Hey banks, you’re no good

Sure seems like these bankers are a little nervous these days. I wonder why? In the meantime, I’m enjoying the show as activists put their creativity into their actions:

Today in Chicago, 40 activists dressed as Robin Hoods kayaked down the Chicago River while several hundred more protesters rallied outside a hotel to deliver a message to the Mortgage Banksters attending a national conference inside: It’s time for big banks to Pay US Back!

The Mortgage Bankers Association is one of the most powerful lobbying organizations for the big banks and they represent the mortgage arms/tentacles of the BIG 4–Wells Fargo (who happens to be sponsoring the conference), Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup–as well as numerous independent mortgage companies that created the housing bubble and blew up the economy in 2008.

One of the MBA claim’s to fame is defeating Judicial Loan Modifications – a piece of legislation that Congress was attempting to pass in order to help millions of homeowners who had fallen victim to the housing crisis. Under the current law, if you only have one home you can’t declare bankruptcy and have a judge renegotiate your debts. But if you own two homes, or a boat, you can. This is unfair and biased against working and middle class families that don’t have boats, airplanes and homes in the Hamptons. Chicago has been hardest hit by foreclosures, mostly due to the MBA blocking this legislation.

Today, the MBA held a conference in a downtown Chicago hotel.

While 600 protesters rallied and chanted outside the hotel, a team of 40 kayakers dressed like Robin Hood paddled down the Chicago River and anchored outside of the hotel chanting “We Are the 99%!” for 30 minutes while another team of activists dropped a banner from the DuSable Bridge at Michigan Avenue.

Inside the mortgage bankster meeting, a fourth team of activists were embedded in the audience, ready to interrupt the banksters’ plenary conference. Two activists were able to interrupt the discussion panel before the banksters shut down the meeting entirely to avoid further interruptions.

‘Welcome’

Naomi Klein:

“Why are they protesting?” ask the baffled pundits on TV. Meanwhile, the rest of the world asks: “What took you so long?” “We’ve been wondering when you were going to show up.” And most of all: “Welcome.”

Occupy Chicago

Oh, come on. When was the last time a congressman asked a question like that?

Police arrested 26 demonstrators, many wearing Chicago Teachers Union T-shirts, who linked arms and sat down in Monroe Street as they chanted “Save our schools, save our homes!” They were ticketed and released. Another demonstrator was arrested and faces a charge of battery on a police officer.

Nearby, a crowd chanted “Shame on you!” to members of the Futures Industry Association who peered out from a balcony of the Chicago Art Institute, where they attended a party.

Several protesters paid $2,245 per badge to gain admission to the Mortgage Bankers Association event, organizers said.

One protester, dressed in a suit, got to a microphone during a panel discussion and asked Michael Heid, president of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, a top national mortgage lender: “How do you sleep at night?”

The man asked Heid how could he even visit the Chicago area since so many been affected by foreclosures locally.

Heid answered that he felt like he was before a congressional panel with such a tough line of questioning.

Mass beatings, arrests at #OccupyBoston

Watch live streaming video from occupyboston at livestream.com

UPDATE: Boston PD beat and arrested the Vets for Peace who tried to protect the protesters. Mass arrests made, tents and sleeping bags thrown into waiting garbage trucks.

After a massive march through downtown Boston today, the Occupy Boston site predicted trouble tonight and it looks like they were right:

Police are gathering in mass to remove Occupy Boston campers from the North Camp expansion and possibly from the Main Camp tonight at midnight, by force if necessary. We are calling for all able-bodied volunteers to come lock arms with us in solidarity and defend this Occupation from any police presence that may arrive.

IF YOU LIVE IN BOSTON: The mayor’s line needs to hear from you – be ready with the street name of “your” Boston address: 617.635.4500 … When you get the recording hold or press “0”.

Via Twitter, @OccupyBoston reports that protestors have locked arms to protect the camp. Close to midnight, they tweeted:

We overheard the police are telling reporters to leave the inside of the camp – that it’s not safe. We have reports that the riot police are continuing to assemble and have batons. Swat team putting on riot gear on High St. Join us now!

Later:

Cops in riot gear with lots of plastic cuffs ready to use staging on High St.

@ProtestChaplain has an ominous report:

city EMTs have set up a tent for dealing with the aftermath.

Veterans for Peace are saying they will place themselves between the police and the protesters.

The Boston Police department delivered a statement to be read in the main camp, saying they intend to clear the camp on unlawful assembly grounds.

Meanwhile, in Georgia, #OccupyAtlanta protesters at Woodruff Park refusing to leave after being told to go by Atlanta police. Earlier today, Occupy Atlanta released this statement:

Participants in Occupy Atlanta met with Chief Turner and his staff today and were warned that the police intended to enforce the city ordinances against camping and against being in the park after 11 pm.
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Here in the “city too busy to hate,” the city where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born, attended college, and preached, we come to speak our own dreams.

We believe that the American political process is so corrupted by the influx of lobbyists, “free speech” corporate cash, and politicians beholden to both that it has failed us completely.

Our only option left is to occupy public spaces in order to assert our right to freely assemble and to redress our grievances, rights guaranteed to us by the First Amendment. Exerting that right has ironically become an act of civil disobedience, a fact which points out exactly what the problem really is. We owe no obedience to laws which abridge our Constitutional rights.

We need as many people to come down to Woodruff Park ASAP!

To hell with that Constitution thingie. Everyone knows it’s only for gun-toting right wingers.