Boston’s 99% Movement Gets Personal: Protesters Gather for an Eviction Blockade at the Home of a Malden Resident

For many passersby, Boston’s 99% movement protesters perhaps appear as nameless, faceless individuals. While we know that many of these protesters are unemployed and that most are dissatisfied with the actions of big banks and corporations, we know little about who these people actually are.

Rose Kyeswa was one of the 24 protesters arrested at the Bank of America march and sit-in that took place on September 30^th. She was there to protest the foreclosure of her Malden home, which Bank of America sold to Fannie Mae in 2010.

After initially purchasing her Malden property in 2004, Kyeswa made regular, on-time loan payments to the bank. But after losing a second job in 2008, she ran into financial trouble and was denied a re-modification of her home loan.

Kyeswa now has a new job and has her finances back on track. But despite being in the process of working towards a new mortgage with Boston Community Capital and offering to pay rent in the meantime, Kyeswa was evicted on October 17^th.

Members of the 99% movement didn’t let the eviction go down without a fight.

“About 50 people came out to support Rose, they were rallying outside and making phone calls to the banks and bank lawyers,” Dominic DeSiata told New England Post. DeSiata is a spokesperson for City Life Vida Urbana and was responsible for organizing the eviction blockade. Members of Occupy Boston and MassUniting were amongst those who showed up to lend support to the City Life campaign.

According to DeSiata, the blockade was – for the most part – a peaceful event. There were no arrests and participants were  “chanting and singing, happy to be together but angered by the situation.”

Ultimately, however, the goal of the blockade failed: supporters were unable to work out a deal with Fannie Mae and Kyeswa was evicted from her Malden home. DeSiata expressed disappointment with the way the police handled things.

“The blockade was tense toward the end, the constable illegally entered the home without serving the eviction notice,” DeSiata told New England Post. “There was no indication that the eviction was going to be carried out at that moment. The police were supposed to give us more time to negotiate with the bank; they were going to let us know.”

According to DeSiata, the constable pushed past blockaders and forced his way into the house.

“The movers had already gotten in. One posed as a protester and then let the others in the back door,” DeSiata told New England Post. “This was all carried out under the direction of Malden Police Captain, Thomas Swanson.”

DeSiata and his supporters will continue to work towards helping Kyeswa repurchase her home. “We’re determined to hold Fannie Mae accountable,” DeSiata said.

Related posts:

1. Occupy Boston Protesters Hold Their Ground Despite 100 Arrests
2. Occupy Boston Protesters Undaunted by Arrests; Plans to Extend Protest into the Winter
3. Boston Police Arrest 50 from Occupy Boston
4. Occupy Boston Protest Begins to Solidify into an Organized Movement
5. Occupy Boston: The Evolving Urban Legend of Violent Anarchists vs. Brutal Boston Police

Short URL: http://www.newenglandpost.com/?p=5926

Posted by erik devaney on Oct 18 2011. Filed under Featured - For home page featured article, General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry