Minneapolis Sheriff's Sale Demonstration Moves Many To Tears

May 29, 2009
By Sheila Nelson, Minnesota PPEHRC

Another travesty occurred inside Minneapolis City Hall today, as Sheriff Rich Stanek's staff attempted to conduct the mortgage foreclosure auction of Leslie & Tecora Parks' southside homes of over 22 years.



However, this auction was not what the usual bidders (i.e. greedy banks & speculators) have come to expect!This particular sale was brought to the attention of the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, who drew a sobering number of supporters, neighbors, and fellow victims of the current national foreclosure crisis.  PPEHRC members choked back tears as they shared one bank horror story after another with the crowd. Their dreams are being shattered, their community is crumbling, and they're all spitting mad about it.

After PPEHRC members and supporters began obstructing the entry way and interfering with the "public" auction proceedings they were semi-civilly escorted to the hallway where the protest continued. The angry chants echoing through the halls quickly caught the attention of Minneapolis 8th Ward City Council Member Elizabeth Glidden who couldn't ignore the intense cries for change. She addressed those in attendance and empathized with the pain residents are going through.

As this battle between the big banks and their borrowers heats up, more and more "Davids" are coming forward demanding to know what all the "Goliaths" have done with the bailout money they received. "Why are good families being tossed inhumanely onto the streets? Everyone knows affordable housing is a theory, not something that actually exists." shouted one protester, while the Parks family stood by absorbing the enormity of it all and trying to adjust to the reality of what was happening a few yards away behind closed doors. Amid the tragic stories there was prayer, encouragement, and even some visible compassion on the part of the Sheriff's Deputies present - several of whom could not remain stoic as the stories and cries continued, proving that even the officials trying to serve "justice" are not immune to the problem!

Stay tuned for further updates, pictures and video footage of the demonstration.

Labels: Cheri Honkala, Foreclosure, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, Leslie Parks, Tecora Parks