From Glass Bead Collective: Rosemary Williams and four other Minnesota women have decided to resist the foreclosure and eviction monster that's destroying our communities. People from the Twin Cities are helping these women defy eviction, the Hennepin County Sheriff, and the big banks that want to steal their homes. Produced by Twin Cities Indymedia http://tc.indymedia.org and the Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign http://economichumanrights.org
Thirty-five days into the popular occupation of 3138 Clinton, Rosemary Williams (one of five Minnesota women publicly resisting eviction - TCIMC/PPEHRC video) was inside her home when it was raided by the Minneapolis Police Department around 2:45pm Friday afternoon. Three supporters were inside. Police claimed they would give ample time to move out remaining belongings, and those inside did so, aided by several dozen who rallied to the scene.
But later in the afternoon, the MPD's plan for a quiet, obedient eviction was foiled. After rallying the crowd, a handful of activists crossed the yellow tape roping off Clinton Avenue on either side of the house and were promptly assaulted by the police with kicks and pepper spray. Other supporters crossed the now-removed yellow tape from the opposite direction to ensure the activists' safety. Officers responded aggressively; one shoved someone to the ground with a two-handed shove to the chest. A TC Indymedia volunteer was sprayed directly in the face while on the "public" side of the police tape.
Four or five people sat down in front of the house in an act of civil disobedience. An officer pointed to another man standing motionless with the crowd outside the police cordon, grabbed him and arrested him. Eventually, seven were taken waiting vans in the alley and arrested. An MPD spokesman said they were charged with obstruction of legal process, though they have not actually been formally charged as of tonight. This video (1:50) shows the police conduct during the civil disobedience.
Related video: Before the arrests
Upcoming: Saturday 10am Leaflet at 7th/Hennepin outside Obama event | Sunday 2pm Press conference outside Rosemary's house
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At the time of the raid, occupants of the house were preparing for a two-year-old's birthday party. The party was moved to a nearby home. MPD spokesman Jesse Garcia later lied in front of reporters by denying that the child's party had been disrupted.
Garcia was later heard saying into his cell phone what sounded like, "we look like the bad guy." Certainly, any prospect of the MPD appearing benevolent disappeared as afternoon turned into evening. Although one or two officers were reportedly helpful - as helpful as one can be while evicting a 55-year block resident - during the process, most were unsurprisingly rude with neighbors and supporters as well as disrespectful to Rosemary's belongings.
A man and woman from the MPD crime lab were inside the police lines, taking video and photo of activists. For a significant time they refused to identify themselves, but eventually gave their badge numbers after extended jeers from the crowd.
As police milled about, outraged activists and many immediate neighbors joined in chanting, "Who's house? Rosemary's house," "Housing is a human right! Eviction is a crime" and "Let Rosemary stay!"
The building was boarded - or, more accurately, the windows were sealed shut by unfamiliar sheets of durable metal - by workers from Vacant Property Security of Chicago, Illinois (where the Cook County Sheriff has boldly declared a moratorium on foreclosure evictions). The special materials are supposedly designed to make breaking in more difficult. They were also used on the second story windows; the city of Minneapolis typically only boards the first-floor windows of vacant buildings.
According to City Council member Elizabeth Glidden, who has offered tepid support for Rosemary throughout her struggle, private security has been hired by mortgage company GMAC to patrol the property, and the MPD will not pay it special attention. A man wearing a private security uniform arrived on the scene as police and protestors prepared to leave, and spoke with an officer. He refused to identify himself or his company, or say whether his company was the one hired to patrol.
Glidden said the police action "makes no sense," and was saddened by the scene Friday. She says she "scoured what she could do" and "tried to be a personal advocate for Rosemary," though some supporters have questioned her commitment to seeing Rosemary keep her home no matter the method. She refused to condemn the MPD, saying they were "caught in the middle." Notably absent from the scene of the raid, however, were any other seated politicians, including mayor RT Rybak.
A FOX 9 TV cameraman arrived, though other TV stations were notably absent. The day's corporate news was instead dominated by the 9/11 anniversary, a pending Barack Obama visit to Minneapolis, and the funeral of a North St. Paul police officer killed on Monday while responding to a domestic violence incident (the suspect was himself shot and killed by a fellow officer). Print, radio and independent media flocked to the scene, however, including a German reporter on assignment from the Washington Post who had been in Minneapolis to cover the occupation
Just before 5pm, Rosemary emerged for the first time from inside her house, holding a bouquet of flowers in the air to applause from the crowd, which began to chant, "It's not over yet!"
Soon thereafter the civil disobedience and arrests began. As the arrested activists - some going limp - were dragged to the alley away from the crowd and most media, many began call-and-response chants with the gathered suporters. Those who had been pepper sprayed directly had their eyes washed out with water. People berated the police for their rough treatment of the arrestees.
Ironically, the MPD dragged at least one arrestee through Rosemary's house, out of view, to the backyard to be loaded into the booking van.
Shortly after the action subsided, one officer's arm was being bandaged with what looked like a small blood stain soaking through.
Rosemary Williams was not one of those arrested.
Later, others were allowed to continue moving out some belongings. After a long wait, around 8pm, the workers finished boarding and drove away, followed by most police officers. When it was all done, a crowd of about three dozen still remained.
A Small Sampling of Overheard Professional Remarks from the Minneapolis Police Department:
Officer I. Raichert, pointing to a legal observers' cap (NLG legal observers have traditionally worn the green caps for years): "So, is that leftover from the RNC?"
Unknown officer leaning from second story window, to a supporter in a neighbor's yard: "If you don't get out of the yard, we'll put a 45mm in your face."
Unknown officer when asked about his badge while leaving: "I'll take it off and we can figure this out aruond back, if you want." He refused to give his badge number.
A south Minneapolis woman who had refused to leave her foreclosed home after being evicted last month has been removed from the house again.
More than 40 supporters of Rosemary Williams on Friday afternoon lined the yellow tape that police used to cordon off the property, chanting and yelling as workers boarded up the house with metal sheeting and friends helped Williams carry out boxes of personal items.
"It's not over yet," Williams told the crowd when she emerged from the house, smiling through tears as she held high a bouquet of flowers.
The largely peaceful rally briefly turned physical when several protesters crossed the tape, leading to a short scuffle during which police pepper-sprayed several people and arrested half a dozen.
Williams, 60, has fought a months-long battle against foreclosure, drawing wide attention to the house on the 3100 block of Clinton Avenue.
Friends and housing-rights activists have staged a round-the-clock sit-in with her at the house since Aug. 7, when Hennepin County sheriff's deputies ordered her to leave and changed the locks. Soon after they left, a group of Williams' supporters broke in and reopened the house.
On Friday, Williams and several others were in the house at about 2:30 p.m., eating lunch and getting ready for her 2-year-old grandson's birthday party, when they heard a knock on the door.
Outside stood Minneapolis Chief Deputy Rob Allen and more than a dozen police officers. "It's a sad situation," but the courts have ruled that GMAC Mortgage owns the house, Allen said. "The bottom line is that the property owners have a right to ask us to remove trespassers who don't belong on the property."
A case of bad timing
Police brought along a Salvation Army worker to help Williams find housing, but she declined assistance, Allen said.
Williams said Friday that she planned to go to a friend's house for the night and hold the interrupted party.
"The timing was bad. We didn't know she was planning a birthday party," said Allen, who said the police action had been scheduled in coordination with GMAC at a time when officers were available. "We feel bad about that."
Police arrested seven people at the house Friday; they were booked for misdemeanor offenses such as obstructing the legal process, he said.
Friday's crowd included Linda Norenberg, who said she is one of several metro-area women fighting foreclosure, just as Williams has. Norenberg said she was supposed to be out of her Robbinsdale home at the end of July. "I could be next. I don't know," she said.
Williams' troubles began after she took out an adjustable-rate mortgage. Her monthly payments rose from $1,200 to $2,200 when the rate increased. She lost her job and stopped making payments. As a result, the house, which she built with her mother 26 years ago, went into foreclosure and was sold at auction last fall.
Ordered to leave by March 30, she refused. The new owner, GMAC, went to court to have her evicted.
A GMAC spokeswoman, who could not be reached for comment late Friday, said earlier this summer that the company "tried to pursue every reasonable alternative" to keep Williams in her home.
GMAC has made several offers in the past few weeks that Williams has not accepted, according to Linden Gawboy, a volunteer with the Minnesota Coalition for a People's Bailout who had been staying at the house. At one point, the mortgage company offered her $5,000 to walk away. Later, they said she could rent the house for a year, Gawboy said.
Williams said a GMAC representative who came to the house with police on Friday gave her a check for $5,000 -- "blood money," Gawboy said.
"It would benefit them, it would benefit her, if they would just renegotiate a sensible mortgage," she said.
Williams said she handed the check to a coalition volunteer. "Why wouldn't they put that $5,000 on the mortgage?" she asked.
Minneapolis police officers removed Rosemary Williams from the home that she owned for nearly three decades on Friday afternoon. The 60-year-old grandmother had vowed to stay in the residence on the 3100 block of Clinton Avenue even after the home went into foreclosure and sheriff’s deputies evicted her from the premises last month. Williams almost immediately re-entered the property and continued to live there.
Her plight has become a rallying point for activists seeking a moratorium on foreclosures and more assistance for struggling homeowners. As Williams’ belongings were removed from the residence by supporters, at least 50 people gathered on the surrounding sidewalks. They chanted “Housing is a human right, eviction is a crime,” and “Not one more empty home, not one more homeless family.”
Photo: Paul Demko, Minnesota Independent
Shortly before 5 p.m. Williams peacefully departed the house carrying a few belongings. She ducked under the yellow crime tape that surrounded the street in front of her former home.
Photo: Paul Demko, Minnesota Independent
She was embraced by supporters who have kept a near constant vigil at her home in recent months.
Photo: Paul Demko, Minnesota Independent
Protesters then attempted to occupy the property and skirmished with police officers. Pepper spray was deployed to disperse the crowd.
Photo: Paul Demko, Minnesota Independent
About a half dozen protesters succeeded in planting themselves on the grass in front of Williams’ former home.
Photo: Paul Demko, Minnesota Independent
They were restrained with plastic handcuffs and arrested by the cops. At least one woman had to literally be carried away by the cops.
Photo: Paul Demko, Minnesota Independent
This woman continuously shouted “Who’s house? Rosemary’s house,” while she was being arrested.
By 6 p.m., seven protesters had been arrested, according to a release by the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign, which has supported Williams throughout the process.
Minneapolis — Police arrested seven people today outside the foreclosed home of Rosemary Williams, a Minneapolis woman who has publicly refused to leave the property for months.
About a dozen Minneapolis police officers arrived at the south Minneapolis home this afternoon, at the request of GMAC Mortgage, the legal owner of the property. A private company boarded up the house with bright metal sheeting, after officers allowed Williams and several supporters to remove personal belongings.
The arrests occurred after protesters broke through plastic police tape roping off the property and sat down on the sidewalk. Police sprayed the group with pepper spray as they broke through the tape.
The protesters will likely be charged with misdemeanors for obstructing the legal process, police officials said.
Williams' lengthy fight to remain in her house has inspired several local homeowners to remain in their homes despite eviction orders. Three women facing foreclosure arrived at the property today to show their support.
"What good is this?" said Linda Nurenberg, a Robbinsdale woman who has refused to leave the foreclosed home her father built in 1944. "Another vacant house, and of course I'm scared I could be next."
Nurenberg has a motion pending to fight eviction from her home. She said she attended a prayer vigil with Williams last night, and characterized Williams' mood as upbeat, and grateful for community support. Larger view Police board up Williams' home
About 50 supporters stayed at the property throughout the early evening, chanting, "Foreclose the banks, not people's homes. Let Rosemary stay."
Minneapolis police spokesperson Sgt. Jesse Garcia, who spent his morning at the funeral of slain North St. Paul police officer Richard Crittenden, said that the heavy metal materials used to board up the house were unusual. A vacant home across the street has been boarded up with simple wood slabs for months.
"They secured my house with military armament," Williams said.
Activists outside the house speculated that breaking through the metal barriers would be difficult, if not impossible. They declined to comment on whether more civil disobedience is planned.
Police officers plan to remain at the property at least overnight to prevent trespassing.
Williams has been fighting eviction for months. GMAC said in a statement that it has attempted to negotiate several arrangements that would have allowed Williams to remain in her home, but they all fell through.
Williams was ordered to leave her property on Aug. 7, when Hennepin County sheriff's deputies served the eviction notice and changed the locks on her house. But a group of her supporters broke the locks and have been occupying the home ever since, vowing to stay despite the order.
"We intend to protest this," said activist Mick Kelly this afternoon. "Our goal is to get justice for Rosemary, to allow Rosemary to stay in her home."
Williams accepted a $5,000 check from GMAC this afternoon, but has not yet decided whether to cash it. A GMAC spokesperson said the company provided the money to help Williams relocate to a new residence.
"Today's actions were very difficult, and a regrettable end to 18 months of seeking a solution with Ms. Williams, with local non-profits and with the mortgage investor to keep her in the home on Clinton Avenue," said GMAC officials in a statement. "Unfortunately, Ms. Williams was chronically unable to meet her payment commitments under the adjustable rate mortgage she originated with BNC Mortgage."
Williams, who recently started working as a home health care assistant, vowed to continue her fight to purchase the property. She also plans to hand out flyers protesting foreclosure at President Obama's rally in Minneapolis tomorrow.
But Friday night, Williams' concerns are more immediate. While she was trying to decide where to spend the night, she realized she left her antique sewing machine in the boarded up garage.
"Oh well, it happens," Williams said. "With everything that's been going on these last few months, you never know what to expect."
Six people were arrested today at Rosemary Williams home today during a raid by Minneapolis police. Police carried Rosemary's belongings onto her front lawn.
The police raid late this afternoon happened at the same time that a birthday party for Rosemary's young grandchild was to be held.
Rosemary and her family are among several members of the Minnesota PPEHRC who are actively resisting foreclosure of their homes in the Twin Cities.
Rosemary Williams' home is currently being raided by the Minneapolis Police Department. This is occurring as the Twin Cities prepares for President Obama's visit.
Although this raid is occurring late on a Friday afternoon on the anniversary of the September 11th attacks, we will not let them hide this crime.
The Foreclosure 5 in the Twin Cities will soon be taking their struggle to Washington D.C.
Please contact the offices of President Obama and Minneapolis Mayor Rybak demanding a Moratorium on Foreclosures Now!
For more information, call Minnesota PPEHRC at 612-940-1040 or Lynette Malles at 651-497-4644.
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