Rosemary Williams evicted on Friday
Photos and video by Sheila Regan.
Seven people were arrested at Rosemary Williams' home on Friday as the police raided her home, using pepper spray, according to a press release from the Poor People's Human Rights Campaign (PPHRC).
Rosemary Williams has been living on the same block near 32nd and Clinton for 55 years, but was foreclosed upon in March. Williams took GMAC to court, but lost, and after several failed negotiations, was ordered to leave by the Sheriff's department, who boarded the house last month. Hours after her house was boarded, Williams' supporters broke back into the house, and she has been living there since.
On Friday afternoon, Williams said she had been preparing for her grandson's birthday party when the police arrived. "They allowed me to get my stuff," Williams said. "I was in there for another two or three hours."
According to a post on TC Indy Media, three supporters of Williams were in the house when the police arrived at 2:45.
News of the cops' arrival spread quickly. "Arrests happening now at rosemarys" read one Twitter update from PeopleBailotMN, and "Go now", read another.
TC Indy Media reported that activists crossed the yellow tape roping off the house and were "promptly assaulted by the police with kicks and pepper spray."
After arresting seven people, the police watched over the house as GMAC contractors installed metal guards on all of the doors and windows to the house, according to MPD Deputy Chief Robert Allen.
"We've been planning this for a while," said Allen. "We chose this day because we had crew available." He said that the timing for the raid had to do with scheduling with GMAC. He also said "I wish it hadn't been on her grandson's birthday. We had no idea about that."
"They're putting military guards on my house," Williams said, "Metal all over my windows and doors... It's really a struggle for the mortgage company- GMAC and Lehman Brothers. They really don't want me to go back into my home. They want to make a political statement.
Allen said that while he sympathizes with Williams, "GMAC owns the property and they have a right to say who gets to be on the property."
Police allowed Williams enough time to gather her things, and brought a housing advocate from the Salvation Army, which Williams refused, according to Allen.
"It's not over yet," Williams said. "It's the second time I've been put out."
Both the MN Coalition for a People's Bailout and PPHRC plan to leaflet 7th Street and Hennepin Avenue today during Obama's address at the Target Center.
Sheila Regan (sheila@tcdailyplanet.net) is a Minneapolis theater artist and freelance writer.
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shame
"We've been planning this for a while," said Allen. "We chose this day because we had crew available."
Gee, it certainly doesn't happen to be convenient for the MPD that they chose a Friday afternoon, the day before Obama's speech and the day of the police funeral in North St. Paul, thus pushing the eviction down in the corporate news.
They still came out look like the bad guy, though, and I don't think anyone there was terribly sorry that some of the officers had to attend a funeral in the morning. They should've spent the day paying their respects instead of evicting a 50+-year block resident and beating up on her supporters.
shame --
Agreed. Not to mention it was 9-11. Disresptful but they are cops afterall. Enforcing their laws. They still didn't need to push people out of their owns.
Adding insult to injury
I was with Ms. Williams when the raid began. The police not only had the manager from Vacant Property Security, Inc to hand over the blood money check of $5,000 BUT a representative from the Salvation Army was there to help Ms. Williams find housing. Really, I looked around and stated she housing here. I believe I overheard the cop say, "she will have better housing." Really, how ludicrous! If the mortgage companies and banks actually help people stay in their homes, things would be better.
That house is in good condition and nice. Probably like some to most foreclosed homes. Now like all the rest, this house WILL BE VACANT. Subject to the elements that surround it. Now that block has another vacant house. Another family disappearing into the night and off the radar.
From the banks, mortgage companies TO law enforcement and politician, THEY ALL chose to ignore the problem. THEY ALL chose to add to the growing problem of homelessness. This is all a crime and needs to be stopped.
We all need to be apart of stopping foreclosures and evictions. If we all be apart of the movement WE all win.
Give me a break
I'm sorry that this woman lost her home, but give me a break. Why don't we just let everyone that get's foreclosed on keep living in their homes? Why is this person above it? This is what's wrong with American. No one takes responsibility for their actions. This person needs to pay for a place to live just like everyone else. She lived there 55 years...why hasn't she paid off her home yet? If you buy a home, you sign an agreement that you will pay the bank X amount each month, if you don't, you've broken a contract. If these "supporters" really want to help her, why don't they give her a place to live?
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