Photo/Stephen Melkisethian
WASH, D.C, AND LA QUINTA, CA — I was one of the many homeowners, now an x-homeowner, who has battled with Bank of America and Fannie Mae since 2005 when the housing market began to crash. Approximately four months after purchasing my home, the housing bubble started to burst. Within one year, its value was approximately one-half of what I owed. I spent approximately five years fighting with the banks and Fannie Mae. Angry, frustrated and mad that the banking industry blamed people for purchasing homes they couldn’t afford, trying to shame the middle class and people of color while they were stealing from us, I decided to go to Washington D.C. on a scholarship offered by the Home Defender’s League, Occupy Our Homes, and ACCE.
On May 17, I left for Washington, D.C. with 500 homeowners from all over the U.S., who were struggling to keep their homes. The plan was to march to the Department of Justice, and demand that Eric Holder, 82nd Attorney General of the United States, arrest the criminal bankers and reduce home principals. On May 20, we marched from Freedom Plaza after homeowners gave speeches and shared their stories. Then we blocked the front doors of the Department of Justice and the two parking lots, and were surrounded by every type of police officer—Home Land Security, D.C. police, and the federal building police. News teams were on the scene, police cars were parked up and down the streets, helicopters were hovering, all because grandmothers, mothers and families wanted an answer now.
Eric Holder never met with us, nor did he make a statement. He simply allowed homeowners who were peacefully protesting to be tasered and arrested. After the first 17 arrests, the protest continued for three more days. Homeowners stayed and spent the night on the steps of the Department of Justice demanding that bankers be arrested not homeowners. The police continued to taser and arrest protesters. Some of the people who were arrested were told they “had no rights” in jail, and were not given water or toilet paper for almost two days.
The purpose of the protest and the arrests was to bring greater awareness that foreclosures are not down as you are hearing on the news. There are still 13 million people underwater. In addition, the news is stating that the housing market is going up again. The statistics are manipulated to make us think things are getting better. The bankers have not changed their practices, so we are at risk of another crash, while they get richer again! Guess who suffers from the crash—not the bankers, we do!
Homeowners who have lost or are losing their homes are planning on educating our communities and going back to the Department of Justice with thousands of people demanding the arrest of the true criminals and reduction of home principals. It is up to us to make the change, and it takes the people to make the change. If you wish to share your story you can contact me at debrareverend@gmail.com
