|
Protesters Confront Schwarzenneger
Demand he "Terminate Foreclosures"
Occurred
February 10 - Initiated by Hermandad Mexicana Trans-Nacional
& IAC/Bail Out the People Movement and
submitted to MSfraud.org
for publication.
 Outside
of the state capitol during a press conference. On left, a
14-year old tells of her horrible experience during an eviction;
Right - Assembly Member Nava, who earlier pledged to urge
the governor to call for a state of emergency, addresses
activists and press.
Over
50 people, predominantly Latino/a and majority women, who have
either lost a home through foreclosure or are facing foreclosure,
took a bus up to Sacramento on February 10th to demand an
immediate response from the governor declaring a State of
Emergency in California. The governor's declaration is required
by the California Emergency Act whenever the safety and health
of a significant number of its residents are in jeopardy and the
local and state governments are ill equipped to deal with such a
crisis.
A letter was
presented to both State Assembly member Pedro Nava and to a
staff person for Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger.
 During
a packed meeting in Assembly chambers, after hearing testimonies
of the brutal nature of evictions due to foreclosure, (sometimes
at gunpoint aimed at children by Sheriffs) State Assembly member
Nava pledged he would sign on to a demand for the governor to
issue an immediate declaration of a State of Emergency.
No such
pledge was given from the governor to protesters lined up
outside of and knocking on his office doors. After about 20
minutes, realizing protesters weren't going anywhere in spite of
the growing police presence, a staff person came out to accept
the letter from protesters.
When Arnold
did finally come out of his office hours later to speak at an
unrelated press conference -- some of the activists who remained
waiting for him quickly began chanting "Terminate
Foreclosures."
While
not even flexing a muscle, he turned to the chanters, grimaced
and quickly fled without uttering "I'll be back."
*** |
