Occupy The Hood Chicago & The Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign Begin Their “Warm-Up” For “Home For The Holidays” Actions Against Bank Foreclosures & Illegal Evictions

When: Friday, December 2, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.

What: Press conference by Occupy The Hood Chicago & the Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign regarding     
          recent take-over of bank-foreclosure home and details of next week's actions to reclaim abandoned  
          homes.
Where: 11651 S. Artesian Avenue (near Western Avenue), Chicago IL. 


Contact: Loren Taylor (773) 750-6909


Occupy The Hood Chicago (OTHC) and the Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign (CAEC) will hold a press conference Friday, December 2 at 1:00 p.m. to talk about efforts to fight the bank foreclosure and tenant eviction of a home on Chicago's Southwest side.

The press conference will be held at the home, located in Chicago's Beverly Woods neighborhood. Among those speaking will be Shirley Henderson, the property's owner and landlord. Henderson is currently fighting foreclosure by Chase Bank- although her tenants had lost their jobs and were unable to pay rent, Henderson (who also lost her job) allowed them to stay in the house while she attempted to make new arrangements with the bank. The tenants were evicted the day before Thanksgiving while preparing dinner.

“The sheriff didn't even let them put the food away,” Henderson said.


Assisted by OTHC & CAEC, Henderson and her tenants re-entered the house earlier this week. When the bank's property manager (State Banc Real Estate Brokerage) attempted to change the locks, they were told by officers of the Chicago Police Department that it was a matter for the Sheriff's Office, and the tenants were allowed to stay.

J.R. Fleming of CAEC said that this is an example of efforts that will take place next week during the “Home For The Holidays” actions on December 6, 8 and 9th. The actions are a part of efforts taken by the national Take Back The Land network- similar actions are planned in at least ten cities nationwide. All actions are designs to pressure the big banks to stop foreclosures & evictions that are devastating our
communities.

“If an ordinary person like Ms. Henderson can show compassion to her tenants during these hard times, then why can't the banks do the same?” Fleming said.

OTHC & CAEC will be joined at the Friday press conference by various Chicago groups participating in the Home For The Holidays actions, including Communities United Against Foreclosure and Evictions, the South Austin Coalition, Occupy El Barrio, and by individuals from Occupy Chicago.

“This is a diverse and city-wide coalition and we won't sit still while the banks destroy our communities” said OTHC representative Loren Taylor. “This is what occupation of our neighborhoods will look like.”