Minnesotans target big banks in 99% Week of Action

logo for 99% Week of ActionFriday’s march and rally begin at 2 p.m. at Peavey Plaza, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis. Activities will include “Move Your Money Day” as community members close their accounts in protest of the big bank practices.

Organizers said the goals of the Week of Action are to “peacefully persuade US Bank, Wells Fargo and other major corporations to take responsible action to end the foreclosure crisis, create meaningful opportunity for the communities hardest hit by the economic downturn, pay their fair share of taxes, stop interfering in our democracy, respect immigrant communities and end predatory financial practices.”

Faith leaders from ISAIAH and Jewish Community Action kicked off the Week of Action with a demonstration Monday outside US Bank headquarters in Minneapolis. They described how practices by Wall Street and major banks violate their shared faith values.

Following the kickoff, volunteers knock on the doors of 200 families facing US Bank and Wells Fargo foreclosures to educate homeowners on a state law allowing them to delay sheriff’s sales by five months.

Also on Monday, SEIU Local 284, a statewide organization of school staff, issued a new report titled “I.O.U How Wells Fargo and US Bank Have Shortchanged the Schools.” Local 284 members are raising the issue of responsible banking policies in negotiations with school districts in Westonka, Minnetonka, St. Cloud and elsewhere.

Other activities in the Week of Action include:

Tuesday
9 a.m. Groups including Common Cause, Public Citizen and Minnesotans for a Fair Economy will rally to ask shareholders attending the 3M shareholders meeting to “Get corporate money out of our democracy!”

5 p.m. Neighborhoods Organizing for Change and other organizations will testify to thank the Minneapolis School Board for issuing an RFP for banking services and call for responsible banking policy.

Thursday
3:30 p.m. SEIU Health Care Minnesota members will rally outside the Riverside Wells Fargo branch to ask Fairview Hospital to remove Wells Fargo executives from its board.

Saturday
9 a.m. Community Accountability Forum
Our Future MN will hold a community forum at Rasmussen College, 3500 Federal Drive, Eagan, to highlight the impact that legislative choices are having on Minnesota schools and middle class families, asking invited legislators to raise fair revenue by closing corporate tax loopholes and raising taxes on the richest Minnesotans.

Groups organizing events during the Week of Action include ISAIAH, Jewish Community Action (JCA), CTUL, Minnesotans for a Fair Economy (MFE), TakeAction Minnesota, Neighborhoods Organizing for Change (NOC), SEIU, UFCW 1189, the Minnesota AFL-CIO, Our Future Minnesota, and Common Cause.

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