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We are the 99 percent

Five Arrested As Occupiers in MN Successfully Defend Home from Second Eviction Attempt

Posted 11 years ago on May 25, 2012, 12:04 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

occupy homes mpls

via Occupy Homes Minnesota:

Platoons of sheriffs descended on the Cruz family home in a 4 am raid today, arresting five nonviolent supporters in the second failed eviction attempt in 48 hours. Fifty protesters mobilized to defend the home and outflanked the sheriffs by marching through the alley into backyard, causing the sheriffs to retreat without fully securing the home. Members of Occupy Homes MN remain inside the home as of 7 am this morning.

“An army of sheriffs marched in military-style and busted down the door in the dead of night,” said Ben Egerman, an organizer with Occupy Homes MN. “It’s unconscionable that Sheriff Stanek ordered the violent eviction of this home a second time, especially when he is fully aware of active negotiations between the family and the bank to resolve the situation peacefully.”

Several protesters, who had locked themselves to structures in and around the home, sustained minor injuries as sheriffs forcibly removed them from the balcony and roof with jackhammers and electric saws. The condition of arrested persons remains unknown.

Occupy Homes MN has been defending the home in a round-the-clock eviction blockade since April 30 to demand PNC Bank negotiate with the Cruz family, who fell into foreclosure when the bank failed to withdraw their online payment.

The second eviction attempt came hours after Occupy Pittsburgh delivered a giant letter to PNC Bank Executive Vice President Dan Taylor, who committed to working with the family to modify their loan.

“It’s clear that Sheriff Stanek would rather kick families out of their homes than work with our communities,” said Martha Ockenfels-Martinez of Occupy Homes. “We’re still here and we will not be moved from this home until we see a good faith negotiation.”

UPDATE: Community members will hold an emergency 12:00pm press conference and march on Sheriff Stanek's office from the steps of City Hall to denounce him for authorizing the violent eviction of the home while the family is in active negotiations with the bank to peacefully resolve the situation. They will demand he stop trying to evict the home while the bank is working to resolve the issue.

UPDATE: Sheriffs have said they will hold the arrestees until TUESDAY. Call sheriff Stanek to demand they release them IMMEDIATELY. Ask him why his deputies are evicting a family negotiating with the bank and to demand he stop these senseless attacks on our community. (612)348-3744

30 Comments

30 Comments


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[-] 2 points by Camdoc (2) 11 years ago

PLEASE see www.setoffdebt.com for much information about how to stop illegal actions of police/sheriffs in home evictions, and also how to SET OFF THE DEBT on the home for practically NO MONEY!!! Please also be aware that ANY POLICE ACTION WITHOUT A SIGNED WARRANT, signed by a judge, AFTER A CONSTITUTIONAL TRIAL, is ILLEGAL, and all involved parties can and should be held personally responsible for theft, fraud, and other crimes! Do the Sheriffs have a signed warrant? I suspect that they do not!

[-] 2 points by thezenturtle (2) 11 years ago

I just called and was forwarded to 911 because his office is closed till Tuesday at 8AM....BOOO!!

[-] 2 points by PandoraK (1678) 11 years ago

I'm thinking that taking on Minnesotans isn't the best idea for even a Minnesota based sheriff...after all, Minnesotans laugh at -40 temperatures, play in -50 degree temperatures, and for at least a couple months a year not only walk on water, but drive on it.

Humor aside, it looks like the Sheriff Dept will be paying for reparations to this family and that the bank or someone dropped the proverbial ball, given that the bank is currently in negotiations with the family and from the original post it appears the default was the bank's error not the home owner.

[-] 2 points by Odin (583) 11 years ago

Go Occupy MN. If you keep this up., I may have to become a Vikings fan.

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

That's something else aint it? Funny thing is it hasn't made it onto the local news. Yeah assholes are every where many seem to be in uniform. Thank God for the people who will stand up for their neighbors.

[-] 0 points by Odin (583) 11 years ago

It is that sense of community that we must build on DK. We all must do our part for those that are suffering most from this corrupt system. As I have said before, if we want to build a better world, we must start here. And that especially includes the people out there in the streets making the biggest sacrifices.

I am missing the OTS gathering tonight in NYC. They are celebrating a returning member of the group that went to Montreal to support the people there, and got arrested. Like i said in another post, almost everyone emailed him their support already, and I promised to buy two pitchers of beer the next time we gather for the sacrifice he made up there in Canada, and I am a teatotaler now. lol

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[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Your a good man. And those are good people. Enjoy your club soda and more importantly the company.

[-] -1 points by Odin (583) 11 years ago

Thanks DK. Yes they are wonderful people, and I admire them all so much for their dedication and sacrifices. I always feel renewed in spirit after being with them. I think i may be getting the nickname 'gramps' soon, but I will proudly answer to it. lol

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

As the saying goes you can not choose the family you are born into, but you can choose your extended family. Sounds like you have a good extended family happening - Gumpa-Tor. {:-])

[-] 0 points by Odin (583) 11 years ago

Yes I do. I feel very protective of them, and it probably shows in my comments here to those that like to unwarrantly criticize the young people in OWS. Odin is the father of Thor as you know, and he had two sons, Magni and Modi. I do think I would have chosen better names though. lol

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

LOL - my bad. Gumpa-one-eye. I would hope you would have better taste in choosing names. None of that moon-unit crap either.

[-] 0 points by Odin (583) 11 years ago

What? You are not a Frank Zappa fan. I'm disappointed in you DK. :-)

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

AhHahaha some of the music not the naming of children though - nope not the naming of the children. {:-D

[-] -1 points by Odin (583) 11 years ago

That's it.

[-] 0 points by shoozTroll (17632) 11 years ago

Don't look at me. I'm wearing a Barking Pumpkin T-shirt as I type.

"Ain't No Way To Delay That Trouble Comin' Every Day"

[-] 0 points by Odin (583) 11 years ago

Good boy. lol You will never grow old in spirit as long as you remain a Frank Zappa fan, 'son.' I'm going to Montanna after this is over to become a dental floss tycoon. What...no link? lol

[-] 1 points by shoozTroll (17632) 11 years ago

I got an urge to go play with my flowers.......:)

Here's a recent visual interpretation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIDN1_Hg7bw

[-] 1 points by Odin (583) 11 years ago

I'm impressed. That song/visual was very appropiate for this fucked-up occasion. ;-)

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[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Thank you.

That's a compliment coming from the likes of you - sock puppet.

Do your masters take good care of you? Blind marching you must run into a lot of walls and stuff. Do they provide you with medical coverage to take care of your boo-boos?

Or are you truly a self employed Blind Marcher?


[-] 0 points by 3055551212 (13) 6 minutes ago

You are not:

http://occupywallst.org/forum/redux-j-proof-that-this-forum-is-infested-by-pro-r/ ↥twinkle ↧stinkle reply permalink

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[-] 3 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Gosh you must have been absolutely bored waiting for me to log on this morning. Just look at you all frisky and prancing about. You must really hate it when I'm not here.

Gosh do all blind marching supporters of the greedy corrupt white collar criminals of the status-quo develop such intense crushes?


[-] -1 points by 3055551212 (13) 6 minutes ago

Why does jart support the idea of changing OWS into yet another Obama front?

http://occupywallst.org/forum/why-does-jart-support-the-idea-of-changing-ows-int/ ↥twinkle ↧stinkle reply permalink

[-] 3 points by beautifulworld (23767) 11 years ago

LOL!

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Good morning Beautiful - glad I could help start you day with a good chuckle. Goes good with coffee and a bagel. {:-])

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[-] 1 points by jimmycrackerson (940) from Blackfoot, ID 11 years ago

“It’s unconscionable that Sheriff Stanek ordered the violent eviction of this home a second time, especially when he is fully aware of active negotiations between the family and the bank to resolve the situation peacefully.”

"...sheriffs forcibly removed them from the balcony and roof with jackhammers and electric saws."

I guess that's what happens when police don't have anything better to do.

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[-] 0 points by tupacsugar (-136) 11 years ago

Only now 5 arrested?.....bummer. Foreclosures suck and people need homes stand with the 99%.

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[-] -1 points by Redic (-2) 11 years ago

I think the fact that the people are not currently making payments for the home means that they do not have a right to live there. If I just stopped paying my mortgage and told the bank to rework the loan that I already agreed to they would say "too bad" and I would have to accept that, because I had already agreed upon a set of loan terms. If they changes those loan terms for an individual they show a lack of integrity in their business plan. I would not invest in a financial institution like that.

[-] 2 points by francismjenkins (3713) 11 years ago

Like you even have money to invest in anything swampy? :)

[-] -2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

I believe you must have missed the part stating that the bank failed to take the payment.

[-] -1 points by lybia05 (-2) 11 years ago

Your comment adds nothing to this dialog. Go away, DKAtoday.

[-] 1 points by francismjenkins (3713) 11 years ago

Is Lybia your name, or did you actually manage to misspell Libya? :)

[-] -3 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

To the tune of the Beach Boys song - Beach Baby.

Oh sock puppet sock puppet give them your hand ...give them something the corrupt can depend on..............

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