BIG BANK BACKS DOWN--FOR NOW; Halts foreclosure on cancer patient's home as Congressman leads vigil

[Liberty Belle]

Source: East County Magazine

“I hope this will spread across America.” - Congressman Bob Filner at a pre-dawn vigil, where he announced that Union Bank called off plans to have the Sheriff issue a foreclosure notice today to evict a woman and her child with cancer

“We can join together and fight these banks.” – Ray Lutz, 52nd Congressional district candidate


September 13, 2010 (Bonita) – “Thank you, thank you!” Luz Maria Villanueva’s voice was choked with emotion at a rally on her front lawn organized by Congressman Bob Filner (D-San Diego). Nearly 100 people turned out at 5:30 a.m. for a candlelight vigil to protest Union Bank’s announced plan to have the Sheriff’s department take Villanueva’s Bonita home. She has pleaded for a reprieve at least until her young son, who has cancer, completes chemotherapy treatments.

“We’re going to stand together to change America,” said Rep. Filner. “We have a president who talked about hope. We have to give him strength. The banks have taken over both parties.” He called for changes in the law to protect those victimized by predatory lending practices.


The rally drew widespread media attention; at least three major TV stations as well as print and online media reporters were on hand to cover the event.




Read more: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/4229

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This was a beautiful sight to behold. Can we clone Filner's heart and transplant one into every member of Congress?

I would like to know if these stop-foreclosure rallies are occurring elsewhere in the nation, or if Filner's call for action will be heard and acted upon across America. Has anything like this happened in your area?

[Liberty Belle]

1. For those not familiar with Filner, he onced went to jail in Mississippi

for weeks after standing up for Civil Rights as a rider on the Freedom Train. The man knows first-hand the value of civil disobedience, and was willing to be arrested if need be to stop the Sheriff from evicting this woman.

Of course if we had proper healthcare for all Americans, no one should have to choose between losing their home or losing the life of a family member.

[Iowa]

2. In my great-grandfather's time, if a bank foreclosed on a farm...

The neighbors showed up at the farm sale. If someone made a bid, that person was surrounded by neighbors and shown what would happen to him if he went through with it. More often than not, the land couldn't be sold at auction, and if it was sold any other way, the new "owner" was given 24 hours to be packed and out of the area - or else. This was the same generation that sacrificed so much to organize labor and kept FDR in office. The bad guys weren't allowed to control the world in those days. The greatest generation, IMO.