200/mo. that's when she got into trouble.

but of course, only because she was "irresponsible". since the all-knowing frank booth said so.

all you have to do is google her name to find out and she has a common name.

How sad that people think that the only ones lossing their homes refi'd to take all the cash out.

I suppose next you ask did she spend it on crack or at the casino.

Because that's what literally tens of thousands of people in Southern California did over the last few years. How much sympathy do I have for them now that they can't pay the adjusted rate? Absolutely zero.

And I searched and I can't find anything that says what she did with the money, but I did find out she inherited the house debt free. Must be nice....

Somewhere in what I just read said that she'd been in this house for more than 30 years. Did she pay off her original mortgage and then take out a new one at some point?

How very, very sad.

it would be nice to get the whole story rather than just one side.

She did two cash-out refinances, the second of which put her in an adjustable-rate mortgage.

Nobody knows why, but that's what she did. Apparently her mom died and she lost a job, and became unable to make the payments.

My memory is increasingly hazy on this, but I believe she was doing some kind of social work? :shrug:

90K would get you in a very poor area and an old home.

I bet none of the cops there would every live on Rosemary's neighborhood.

Sadly they also would know what it is like to live w/a community that cares and fully of a variety of ethnicities

7 homes. she said sometimes her neighbors just disappeared..

left in the middle of the night.. only taking what they could fit in their car.

this is happen all over the country. It is killing our communites and the poor, elderly, and minorities are the worst hit.

Don't be surprised if you see more elderly sleeping on park benches.

that what was once a semi-stable lower working class neighborhood with only pockets of gang & drug activity is going to tip to all rentals & meth central.