Minneapolis, MN – About 40 supporters and neighbors of Rosemary Williams gathered at her home here, Aug. 18 to hear an update on the latest developments in the negotiations with her mortgage holder GMAC and plans for future actions.

“As negotiations with GMAC and Rosemary Williams continue, we are getting a peek into the dirty world of finance. Names mentioned so far include GMAC, MERS, the bankrupt Lehman Brothers and Aurora Loan Services. These corrupt financial institutions are all lining up to skim their dollars off a family’s misery and the downfall of our communities,” noted a statement from event organizers.

Rosemary Williams stated that she would the fight until she got her home back in her name. Mick Kelly, of the Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout, urged people to join the protest at the Mayors office that is scheduled for Aug. 19.

Since Aug. 7, hundreds of people have come out to support Rosemary Williams to save her family home. Williams has lived on the block for 55 years. She has spent a year speaking out against foreclosure and evictions on every level, always noting that she has not been fighting just for herself but others in the same situation.

On Aug. 7, Sheriffs came to the Williams house, forcing her and her family out. The house was quickly reopened and an around the clock sit-in has been taking place ever since.

#MinneapolisMN #News #MinnesotaPeoplesBailoutCoalition #Foreclosures #RosemaryWilliams #HousingStruggles #GMAC #Evictions

The vigil showed the growing support for Rosemary Williams in the face of her eviction last Friday after months of struggle. Within an hour of her eviction, community members and activists reclaimed her house. Williams and supporters have occupied the house since then, under threat of arrest, demanding that GMAC open negotiations with Williams so she can stay in her home.

The following talks by Rosemary Williams, and by Mick Kelly of the Minnesota Coalition for a People's Bailout were two of the contributions to Monday evening's prayer and candlelight vigil.

Rosemary Williams, August 10, 2009

Mick Kelly, MN Coalition for a People's Bailout, August 10, 2009

#MinneapolisMN #News #MinnesotaCoalitionForAPeoplesBailout #Foreclosures #RosemaryWilliams #HousingStruggles #GMAC #Evictions

They are making a stand for Rosemary to keep her home, and also speaking out for an end to all foreclosures and evictions, which are tearing apart neighborhoods and families around the country. They are demanding that GMAC immediately negotiate with Rosemary Williams so she can stay in her home.

As of Sunday, the round-the-clock sit-in at Rosemary's home at 3138 Clinton Ave S. in South Minneapolis, is now in its third day and is continuing. There has been an outpouring of support for Rosemary and her struggle from neighbors and the community in general.

The first video shows Rosemary Williams speaking at the Saturday press conference, and the second video has Mick Kelly of the Minnesota Coalition for a People's Bailout speaking at the press conference.

Rosemary William Speaks at press conference, August 8, 2009

Mick Kelly of the MN Coalition for a People's Bailout speaks at press conference, August 8, 2009

#MinneapolisMN #News #Foreclosures #RosemaryWilliams #HousingStruggles #GMAC

Minneapolis, MN – Rosemary Williams, a 55 year resident of Central Neighborhood, who has stood at the forefront of the fight against foreclosures, was evicted from her home on Friday August 7th.

One hour later, her home was reopened and an around-the-clock sit-in is now taking place.

There is a foreclosure crisis in the U.S.  While GMAC is busy foreclosing and evicting people from their homes, the CEO of GMAC raked in over $11 million for his role as the CEO in 2008.

Rosemary Williams, her neighbors and friends, are taking a stand for justice in our communities.

Call GMAC and tell them to come to the table and negotiate a fair and equitable solution that keeps Rosemary in her home.

Call the headquarters of GMAC and demand to speak to the CEO, Alvaro de Molina at 215-734-8899

Please join us in this vital campaign!

#MinneapolisMN #News #Foreclosures #RosemaryWilliams #HousingStruggles #GMAC

Minneapolis, MN – On Friday, July 31, at about 3:00 p.m., Rosemary Williams got word that the deal with Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation (GMHC) to buy her home fell through. This, after the drama of July 24, when shortly after a 24-hour eviction notice was served, she got word that GMHC was to purchase her home and arrange to lease it back to her. A week of relief and celebration and hope was capped off by Friday’s devastating news.

A statement for the Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout and the MN Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign states, “Rosemary is not giving up on trying to save her home, and the community is not giving up either. We are mobilizing community members, organizations and all those who want to fight the housing crisis to stand guard at Rosemary’s house and do whatever we can to stop the eviction.”

At an August 3 press conference Rosemary Williams stated that she was determined to continue the fight to keep her home. Mick Kelly, of the Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout said that the struggle had entered a new phase and that the time had come for the community to militantly defend Rosemary Williams’s right to remain in her own home.

Rosemary Williams is a 55-year resident of the Central Neighborhood in south Minneapolis. She has been fighting to save her home for almost a year now. After months of non-communication from the mortgage holders, an eviction was ordered this spring. Ms. Williams, along with dozens of community supporters, tried to use the courts to stop the eviction, only to find out that pursuing ‘justice’ would cost them $49,000. Meanwhile Rosemary has also been desperately trying to get financing to save her home, a process that takes time, especially in this economic and bank climate. Through it all, Ms. Williams makes it clear that she is standing up to inspire everyone to fight against these unjust foreclosures and evictions.

#MinneapolisMN #News #EconomicCrisis #Foreclosures #RosemaryWilliams #HousingStruggles #GMAC