POP action hits Bank of America, foreclosures

New Jersey pro9test targets bank foreclosures Photo: Jon Levine/POP

“Essex County has the highest rate of foreclosures in the entire East Coast,” said Larry Hamm, chair of the People’s Organization for Progress, at their first protest against foreclosures at Bank of America in downtown Newark on Oct. 24.

For two hours POP activists picketed and chanted, “Bail out the homeless! Bail out the homeowners, not the greedy!” Passersby stopped and listened intently as Hamm laid out the criminal actions of the banks and vowed to take the struggle to all the banks in Newark. Many people said they were coming to the next POP meeting.

POP issued a people’s solution to the mortgage crisis, demanding that current mortgage principals be reduced to the true (lower) value of the homes, with interest payments deferred until the principal is paid off. The campaign is supported by the Newark Teachers Association. For more information call 973-801-0001.