Thank you very much everyone who showed support for our fundraising event, "Benefit for Occupy Fights Foreclosures: The Art of Resistance" on Saturday March 30th, 2012 at the Vortex. You attended supportively, performed fiercely, donated generously, facilitated smoothly and volunteered enthusiastically. That made all possible. We cannot express enough how grateful we are to your support. All the collected generous donation will go a long way to cover our necessary expenditure for people's ongoing fight against fraudulent foreclosures!

In a mean time, please enjoy wonderful photos from the event.

by NoHoDamon

by Facebook Event wall posts

OCCUPY FIGHTS FORECLOSURES activists joined ACCE and disrupted Well Fargo CEO John Stumpf's Speech. Wells Fargo CEO was 25 minutes into his speech when he was interrupted by a homeowner who approached him and ask him why her home of 19 years was scheduled to sale at an auction. He was shocked and immediately was escorted by security. About 75 activists took over the bankers meeting and held a press conference. Bankers present were in disbelief and shocked as to how quickly the meeting ended and Mr. Stumpf walked away from the homeowner.

During the action, Occupy Fights Foreclosures made a call to the CEO's office to demand that Ms. Harolyn Rhue's case be fully investigated and that Wells Fargo take responsibility for the damage they have caused to Harolyn, a disabled woman. Ms. Rhue endured 3 years of trying to modify her loan just to have Wells Fargo sell her home to investors causing her to lose $300,000 of equity. Harolyn owed around $200,000 on her mortgage and her property was valued around $500,000. We are demanding that Wells Fargo take responsibility and reverse the damage they have caused to Ms. Harolyn Rhue.

Watch the protest scenes!

Read More Here:

• ACCE (Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment): Wells Fargo CEO's Keynote Address Interrupted by Irate
• San Diego Free Press: Wells Fargo CEO Meets a Desperate Homeowner Facing Foreclosure, Flees
• 50-75 protesters present are understated as small as 25 in the following article, written by the very host of this meeting. Don't miss the comments: American Bankers(Host): Foreclosure Protesters Disrupt Wells CEO's Speech
• Don't miss the Comments: Huffpost Business: John Stumpf, Wells Fargo CEO, Interrupted By Foreclosure Protesters

CALL TO ACTION:

CALL ON WELLS FARGO CEO JOHN STUMPF & WELLS FARGO PRESIDENT OF HOME LOANS TO:

• TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THE HARM THAT HAROLYN RHUE'S ILLEGAL FORECLOSURE HAS CAUSED HER.
• STOP DISCRIMINATING AGAINST THE DISABLED.

515.213.6117
MICHAEL HEID
Wells Fargo President of Home Loans

415.396.7018
JOHN STUMPF
Wells Fargo CEO

PLEASE CALL NOW!!

READ MORE HERE:

WELLS FARGO IS WRONGFULLY DISPLACING MS. HAROLYN RHUE, A DISABLED, AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN, WHO SUFFERS FROM SUBSTANTIAL HEAD TRAUMA.

On January 4th 2013, ms. Rhue filed a formal complaint with hud for discriminatory housing practices by her lender wells fargo home mortgage. During our initial investigation we have noticed some very serious violations of the foreclosure process and documentation.

Ms. Rhue needs your help! Please, tell wells fargo that an eviction would cause great harm and would negatively impact her already serious health condition that has been altered by the wrongful foreclosure of her home.

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HERE IS A STATEMENT BY WELLS FARGO REGARDING TODAYS ACTION

Vickee Adams, a Wells Fargo spokesperson, wrote in an e-mailed statement to The Huffington Post that while the bank respects individuals’ rights to express their opinions, the protest was unproductive.

“We are very disappointed in the actions protesters took at the Retail Banking Conference today that disrupted John Stumpf's presentation and the entire conference,” Adams wrote. “This type of behavior damages efforts for productive dialogue and opportunities to work together to reach solutions.”

STAY TUNE FOR OCCUPY FIGHTS FORECLOSURES REPLY.....

[Updated! 3/19/2013] 

Occupy Fights Foreclosures Response to Wells Fargo Statement

Thank you very much for all of you who made possible today's Wells Fargo phone flood! Many participants who reported on Facebook seem that have enjoyed speaking the demand for justice for Ms. Harolyn Rhue on the phone and brought a bunch of messages directed to the CEO and President of Home Loans. Let's keep our eyes on their response.

If you missed it, don't worry. It's never too late to call them today at:

515.213.6117 - Michael Heid -  Wells Fargo President of Home Loans.
415.396.7018 - John Stumpf - Wells Fargo CEO.

Or, write on Wells Fargo's Facebook wall that is totally down to "Let's Talk About That": https://www.facebook.com/wellsfargo

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Exclusive coverage of our protest, "Shut Down Bank of America, Stop Foreclosures" from independent photo journalist, Natasha Petrosova

Article, Videos & Photos by Natasha Petrosova

Occupy Fights Foreclosures Protests in front of Bank of America on Wednesday, February 20.

Los Angeles, CA- Occupy Fights Foreclosures activists and homeowners gathered in front of Bank of America branch on North Vermont Street at 12:00pm on Wendesday, February 20. The activists and homeowners held their signs and marched in a circle chanting "B.O.A how many homes did you steal today…. Bank of America, Bad for America". The demonstration lasted for about two hours. 

Josephina Perez, a recent victim of fraudulent foreclosure came to participate in a protest with her 3-year-old grandson, Jesus and her husband, Jose Perez. Mrs. Perez said that she was trying to modify her loan with Bank of America but Bank of America repeatedly claimed that they never received her paperwork. Eventually, Bank of America foreclosed on a house and Mrs. Perez and her family, including two small children, Jesus, 3 and Nalanie, 5 were forced to live on the streets. Mrs. Perez said that they lived on the streets for three weeks. "We slept on the street, we used public bathrooms . I even gave children a bath right on the street. Many times the children wanted to go to the bathroom and could not wait for us to drive around to find one, so they would end up going to the bathroom right on the street" Mrs. Perez added crying.

Sherry Hernandez, another victims of bank's fraudulent practices also came to participate in a protest this Wednesday afternoon. Mrs. Hernandez is still fighting to keep her home. "We bought a house in 2006. It had to be our retirement home. We did not plan to make low payments. We wanted a conventional loan, but Countrywide pushed us to take 2% loan. After 4 months our payments got raised by $800" she said. "We were trying to get a loan somewhere else but Countrywide would not release our loan saying that we have 3 year repayment penalty that we never signed for" Mrs. Hernandez added. Eventually Mrs. Hernandez was able to get a new loan with City Mortgage, but two moths later her loan got sold to PennyMack and her troubles started again. Mrs. Hernandez is still fighting to keep her house.

Occupy Fights foreclosures activists and homeowners stood in front of Bank of America this Wednesday afternoon demanding justice. They called for Bank of America to start working with the families and end fraudulent foreclosure practices. "Housing is a human right !" activists shouted.

Visit photography-journal.com for more photographs from the scene!

Also, here's our own original photo slideshow from this action (Flash plug-in required)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/occupyfightsforeclosures/sets/72157632829359124/

permlink | Event page on Facebook | Press Release

MEDIA ADVISORY
IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WHO: OCCUPY FIGHTS FORECLOSURES, Victimized homeowners
WHAT: Protest against Bank of America’s continuing fraudulent foreclosures
WHEN: Wednesday, February 20 at 12 noon
WHERE: 1715 North Vermont Ave. Los Angeles 90027
VISUALS: Homeowners who have been victimized by B of A, signs, banners

LOS ANGELES, CA –In the face of Bank of America’s refusal to work with thousands of homeowners who have been the victims of predatory lending, and fraudulent servicing and foreclosures, Occupy Fights Foreclosures will be holding a protest by homeowners outside of Bank of America in Hollywood this Wednesday at 12:00 pm.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA RELEASE:

WHO: Occupy LA Occupy Fights Foreclosures, Occupy San Fernando, Hermandad Mexicana Panorama City, Occupy Whittier, Occupy the Hood, Rhema, Moveon.org, Code Pink, Occupy Anaheim and Struggling homeowners.

WHAT: Call for a moratorium on all foreclosures, transparency with the settlement moneys and demands money go toward helping homeowners stay in their homes, not towards helping the banks hide their crimes.

WHEN: 10AM Wednesday Sept 4, 2012, Press conference 11:30am

WHERE: Outside Attorney General Kamala Harris' LA office 300 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles CA 90013
 

OCCUPY FIGHTS FORECLOSURES CALLS FOR AN IMMEDIATE FORECLOSURE MORATORIUM, TRANSPARENCY FOR SETTLEMENT MONEYS, AND DEMANDS THAT THE MONEY GO TO HOMEOWNERS
"Ongoing fraud is kicking homeowners out of their homes while banks help themselves." 

LOS ANGELES — Occupy Fights Foreclosures, a subcommittee of Occupy LA, calls on the Attorney General for an immediate moratorium on foreclosures and demands that all of California's $18 billion portion of settlement money with the five major financial institutions go toward helping homeowners stay in their homes, instead of helping banks bury their crimes of fraud.