SHERIFF EVICTING ROSEMARY WILLIAMS ! COMMUNITY MOBILIZED TO SAVE HER HOME, ARRESTS LOOMING

[annm4peace]

After months of fighting for her home of many decades, Rosemary Williams is being
evicted at this moment, 2:15pm, Friday Aug. 7, by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s
Department. While the Sheriff's office has locked Rosemary’s belongings in her home,
and Rosemary is sits weeping on the front lawn, the community has mobilized to
demonstrate and stop this eviction.

The Minnesota Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign and the Coalition for a
People’s Bailout have been organizing in the community to resist this and other
evictions for months. Both organizations and other community members have vowed to
use civil disobedience to save Rosemary’s home. Scores of supporters have assembled
at 3138 Clinton Ave. South.

This eviction is taking place despite this community mobilization and the support of
Councilwoman Elizabeth Glidden. Last week's offer of an arrangement to save her
home by a local community development corporation was withdrawn in an unexplained
move.

The Sheriff’s department surprised Rosemary by beginning the eviction today rather
than Monday as they previously communicated to Rosemary.

No more evictions, no more foreclosures! Housing is a Human Right!




4 PM Friday: Approximately eight Hennepin County sheriff's deputies unexpectedly arrived at Rosemary Williams' home at 3128 Clinton Avenue around 2pm this afternoon, accompanied by four men presumably representing GMAC Mortgage.

All took photos of the inside of the house and garage; deputies installed a new lock on the garage and posted "no trespassing" notices on all doors.

They ordered supporters to leave the property, but did not enforce their order.

After some activists sat down on the front porch locking arms, one deputy pulled out his can of chemical spray.

Soon thereafter, however, all the sheriffs and GMAC representatives left the property in their unmarked vehicles, leaving the gathered supporters to wonder what will happen next.


6:30PM Update: Police squad cars have been doing drive-bys at Rosemary's house; many supporters still remain there.

(I was able to be there from 6pm to 8pm, I will go back in about 1hr to stay and give some support)
(there was a mixture of people and about 20-30 people while I was there, FOX 9 also camped out)

8:15PM Update: Reports are that councilwoman Glidden spoke to a city inspector who claimed that no action would be taken tonight; however, Glidden was also told that no eviction attempt would occur today, just one hour before the sheriffs came. Rosemary Williams is apparently staying at a neighbor's house tonight; beginning early Saturday, help is needed particularly in the form of vans and people to help move belongings.

More people still needed so come if you can!

**** there are 1000's of people being kicked out of their homes in MN.

Rosemary is bravely taking stand and represents many.

We have to support her in her efforts, we could be next.. like her we could lose our job, or the business we are at can close. We could be unexpectedly ill and find out our insurance isn't as great as we thought. or we could be in an accident and not able to work.

[annm4peace]

1. SOME CALLS TO MAKE:

SOME CALLS TO MAKE:
Call GMAC in the Twin Cities and the national headquarters.
Twin Cities: 952-806-9705
GMAC Headquarters: 215-734-8899
Tell them to retract the writ of recovery and let Rosemary try to save her home. She has been desperately trying to get financing to save her home, a process that takes time.

Call Fraegre and Benson: GMAC is represented by the law firm of Fraegre and Benson.
Rosemary asks that you call them at 612-766-7000 and tell them to “undo the Writ of Recovery” on Rosemary’s home.

Call these elected officials
Mayor RT Rybak: 612-673-2100
U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison: 202-225-4755
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar: 202-224-3244
U.S. Sen. Al Franken: 202-224-5641

Demand that they call GMAC and order GMAC to retract the writ of recovery. Banks got billions of dollars in bailout money. Now is their chance to help the people who the banks screwed over.

Rosemary Williams is a 55-year resident of the Central Neighborhood in south Minneapolis. Rosemary has been a fighter against the foreclosure crisis for nearly a year, giving inspiration to others to fight back. Now is the time for all the community to show support. Clear your calendars and take a stand!

[annm4peace]

2. I was checking emails and my friend just sent this to me

My friend just heard of Rosemary being evicted and she emailed this to me.
She lives here in the Twin cities. How come this doesn't make the news?

..". about a month ago my neighbor -began having garage sales every weekend. Then my daughter noticed his garage sale changed to an Estate Sale. Then one day I woke up to a swat team in flak jacket with an automatic rifle (or submachine gun?) and police with drawn guns surrounding the house of the neighbor They soon came out with guns down and paramedics walked in with gloves on; then a little later a hearse pulled up. Last week I heard the doorbell late at night. A woman was standing there who identified herself as the neighbor's old girlfriend. She said she needed to talk to someone who had been around the neighbor--who had seen him. she knew he had shot himself; he had told her that he was going to lose his house and he didn't want to end up under a bridge. "


We need to reach out to your neighbors. I know this happened in another state, but I wonder how many time this has happened here?