MINNESOTA—(ENEWSPF)—October 9, 2011. During the week of October 10th community, faith and labor groups plan to confront elected officials and local representatives of financial interests demanding action to restore opportunity to ordinary Minnesotans hurt by years of unrestrained Wall Street greed.
“Minnesotans from all walks of life are taking our message directly to banks and corporate America—including Wells Fargo—that we will not allow them to foreclose on the American Dream. We are demanding that they repair the economic disaster they helped create and the racial injustices they worsened. We will stand strong and not allow them to impose further cuts on our schools, health care or public services,” said Donna Cassutt, spokesperson for of Minnesotans for a Fair Economy, the organization coordinating an October 14th March to Save the American Dream.
Organizers of the week’s community events applauded the upsurge in grassroots energy of the Occupy Wall Street and OccupyMN movement. “The convergence of the Occupy movement and other Twin Cities community-based events reflects the fact that people are saying ‘enough’ to Wall Street and taking action demand that the banks and superrich pay their fair share and respect our democracy.”
“Don’t Foreclose on the American Dream” A Minnesota Week of Action, Oct 10 – 14
Events listed below have been planned by a variety of communities groups all of whom are part of the growing coalition that has endorsed “March and Rally to Save the American Dream,” that will depart Peavey Plaza in downtown Minneapolis at 3pm on Friday, October 14th.
Big Banks and the Minneapolis Schools: Study Release, Monday, October 10th, 2 pm
WHERE: 1023 Newton Ave N, Minneapolis (A foreclosed home)
Parents and neighborhood activists from NOC (Neighborhoods Organizing for Change) will gather in front of an abandoned, foreclosed home owned by Wells Fargo bank to release a study “THE IMPACT OF FORECLOSURES ON THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.“ The study, written in partnership with Minnesotans for a Fair Economy, documents the impact of foreclosure on the enrollment and budget of the Minneapolis public schools. NOC activists will discuss their plans to ask the school board to move its banking from Wells Fargo to community banks.
Vigil for Good Jobs, Monday, October 10th, 4 pm
WHERE: 10th Avenue SE Bridge on the West River Parkway (under the bridge)
As the Senate considers the Jobs for American bill, community activists will hold a vigil with the message “Good Jobs Now: Make Millionaires and Wall Street.”
Tuesday, October 11th, 11 am: “Super-Duper Committee: People’s vs. Bankers Budget” March
WHERE: Government Plaza 11 a.m., Northwest Corner
TakeAction Minnesota will lead a march from Government Plaza to Wells Fargo bank in support of a People’s Budget rather than expected budget cuts recommended by the “Super Committee.” They will ask the public to vote on which budget they support.
MINNEAPOLIS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, Tuesday Oct 11th, 5pm
WHERE: Minneapolis Public Schools District Office, 807 Broadway in Northeast Minneapolis
Parents and community activists will ask the Minneapolis School Board to move its banking away from Wells Fargo and into community banks. Parents will rally outside the school board meeting at 5 pm and then testify at the board meeting beginning at 5:30.
ISAIAH/St. Paul City Council Housing Crisis Forum – Tuesday, October 11, 2011, 7pm
WHERE: St. James AME Church, 624 Central Avenue West, Saint Paul, MN
WHO: 300 community and faith leaders, St. Paul City Council members, St. Paul Mayor’s rep.
ISAIAH and a coalition of St. Paul neighborhood groups will hold a 300-person public meeting and release a study on the housing crisis that is sweeping through the city of St. Paul. The study makes clear that neighborhoods with large numbers of low income and minority residents are being impacted at a far greater rate than other city neighborhoods. At the same time, our $1 billion public investment in the Central Corridor Light Rail may increase the danger that low-income residents and people of color who live in the Corridor will be displaced. City Council members will be asked to take meaningful and concrete steps to begin combating the crisis by actively supporting a platform of policy initiatives around mediation, inclusionary zoning policies, and neighborhood stabilization.
Wednesday, October 12
“Rally to Stop Nursing Home Evictions,” Wednesday, October 12, 3pm
WHERE: Cerenity Care Center, 753 E 7th Street, St. Paul
Caregivers and community supporters will rally at Dellwood Place Care Center, which is one of two Cerenity care centers slated to be shut down in the coming months. The closing will displace residents who have lived in the community for years or decades—in some cases moving them far from family members. The rally will demand that major banks and “the top 1%” pay their fair share of taxes to protect public services like quality care for our disabled and elderly.
March and Rally to Save the American Dream – Friday, October 14, 3pm
WHERE: Peavey Plaza, 11th St. S. and Nicollet Ave. S. (1111 Nicollet Mall), Minneapolis
Marchers will depart from Peavey Plaza in downtown Minneapolis to tell Wells Fargo and Wall Street “Don’t Foreclose on the American Dream.” Marchers will call on the banks and super-rich to pay their fair share to create jobs and protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security on the day “Super Committee” subcommittee reports are due. At Wells Fargo a marchers will ask for a meeting with Wells Fargo executives to discuss community concerns.
March endorsers include: Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha (CTUL), ISAIAH, Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG), The Minnesota AFL-CIO, the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation. Neighborhoods Organizing for Change (NOC), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), TakeAction Minnesota, United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1189,
A concert will precede the rally beginning at 11:00 am in Peavey Park. Musicians and spoken word artists include: Toki Wright, Pandora’s Box Cutter, Flo-me, Thee Evil Creatures, Karma the oddest Goddess, Lioness, Rob Weekend, Sean Anonymous, (Wide Eyes), Earth Shake.
Saturday, October 15th
Schooling the big banks, Saturday, October 15, 11:00 am,
WHERE: Saint Paul location TBA
Concerned parents, citizens and public school staff organized by SEIU Local 284 will set up a school classroom in a Wells Fargo bank branch lobby. Forgo fees and stop profiting off of the short-term school loans due to education cuts that the banks and chamber of commerce pushed for in the first place.
Action to stop criminalization of immigrant families Saturday, October 15th, noon
WHERE: Minneapolis Location TBA
Immigration activist will ask major banks to stop contributing to anti-immigrant politicians that tear apart immigrant families and withdraw investments in firms that lobby for and build private prisons targeting immigrant workers.
Sunday, October 16th
Festival for Justice Concert, Sunday, October 16th, 1 – 7 pm (Rally from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. )
WHERE: Corner of Lake Street and 27th Ave., Minneapolis
People from all walks of life will celebrate the struggle for justice. Supporters will pledge funds for CTUL a workers-rights organization whose Campaign for Justice in Retail Cleaning has drawn attention to cleaning workers who sometimes cannot afford to buy groceries in the stores they clean. Artists include Guante, Brass Kings, Grant Hart, formerly of Husker Du and more.
Source: www.newbottomline.com
