I’m not 100% sure what the story is behind Labor Notes, but one of my photos was on the front page of their monthly magazine (issue #408, March 2013) alongside a story about union members helping at the Cruz home and other foreclosure resistance campaigns.
➜ Labor Notes: Home Is Where the Fight Is
➜ Citypages: Occupy Homes protesters charged with rioting
A few of the people arrested at the Cruz house had more charges added to trespassing, one of them being 3rd degree rioting, a gross misdemeanor.
June 21st national day of action against PNC Bank.
On June 21st, 2012, many occupy groups from around the country coordinated a national day of action against PNC Bank. The protests were organized in support of the Cruz family and their request for a mortgage renegotiation. Alejandra and David Cruz traveled to the PNC Bank headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA to demand a loan modification from PNC Bank executives. At the Cruz home in South Minneapolis, 13 people were arrested in an act of civil disobedience. A large police force was on hand to guard the home and arrested anyone who deliberately stepped onto the property.
The protest/rally in South Minneapolis started down the street at a neighbor’s house who said he was also going through foreclosure in a speech to the crowd. More speeches followed and a number of people decided to deliberately step onto the Cruz house property to protest the foreclosure and eviction of the Cruz family.
June 21st national day of action against PNC Bank.
The considerable police presence at the Cruz home.
June 21st national day of action against PNC Bank.
A neighbor in foreclosure addresses the crowd in front of his home.
June 21st national day of action against PNC Bank.
More speeches next door to the Cruz home.
June 21st national day of action against PNC Bank.
Minneapolis based hip-hop artist Brother Ali is the first to step onto the property and get arrested. 12 more people were also arrested for trespassing.
