Earlier this morning an energetic and powerful crowd of 70 residents & allies gathered with Ms. Inez Williams and her family to stand in solidarity with the family and protest the foreclosure of the Williams’ family home by MidFirst Bank.
We gathered today to make it clear to anyone–including MidFirst Bank–who was looking to purchase the house with the intent to evict no-fault after foreclosure, that we will resist any attempt to evict no-fault after foreclosure!
Bank Tenant Association members Sellou & Candejah spoke to the huge crowd calling on MidFirst bank to stop the auction and work with Ms. Williams and her son, and made clear that the growing bank tenant movement would resist any eviction attempt of the Williams family if the foreclosure happened. A representative from Councilor Tosado’s office spoke in support of our efforts, and members of Ms. Williams family spoke on behalf on her with incredible determination, love and power. The auctioneers showed up along with a representative of the bank who refused to speak with us. They had hired a constable from the Sherrif’s office to accompany them. After about 20 minutes of our crowd chanting “Wall St. Banks You can’t hide, we can see your greedy side,” and
70 Strong for the Williams family!
“What do we do when the banks attack? Stand up! Fight Back!” the auctioneers began the auction amidst a growing chant of “Shame On You!”
As a result of the protest, no one other than the bank bid on the house–likely concerned about the resistance they would find after foreclosure–and MidFirst bank purchased the home back. Now our attention turns to ensuring that Ms. Williams and her son are not evicted no-fault by MidFirst bank.
LETS BE CLEAR, This is not an end! This is the beginning of the fight in the Williams’ case and in our growing movement to fight back against no-fault evictions and
demand principal reduction! We made it loud and clear today that as long as banks continue to evict our neighbors and destroy our communities while they sit on record profits and bailouts, we will no longer stay silent! We will not be moved!
At the end of the protest we all circled up and held hand chanting “We are family and family sticks together!”
Shame on Midfirst Bank
We will keep you updated on any developments in the Williams family’s struggle and other families determined efforts to stand up and fight back!
About SNOL
Springfield No One Leaves is a member-led community organization dedicated to organizing families most affected by the economic & foreclosure crisis. We organize against displacement and eviction and to defend our homes and our communities.
Springfield Nadie Se Mude es una organización comunitaria dirigida por nuestros miembros y dedicada a organizar residentes más afectados por la crisis económica y de ejecuciones hipotecarias. Organizamos contra desplazamiento y desalojo y para defender nuestros hogares y nuestras comunidades.
