April 20, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: 920-921-3188 / 414-395-0665
http://www.facebook.com/Occupy.Fond.du.Lac
FOND DU LAC – A Stop Foreclosures and Evictions teach-in will be held at the Fond du Lac Public Library, 32 Sheboygan Street, in the McLane Room on Thursday, May 3 from 6 to 8 pm. The event, sponsored by Occupy Fon du Lac, is free and open to the public.
Two speakers will explain homeowners’ rights in the foreclosure process, give practical tips for confronting the banks and managing foreclosures and explain the demand for a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions. Families who are facing foreclosure are invited to share their stories and join the movement to stop foreclosures and evictions.
“Wisconsin, as in many other states, is suffering the worst housing crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930’s. The banks-through illegal foreclosures and evictions-are destroying poor and working people’s neighborhoods and communities throughout Wisconsin and nationwide. We need an immediate moratorium on foreclosures and evictions,” said Bryan G. Pfeifer, of the Wisconsin Bail Out The People Movement (wibailoutpeople.org) and one of the presenters May 3.
Pfeifer will talk about several campaigns he has helped organize with local Occupy groups and the Moratorium NOW! Coalition in Detroit (moratorium-mi.org) which have stopped bank foreclosures with labor, community, student and faith-based direct action and legal support.
Scott Rodman, a local Fond du Lac attorney specializing in bankruptcy law, will give a presentation about confronting foreclosure and explain the foreclosure process.
“From my experience,” Rodman said, “some homeowners don’t even know they are in foreclosure until months later, and may learn about it from mail or phone solicitations offering legal of other assistance related to the foreclosure.”
“It is common to see property owners abandoning their homes upon learning about a foreclosure lawsuit. There are many laws in Wisconsin governing foreclosure which provides a 6 or 12 month redemption period in which the homeowner may remain in the home while the foreclosure process winds through the courts,” said Rodman.
The Occupy movement began Sept. 17 2011as “Occupy Wall Street” in New York City focusing on social justice issues and from which the concept of the 99% and the 1% evolved. The Occupy movement has spread across the country reaching as many as 70 cities by spring 2012. In Wisconsin local groups have sprung throughout the state in Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton, Green Bay, Eau Claire, Oshkosh and other cities (occupywi.org). Many social justice issues have been advocated by Occupy groups nationwide. Recently foreclosure has become a central issue with groups such as Occupy Our Homes (occupyourhomes.org).
NOTE: The first Occupy WI statewide General Assembly is May 5 in Fond du Lac at Veteran’s Memorial Park. For more information: http://occupywi.org/ai1ec_event/firts-state-event/?instance_id=17791.
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Wisconsin Bail Out the People Movement 
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