We had about 100 people or more in front of the Chicago office of Wells Fargo at Monroe and Franklin and we surrounded the building and the block with crime scene tape as we marched to demand justice for workers and our communities. We convened before noon; and our endeavor was blessed with a rousing prayer by Rev. Dr. Calvin Morris of the Community Renewal Society. Players in the street theatre scene portrayed the killing of the American dream by the business practices of "Bail Out bandit" Wells Fargo. Reverend Robin Hood and Pastor John Drummond of Clergy Committed to Community presided over the trial of Wells Fargo for crimes against the people along with members of unions and community organizations. Activists chanted "Banks Got Bailed Out, We Got Sold Out" and "Shame on You Wells Fargo" as they surrounded the block.

Folks were angry and determined to hold Wells Fargo and the other "Bail Out Bandits" accountable! In the year since we were forced to spend $800 billion bailing banks out, we have seen them turn around and use that money to deny financing to companies like the now-shuttered Quad Cities Die Casting, as they struggle to stay afloat in this recession. This is especially galling this recession was caused by these same banks with their greedy irresponsible lending and investing, " declared Rev. Robin Hood.

The main focus of the action was to demand justice for the UE members at Quad Cities Die Casting. UE Local 1174 filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board because workers are being denied Wells Fargo has denied payment of $200,00 in backpay and benefits owed to workers following the closure of the plant. The company informed employees that Wells Fargo, the bailed-out bank that had already cut off operating credit to the plant, would not approve the expenditure of owed vacation pay.
“Wells Fargo first ends financing, forcing our company to close, and now they won’t pay us what we are owed by law. To us, our vacation, insurance and wages mean everything to our families. But to Wells Fargo it's pennies, not even a blip in their billions. Yet they choose to cheat us out of what we have earned. And to think we helped them out when they needed it!” said Deb Johann, Local 1174 Recording Secretary.
The other main demand of community organizations is that Wells Fargo stop home foreclosure and tenant eviction from foreclosed rental properties and instead use our $25 billion dollar investment to invest in affordable, sustainable housing for working families. Wells Fargo currently has over 4,000 homes in foreclosure in Cook County. "These banks are destroying our communitites by putting people out of their homes, while they are also losing jobs and health care-this is exactly what the $800 billion dollar bailout was supposed to prevent!" said Holly Krig, Northside Action for Justice.

Chicago Jobs with Justice and Clergy Committed Community submitted a letter to Wells Fargo demanding a meeting with Wells Fargo to address how they are currently a "Roadblock to Recovery" and how they can promote a People's Economic Recovery: Jobs, Housing and Health Care. The company declined to accept the letter. Activists will reconvene at the convention of the American Banking Association on October 27th at 11:00 A.M. to demand action from the nation's banks to restore the American Dream to the hard-working men and women who have built this country. The fight continues...

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