FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Advocates take advantage of Congressional recess to push for financial reform

Washington, DC – Over this Congressional recess, Americans for Financial Reform, made up of more than 250 national, state and local consumer, labor, investor, civil rights, community, small business and senior citizen organizations and its partners are urging Congress to move forward with real financial reform. In more than a dozen states, advocates, citizens and members of Congress will stand up to the big banks and demand that Wall Street be held accountable for the financial crisis that cost 7 million jobs.

EVENTS AHEAD

In Portland, ME, U.S. PIRG, Maine People’s Alliance and Maine Women’s Lobby will have a roundtable discussion with consumers and the state’s insurance commissioner as well as a representative from the Attorney General’s office on April 6.

In Salem, MA, MassPIRG will host a panel on April 6 with U.S. Representative John Tierney and students.

In Ozark, MO, State Voices, Missouri ProVote and MORE will stage a protest outside an event that U.S. Representative Blunt, who voted against financial reform, is speaking at on April 7.

At Notre Dame in Indiana, INPIRG, the American Legion and the Center for Social Concerns will hold a panel on April 8 on financial reform, highlighting problems experienced by military and small businesses in current system.

In Newark, NJ, NJPIRG and New Jersey Citizen Action will hold a panel at Rutgers to discuss financial reform on April 8.

In Little Rock, AR, Arkansas Community Organizations will be holding a town hall with faith-based and labor leaders to draw attention to predatory lending victims onApril 8.

In Cranston, RI, RIPIRG and Ocean State Action will host a panel featuring James Kwak from the Baseline Scenario blog, Matt Taibbi from Rolling Stonemagazine, and Attorney General Patrick Lynch on the week of April 12.

In Seattle, WA, WCAN and OUR Washington will host a protest at a bank highlighting the need for financial reform on April 13.

In Chicago, IL, Citizen Action Illinois, Illinois PIRG, the AFL-CIO, the Woodstock Institute and Jobs with Justice will host Attorney General Lisa Madigan for a business roundtable on April 15.

In Virginia Beach, VA, the Virginia Poverty Law Center and State Voices will host a roundtable focused on how the financial crisis has impacted military families.

EVENTS OCCURRED

In Denver, CO, Jobs with Justice, the AFL-CIO and CoPIRG held a town hall on March 31 with Sen. Mike Bennet.

Denver Daily News: Putting a face to financial reform

In Missoula, MT, the AFL-CIO and Main Street Alliance rallied outside Wells Fargo bank to draw attention to financial regulatory reform.

In Tampa, FL, the National Council of La Raza hosted a home rescue fair with counselors, servicers for those facing foreclosure on March 27.