FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Doug Gordon, 202-822-5200
DATE: October 26, 2009
AFR Joins National Mobilization For Financial Reform;
To Participate in 5k + Rally In Chicago
Echo Events To Happen in NYC, Boston, Orlando,
Cincinnati, Wilmington, Indianapolis, Lansing and Missoula
As Congress continues to debate financial reform, and following the 100th bank failure this weekend, Americans for Financial Reform (AFR) will participate in the largest taxpayer mobilization since the economic crisis began. The main event will happen tomorrow in Chicago where more than five thousand Americans from 20 cities will converge on the American Bankers Association (ABA) conference to demand banks stop spending millions in taxpayer dollars to lobby against reforms that would protect Americans from the next economic crisis.
In addition to the “Showdown in Chicago”, Americans for Reform will hold echo events on Wall Street and in Boston, MA, Orlando, FL, Cincinnati, OH, Wilmington, DE, Indianapolis, IN, Lansing MI, and Missoula MT.
After taking $17.8 trillion in taxpayer bailouts and backstops, the ABA and the six largest banks have spent more than $35 million fighting Congressional action on financial reform. Meanwhile, ordinary Americans continue to face rising foreclosures, record unemployment, skyrocketing bank and credit card fees, and vanishing pensions and 401(k)s.
From New York to Missoula, ordinary Americans who have lost their jobs, their homes, and their life savings will be demanding banks end their overreliance on deceptive practices that gauge consumers and threaten/undermine the stability of our economy.”
Tomorrow’s events follow events that occurred on Sunday and Monday in Chicago hosted by National People’s Action.
For more information on the Chicago action, please contact Ray Quintanilla, (312) 505-7862.
For more information on the other events, please contact Doug Gordon, (202) 822-5200.
Visit www.SEIU.org, www.StopBankGreed,org, or www.ShowdownInChicago.org for more details.
Groups participating in the three days of mobilizations include: A New Way Forward, AFL-CIO, Action Now, Albany Park Neighborhood Council, Alliance to Develop Power (ADP), Americans for Fairness in Lending, Americans for Financial Reform, ARISE Chicago, Brighten Park Neighborhood Council, Central Illinois Organizing Project (CIOP), Center for Community Change (CCC), Change in Terms, Change to Win, Citizen Action, Chicago Coalition of the Homeless, Communities United for Action (CUFA), Community Voices Heard (CVH), Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), Grassroots Collaborative, Green Party of Nevada, Fuerza Laboral/Power of Workers, Illinois Hunger Coalition, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Jobs with Justice, Gender Just Metanoia Centers, Inc., Michigan People’s Action (MPA), MoveOn, National People’s Action, Northside Action for Justice, Northside POWER, Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition, People Organized for West Side Renewal (POWER), PUSH Buffalo, Right to the City Alliance, Rights for All People (RAP), Roomdad Productions, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), SEIU Illinois State Council, SOUL, South Austin Coalition Community Council (SACCC), Sunflower Community Action, Syracuse United Neighbors (SUN), Teach Our Children (TOC), The Grassroots Collaborate, UE, UCLA Undergraduate Students Association, Workers United, and Working In Neighborhoods (WIN)
###