Occupy invades Chase JP Morgan, stops another foreclosure
On the 4th of June, Occupy Our Homes staged a multi-pronged invasion of the loan modification office of JP Morgan Chase. One group, including retired DC EMT/Paramedic Deborah Harris walked into the office to demand that Chase and Freddie Mac cease and desist efforts to foreclose on her home. Another protested in the office, and a third contingent covered them by storming the lobby after marching over from Freddie Mac.
Video: The protests, civil disobediances and lobby invasion on June 4
Outside Freddie Mac
Inside the lobby of 1350 I st, where JP Morgan Chase has their loan modification office
Blockading the doors of 1350 I st
The arrival of the march and noisy entry to the lobby drew off security that otherwise might have engaged the folks upstairs. They had been inside for a while, but the diversion of security delayed removal of the office protesters for perhaps an hour. Their removal, in turn, delayed removal of Deborah’s support crew even longer, and protesters sat with their backs blocking the lobby doors as soon as the lobby protest was driven out.
The protests continued for hours, with police not making arrests at at least two separate civil disbediance actions. One person sat down in the lobby dressed as a “loan shark” and refused to leave until cops showed up from upstairs escorting other people out. Then the protesters blocking the doors ignored threats of arrest and called the police on their bluff. Evidently JP Morgan Chase did not want the adverse publicity of arrests.
Finally, at around 2PM, after all of Deborah Harris’s suppoprt had been escorted from the building, she emerged and stated that Chase JP Morgan had agreed to work with her to modify he mortage. This after Sallie Mae had told her earlier that Chase had been refusing to cooperate.
Deborah Harris worked for 23 years as a Paramedic EMT with the DC Fire Department, until an injury ended her career. Lost wages from that put her behind on her mortgage, and the thanks she got for 23 years of lifesaving service was a threat from JP Morgan Chase and Freddie Mac to foreclose on her home and toss her into the street!
Assuming that JP Morgan Chase and/or Sallie Mae don’t get the idea that Occupy won’t return in the event they go back on their word, this is the second success out of three attempts by Occupy our Homes in DC to bust a foreclosure!
