CJJC Member Headed to B of A Shareholder Protest

Over 1,000 to Converge on Bank of America Shareholder Meeting

City announces harsh lockdown ahead of UNITY’s “Showdown in Charlotte” on May 9

bankvsamerica-margarita-1On May 9, 2012, over 1,000 grassroots leaders from the UNITY alliance and allies will converge on Bank of America’s shareholder meeting to demand racial and economic justice from a predatory bank that has looted communities, increased the racial wealth gap, and robbed Americans of generations of financial security.

Causa Justa :: Just Cause is sending some of our staff and members to Charlotte, North Carolina to the Bank of America shareholder’s meeting as part of Unity, a group of national grassroots networks. One of Just Cause’s members, Margarita Ramirez, who is fighting to get her Oakland home back after being foreclosed on, is part of the team. Check out this video: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWp85MeqEhM&feature=share

Here is Margarita’s story:

Margarita Ramirez bought her home 14 years ago. Exactly one year ago today, on May 5th, 2011, and two weeks early, Bank of America sold the home of Margarita and Manuel Ramirez to an investment company, EB Fund I, LLC. For 18 months she tried to negotiate a loan modification with the bank. She sent documents they asked for. They did not tell her s. she waited 18 months with no answers. The family could not make the monthly payment. They did not understand that the bank was going to sell their home, the documents were in English and the Ramirez’ speak primarily Spanish. Bank of America admits that they should have allowed for 30 days before selling the house and are willing to help the family because of this mistake but Fannie Mae is not acknowledging the mistake and refuses to reconsider the case.

We want BofA to do more to help struggling borrowers and keep them in their homes. Bank of Americaʼs predatory practices have directly targeted and robbed communities of color. You can learn more about it here //theunityalliance.org/about/

Ahead of the event, the City of Charlotte invoked a draconian anti-free speech law for the day of the march in an attempt to intimidate the marchers. The law makes the possession of a permanent marker an arrestable offense.

The “Showdown in Charlotte” is part of a series of direct nonviolent actions taking place at corporate shareholder meetings this spring under the banner of the 99% Power coalition.

UNITY is a national grassroots movement for racial and economic justice that represents hundreds of thousands of poor and working-class people and communities of color.

UNITY is demanding an end to Bank of America’s fraudulent foreclosures, predatory lending, renewed redlining, violations of workers’ rights, dirty coal and mountaintop removal, and investment in prisons and immigrant detention centers.

99% Power protests are targeting corporations including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, GE, Verizon, Sallie Mae, Wal-Mart, and Verizon—directly challenging the 1% board members and executives whose actions have expanded inequality, threatened democracy, destroyed the environment, and driven countless Americans from their homes.

WHAT: UNITY/99% Power “Showdown in Charlotte” at BoA shareholder meeting

WHO: More than 1,000 grassroots leader from UNITY and 99% Power

WHEN: May 9, 2012, marches start 8:30am; “Bank vs. America” boxing match at 9:30am

WHERE: Housing Justice Now march: Bank of America, N. Tryon & 9th St.

Anti Coal Investment march: The Green, Tryon & Levine Ave of the Arts

Worker’s Rights march: Old City Hall, Davidson & 4th St

“Bank vs. America” boxing match at 930am: Trade & Tryon

WHY: To demand action for racial and economic justice from Bank of America