On Tuesday, October 26th, at 11:30 a.m., more than two dozen homeowners, friends, and community members marched into Chase Bank in downtown Burien, Washington and demanded an end to foreclosures in the state.
These homeowners represented just a handful of the 225,000 underwater homeowners in the state of Washington. The action, organized by Washington CAN!, was part of a national campaign to end foreclosures and to call for a write-down of principle for people at risk of losing their homes.
Demonstrators held signs reading “Freeze Foreclosures Now” and “Show me the Note!” They asked the branch manager to call Phyllis Campbell, the Chairman for Pacific Northwest JP Morgan Chase. The branch manager refused, instead calling the police.
While the branch manager was unsympathetic, customers themselves responded positively to the action. Many customers expressed their own frustrations the banks, and asked how they could get more involved in Washington CAN!’s organizing efforts.
The demonstrators then moved across the street from Chase Bank to Bank of America, where bank customers were again receptive. Ms. Taylor, a Bank of America customer, shared her story about losing her home when the bank wouldn’t renegotiate her loan, even though the bank couldn’t prove they owned the mortgage in the first place.
Washington state Attorney General Rob McKenna is one of 15 Attorneys General who are leading a national investigation into fraudulent foreclosure practices. Washington CAN! hopes that actions like these push Mr. McKenna to take a strong stand in defense of homeowners across the nation.
To view a slideshow of the action, click here.
This post was written by Will Pittz of Washington CAN!