CASE DISMISSED! But we still need to seal the deal…
Over the summer, we wrote about an unjust eviction proceeding in Ferndale, Michigan. Bank of America was trying to evict a family of four, the Acheampongs, even though he was approved for a loan modification, and made all required payments towards it (and two more). In fact, after Bank of America stopped accepting this family's payments, they continued paying into escrow for over two years.
Well, we have some good news to share: the eviction action has now been dismissed! Mr. Acheampong does not have to worry about leaving his family home and kids having to go to another school…for now.
But we need your help to seal the deal. Bank of America and Bank of New York Mellon could begin the eviction process all over again. They need to finish this up, by modifying the Acheampong's loan.
Want to help? Here's how:
Call Bank of America at 1-877-877-2670 Tell them: “Bank of America must sell Andrews Acheapong (pronounced “Ack-e-om-pong”) his home for its real value or modify and reinstate his mortgage to keep him in his home. The home is at 10707 North Oak Drive, Ferndale MI.”
Call Bank of New York Mellon 1-800-269-6776 (wait through the recording and leave a message). Tell them: “You must fulfill your responsibility as a Trustee. You must tell Bank of America to sell Mr. Ack-e-om-pong his house for its real value, or modify and reinstate his mortgage to keep him in his home. If you do not do so, you are failing your investors.”
Tweet at @BofA_Help and tell them to modify the Acheompong family's loan!
The world's biggest Climate March is about to hit New York City, and in the lead-up to it, we’re trying to make Big Oil’s treachery a big news story. And we’re hoping that you can help us.
Here’s the deal: we have ads running in fifty subway stations across New York City. The ads have a simple message: Exxon Hates the World.
We need YOUR HELP to make sure this message hits the news, too.
Look for our ads the next time you’re on the subway. When you see one, take a selfie with it, and tag it on social media using the hashtag #ExxonHates!
Here's one of our ads out in the wild, at the 86th St A/C stop on the downtown platform:
We want to flood social media with the truth about Big Oil, and make it a story so big, the media can’t ignore it.
So please—when you’re taking the subway, look out for our ads, and when you see one, take a selfie & tag it with #ExxonHates on your favorite social media platform!
Ferguson: Amid Media Suppression & Teargas, People are Organizing
Lost to the media narrative is the peaceful organizing happening in Ferguson. Many groups are there on the ground, and many could use support.
Where to Donate to Support Organizing, Bail Funds & Legal Defense for Protestors in Ferguson:
Giving opportunities have been compiled at: http://bit.ly/FergusonGivingOptions:
“Direct Service/Family Support
If you’re looking to support immediate human needs, there are ONLY TWO CONFIRMED ways to support Michael Brown’s family (confirmed with the family’s representatives). You can give online or donations can be mailed to Fifth Third Bank (all other online campaigns are unauthorized or scams). There is also a campaign to raise money for the Ferguson food bank to help kids who may not get fed because they’re out of school and missing the school breakfast/lunch programs.
Local Organizing Efforts
If you want to support organizing in the area, Organization for Black Struggle is based in Ferguson and they're raising money now for another organizer as they're overwhelmed responding to everything.
There is also a bail/legal fund to support protesters being targeted by police, MORE (Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment) is stepping up their support of those who have been jailed, and there is a newly formed league of young organizers being coordinated by Young Activists United St. Louis.”
At least eleven journalists have been arrested so far, according to a count by the Freedom of the Press Foundation.
One of the arrested journalists, Ryan Devereaux, recounted the experience to The Intercept:
“With rifles trained on us, we turned right on Highmunt Dr., in the direction of W. Florissant and toward another police vehicle, which had more guns pointed at us. As we made our way forward, I heard a pop and felt a stinging in my lower back. I jumped up instinctively, and realized that the officers behind us, the ones who had asked us to move forward, had shot us with what I believe were rubber bullets. I was hit once and Hermsmeier was hit twice.
The shooting left a mean bruise, but all the guns trained on us provided an ample distraction from the sting. We were frightened. The police, who made no verbal commands that we had heard, had clearly demonstrated their willingness to shoot us.”
The same teargas in use in Ferguson has been used in the West Bank
Yes! Magazine:
“the same Pennsylvania-based company, Combined Tactical Systems, whose tear gas and other crowd control products are used in the West Bank (most recently at a demonstration near the military prison known as Ofer), are now being used in Ferguson.
Made in USA teargas canister was shot at us a few days ago in #Palestine by Israel, now they are used in #Ferguson. pic.twitter.com/y3co6DMFM6
— مريم البرغوثي (@MariamBarghouti)
August 14, 2014
The Guardian’s Jon Swaine tweeted a photo of an undetonated “mini bang” tactical grenade found in Ferguson, which was made by Combined Tactical Systems:
Found what seems to be an undetonated "mini bang" cracker on W Florissant pic.twitter.com/iWHq6TyK9y
— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine)
August 14, 2014
Multimedia journalist Joanne Stocker (@sabzbrach) and activist Robin Jacks ( @caulkthewagon) have been compiling photos of the tear gas and other weaponry used in Ferguson, documenting the models and manufacturers on a public spreadsheet, as well as noting deaths due to tear gas worldwide.”
Last week, we told you about Bank of America's attempts to evict the Acheampong family, even though they made all the trial payments Bank of America request for a loan modification. This is the same bank a New York judge just ordered to pay $1.27 billion for a fraud they themselves called the "Hustle."
But, despite Bank of America's history of maligning both investors and homeowners alike, there is a small bright spot: Bank of America has reached out to Andrews Acheampong and has agreed to adjourn his next eviction hearing to "further examine the case."
This is an important victory, but we're not done. It's important to keep the pressure on Bank of America until it's clear that the Acheampong will be treated fairly and can remain in their home.
Help us keep the pressure on Bank of America, and their CEO Brian Moynihan, to do the right thing:
1. CALL Bank of America at 1-877-877-2670 and Bank of New York Mellon at 1-800-269-6776 (wait through the recording & leave a message) to demand that they sell Andrews Acheampong (pronounced “Ack-e-om-pong”) his home for its real value or modify and reinstate his mortgage to keep him in his home at 10707 North Oak Drive in Ferndale, Michigan 48220.
2. SIGN the Petition http://start2.occupyourhomes.org/petitions/stop-bank-america-from-evicting-a-family-of-4#sthash.5J95Je0G.dpuf
3. FORWARD widely and get at least one other person to take action. Together we can make a difference.
4. RALLY. If you are in the Detroit area come to rally in front of Andrews' home, this Saturday, August 2, 2014, 12 noon at 10707 North Oak Dr, Ferndale, MI and march to the local Bank of America Branch.
For more information, please see Detroit Eviction Defense.
This Homeowner Did Everything Right. Bank of America is Still Trying to Foreclose
Bank of America is trying to evict a homeowner who did everything right. Don't let them.
Mr. Andrews Acheampong is married & raising two small children in Ferndale, MI. He works as a truck driver. Like so many families, Andrews found himself getting fewer and fewer hours at work. The family’s income was decreasing, while the mortgage payments kept increasing.
Andrews reached out to Bank of America, and in 2009 he received a trial modification (reducing his monthly payments from $1,260.79 to $997.17): Bank of America said that if he made 3 payments he would receive a permanent loan modification. Mr. Acheampong did that--but he didn't stop there. He made five trial payments, two more than Bank of America required.
It didn't matter.
Bank of America claimed that Mr. Acheampong made one of his trial payments 1 day late, and therefore the entire agreement was void. Then, Bank of America refused to accept any more payments. Bank of America is now threatening to evict Mr. Acheampong & his family.
Together, We Can Fight Back!
Detroit Eviction Defense is helping Mr. Acheampong fight back, but they need our help!
Call Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan at 704-386-5687. Tell them: "Bank of America must sell Andrews Acheapong (pronounced "Ack-e-om-pong") his home for its real value or modify and reinstate his mortgage to keep him in his home. The home is at 10707 North Oak Drive, Ferndale MI."
Call Bank of New York Mellon 1-800-269-6776 (wait through the recording and leave a message). Tell them: "You must fulfill your responsibility as a Trustee. You must tell Bank of America to immediately cease the eviction against Andrews Ack-e-om-pong (at 10707 North Oak Drive, Ferndale MI). Tell Bank of America to sell Mr. Ack-e-om-pong his house for its real value, or modify and reinstate his mortgage to keep him in his home. If you do not do so, you are failing your investors."
Sign the petition: http://start2.occupyourhomes.org/petitions/stop-bank-america-from-evicting-a-family-of-4
Tweet at @BofA_Help and tell them not to evict the Acheompong family!
Mr. Acheampong continued to do everything right. He received a letter from an eviction firm asking him if he wanted to be reviewed for a modification again. Mr. Acheampong responded that he wanted to be reviewed, turned in all the information, but still never heard anything back from Bank of America.
Mr. Acheapong even requested a loan modification under Michigan’s now-defunct "meditative statute," which required Bank of America to meet with Mr. Achaepong and evaluate him for a loan modification under state guidelines. Bank of America failed to do so and merely proceeded to foreclosure.
Help Save the Acheapong's Home!
Please do these three simple things:
Call Bank of New York Mellon
Call Bank of America (who is hiding behind NY Mellon)
Sign the petition http://start2.occupyourhomes.org/petitions/stop-bank-america-from-evicting-a-family-of-4.
For those in Michigan, Detroit Eviction Defense will hold a public meeting and demonstration at the Acheapong's home on Saturday, August 2nd at 12:00 noon at 10707 North Oak Drive! Please come!
The Conflict in Iraq: Here's the Context the Media is Missing
The situation in Iraq is changing daily--and it may be hard to separate the spin from the facts. Currently, 275 American troops have been deployed to Iraq as a Sunni militancy has overtaken large parts of the country, challenging the U.S.-backed Shiite government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. But, in order to make informed decisions for the future, we must look at the historical context. We hope this post helps to fill in the gaps between what you’re hearing in the news, and the reality of a complicated situation.
Narrative vs Context | What can be done? | Act Now to Oppose Intervention in Iraq | Further Reading
Media Narrative: “The moment we leave Iraq, conflict springs up again. We should never have left.”
Context: This conflict between the Sunni militant groups and the Shiite Iraqi government is rooted in the way the United States picked winners and losers in Iraq during the 2003 occupation, which displaced millions of Iraqis:
The United States prohibited the Sunni-dominated Baath Party from participating in the post-Saddam government, instead backing the Shiite party of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Note: Sunni and Shia Islam are the two major denominations of Islam.
Sunnis, who were in power prior to the 2003 U.S. occupation, have faced ongoing repression from Prime Minister Maliki, who, according to Mother Jones: “treated the Sunni areas of Iraq as enemy territory and refused to share power with Sunnis—stoking the deep-seated tensions between Sunnis and Shiites.”
Dick and Liz Cheney: “A resurgent al Qaeda presents a clear and present danger to the United States of America.”
Context:
Prior to the United States invasion, there was no dormant al-Qaeda cell in Iraq. Al-Qaeda was able to recruit Iraqis following the displacement of millions due to the United States occupation.
Former U.N.-Arab League special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi told Democracy Now!: “The ancestor of ISIS was created as a direct consequence of the invasion of Iraq.”
Brahimi also told Democracy Now!: “Terrorism was sucked in, brought in, by—as a direct consequence of the [U.S.-led] invasion. And it flourished, first of all, in Iraq, and then it went to Syria, and now it is back in Iraq.”
Media Narrative: “The US should intervene with air power against ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria). Even the Iraqi government is now asking for air strikes.”
Context:
Because ISIS has no obvious targets, drone strikes would kill civilians, and invite additional terrorism against the United States.
"In addition to causing unnecessary suffering and death, the likely result of a U.S. bombing campaign would be a propaganda victory for ISIS and a backlash against the United States in Iraq and the region." --William Hartung in "Five Reasons to Stay Out of Iraq"
The Iraqi government is requesting these strikes because the Sunni militants are seeking to overturn their regime.
Maliki’s requests for air strikes isn’t new--the NYTimes reports they also asked for strikes last month.
Media Narrative: This is a conflict between the Iraqi government and ISIS: a radical, militant “terrorist” group.
Context:
In many ways, the Iraqi military is itself a Shiite militia – just a bigger militia with better uniforms and more U.S.-provided guns
The focus on ISIS exists because it’s an easy narrative and a good story. But there are many groups involved in the uprising other than ISIS, including (1) tribal leaders, (2) former Iraqi officials from the Saddam Hussein government, and (3) ordinary Sunnis engaging in resistance (such as those who set up a protest camp in Ramadi, a camp the Iraqi military dismantled in December, resulting in 10 deaths).
How Does Iran and Saudi Arabia fit into all of this?
Saudi Arabia is Sunni-led.
Iran is Shiite-led.
Democracy Now! reports: “Many analysts say the fighting in Iraq has become a proxy war between the Sunni-led Saudi Arabia and Shiite-led Iran.”
Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, has vowed on live television to protect Shiite shrines in Iraq.
What CAN be done?
The Friends Committee on National Legislation has a list of Five Steps to Help Stop the Killing in Iraq, which we are excerpting here (be sure to read the full version).
Reject more U.S. military intervention, which would increase violence.
Publicly support a comprehensive political settlement between the key parties to the conflict, inside and outside of Iraq.
Halt unconditional military aid to Iraq. Iraq’s security forces have functioned as sectarian militias that have committed rampant human rights abuses. More unconditional military aid for any of the warring parties to the conflict will only fuel lead to more violence.
Convene a conference to establish a comprehensive arms embargo to Iraq and Syria. The U.S. should call for, support and offer its good offices to convene a conference that includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other countries sending weapons to armed opposition groups in Iraq and Syria. ISIS has seized control of U.S. weapons provided both to Iraqi security forces and to armed opposition groups in Syria, highlighting the need for an arms embargo in both Iraq and Syria.
Increase and better allocate humanitarian funds to address humanitarian crisis. Decades of U.S. sanctions and military intervention have led to the displacement, injury, and deaths of millions of Iraqis. If the basic needs of Iraqis are left unattended, this will only serve to further destabilize Iraq and embolden extremist groups like ISIS.
If I am Opposed to U.S. Intervention in Iraq, what can I do?
Just Foreign Policy has a script you can use to call your Representative and tell them No New U.S. War in Iraq or Syria: http://justforeignpolicy.org/act/iraq-call-in
If you’d like to tell the White House “No to Intervention in Iraq,” both Code Pink and Peace Action have actions to e-mail the President.
Sources and Further Reading:
Mother Jones “7 Talking Points You Need for Discussing the Iraq Crisis”
Democracy Now! interview with Raed Jarrar: As Obama Considers Drone Strikes in Iraq, Could U.S. Military Action Worsen Sectarian Conflict?
Democracy Now! Will Iraq or Syria Survive?
Democracy Now! Juan Cole: Mass Sunni Uprising Forces Iraq to Confront Sectarian Blowback of 2003 U.S. Invasion
JuanCole.com, “7 Myths about the Radical Sunni Advance"
William Hartung, Huffington Post "Five Reasons to Stay Out of Iraq"
The Friends Committee on National Legislation Five Steps to Help Stop the Killing in Iraq
Internet Memes VS the FCC's plans for Net Neutrality
Net Neutrality is what keeps the Internet as we know it alive. Net Neutrality prevents powerful internet companies from single-handedly killing websites by making them impossibly slow.
But now, the FCC is threatening to release new rules to END Net Neutrality and Internet Freedom as we know it--creating a fast lane for those rich enough to pay-to-play.
Help us spread the word. Click on any of the memes to share them on twitter. Then, tell the FCC: We Want Internet Freedom, not a Corporate Takeover!
Can you help us spread the word? It's super-simple: just click here to share it on Facebook or click here to tweet it out.
On Thursday, April 24th, in support of the week of Reject & Protect actions by the Cowboy Indian Alliance on the National Mall, The Other 98% projected messages against the Keystone XL pipeline directly onto the Environmental Protection Agency. Here's the video:
We were tired of Federal Agencies staying silent on key issues to avoid embarrassing the Administration, so we wanted to bring a message big enough and bold enough that they couldn't ignore it. So we brought a 13 thousand lumens light projector to their doorstep.
The comments were drawn from the 40,000 signers of The Other 98’s open letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, http://bit.ly/sosEPAnoKXL, as well as from members of the Cowboy and Indian Alliance.
The action followed a State Department decision to indefinitely extend the time federal agencies have to weigh in on Keystone XL. We are asking the EPA to be the adults in the room and tell the State Department to stop playing political games, and reject the Keystone Pipeline.
The Other 98% has called on both the State Department and the Environmental Protection Agency to reject Keystone XL, producing two short videos: http://bit.ly/StateDeptPonyUp and http://bit.ly/helpusepa
For even MORE photos from this event, visit the Facebook event page.
For more information on the Cowboy and Indian Alliance, which this action was in support of, visit http://rejectandprotect.org/
A New Encampment Beings on the National Mall (#NoKXL)
A week of action from April 22nd - 27th begins today, as the "Cowboy and Indian Alliance," a group of ranchers, farmers and indigenous leaders, form an encampment on the National Mall to fight the Keystone XL pipeline.
The Cowboy and Indian Alliance have come to Washington to show President Obama the faces of people whose lives will be directly impacted by his decision on Keystone XL and remind him the threat this tar sands pipeline poses to our climate, land, water and tribal rights.
Original, source image via the Sierra Club Modified image via Other98.
The day began with a ceremonial horseback ride from the Capitol down the National Mall. 24 ranchers and indigenous leaders from the Cowboy and Indian Alliance rode their horses from the Capitol to the Reject and Protect encampment.
Image via the Sierra Club
Image via 350.org
Image via 350
Mason Mitchell, 10-yr old cowboy from Nebraska, rides against Keystone XL. Image via Jamie Henn, 350.org
Image via Jenna Pope
Next, the march arrived at the encampment. Indigenous leaders officially opened the encampment, raising a final ceremonial tipi to join the other tipis already assembled on the mall:
Image via 350
Image via Jamie Henn, 350.org
The Indigo Girls performed as the final tipi was constructed.
Image via @rousseau_ist
The central tipi was pained specifically for this encampment:
Image via Jenna Pope
The encampment goes all week. The general public is invited to join the encampment, speak with participants, and add their thumbprint to a ceremonial tipi for President Obama that will be accepted on his behalf by the Museum of the American Indian at the end of the encampment.
On Thursday, to support the Cowboy & Indian Alliance's week of events, the Other 98 will project messages rejecting Keystone XL directly onto the EPA. For more info and to RSVP, see the Facebook event page.
Be sure to follow @350 & @other98 on twitter for ongoing coverage of the encampment all week long! For now, here are some more images of the many people involved in the alliance and the encampment.
Other 98 Asks the Fed to Address the Dangers of Bank Involvement in Physical Commodities
On April 16th, the Other 98% submitted comment to the Federal Reserve, responding to their request for public comment on how they should regulate bank involvement in the physical commodity markets. For background on this issue, see our video, "When Wall Street Fights Beer, Who Wins?"
You can read the complete letter here. Among the suggestions made to the Fed in the letter are:
The Fed should act to end the involvement of banks in dangerous, risk-intensive physical commodities activities;
No bank that conducts commodities activity should be able to participate in an emergency Fed lending program;
The plans banks must submit to the Fed and the FDIC ("Living Wills") to show how they can be safely unwound without government help, should they go under, should be co-reviewed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC);
If a bank fails its Stress Test, they should be immediately be forced to end their physical commodities activity; and
The Fed must immediately remedy the problem of limited disclosure. There is only one metric that is currently publicly reported about bank physical commodity holdings, which leaves the public in the dark, and reliant on news reports to get information about bank activity in physical commodities.
Many others commented on the Fed's request for comment. Here are other letters that we recommend reading:
Joint Letter from Senators Sherrod Brown and Elizabeth Warren
Americans for Financial Reform
Public Citizen
University of North Carolina School of Law, Professor Saule T. Omarova
Today, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to strike down aggregate campaign contribution limits in the case McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission. (The case is named for Shaun McCutcheon who, together with the Republican National Committee, fought this case all the way to the Supreme Court).
This case has been called Citizen's United Part 2 by many groups, including Demos, Friends of Democracy, and the coalition Money Out/Voters In. And for good reason: this ruling opens the floodgates for even MORE money in politics.
May we present six images that examine the various reactions to this controversial ruling.
1. Us, when we heard the Supreme Court decided to let even MORE money corrupt democracy
Why the outrage? See the Washington Post’s explainer, on what this strike down of aggregate limits means:
For one thing, wealthy donors who can afford to make many donations will have greater influence when it comes to donating to candidates directly. Under the current aggregate limit of $48,600, an individual can max out at 18 federal candidates per cycle. Think of how much more they could give in total if they maxed out at 50 candidates -- or even more.”
2. Justice Scalia is all…
Why's Scalia so happy? The Huffington Post explains:
"What's left is an incoherent system in which donors can make unlimited contributions anonymously to certain entities engaging in politics, but must attach their name to unlimited giving to other groups, and are blocked from making unlimited contributions directly to candidates. Clearly, such a bundle of contradictions can't last. Chief Justice John Roberts, who said pre-confirmation that he would be guided by precedent, is just as clearly determined to see the remaining restrictions fall, as are the other four Republican appointees on the Supreme Court. It's no longer a matter of if, but when."
3. Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell are probably PRETTY HAPPY right now
Image by the amazing @darth
McCutcheon couldn’t max out his donations, because of the $123,200 limit on contributions a single donor could make to federal candidates and political party committees during any two-year election cycle.
Now, this aggregate limit has been struck down by the Supreme Court. So, it’s simply a question of WHO will be the first lucky recipient of McCutcheon’s (and other’s) big money.
4. This is how we feel about the 5 Justices who voted to strike down the aggregate limits
THANKS FOR NOTHING, Chief Justice John Roberts and justices Anthony Kennedy, Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.
5. This is how the 4 Justices who voted AGAINST #McCutcheon are probably feeling
We imagine this is how the dissenting Justices Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg are feeling right about now (read their dissent).
“If Citizens United opened a door,” Justice Stephen G. Breyer said in reading his dissent from the bench, “today’s decision we fear will open a floodgate.”
6. The Koch Brothers are probably Shaun McCutcheon’s newest, and most devoted cheerleaders
Having successfully opened the door to a flood of new money into the political process we're pretty sure the Koch brothers are probably ready to adopt him right into the family!
What was YOUR reaction to the McCutcheon verdict?
Let us know your reaction to the McCutcheon ruling on twitter, using the hashtag #McCutcheoning.
Or, caption this photo of Shuan McCutcheon, and tag it on twitter or Instagram with #McCutchoening
Here’s one example from Nelini Stamp:
And if you are feeling particularly inspired, Photoshop in who YOU think will be the lucky winners of McCutcheon’s newly liberated money.
McDonald's Warns Investors of Social Media Risks to their Brand (We're WINNING!)
How do you know you’re winning?
When McDonald's cites YOUR work as a “Risk Factor” in their Annual Report to investors.
Seriously! This is a thing that happened! In a section called “Risk Factors and Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements," McDonald's flagged:
“The impact of campaigns by labor organizations and activists, including through the use of social media...to promote or threaten boycotts, strikes or other actions”
That means that every. single. ONE of you who helped spread the word about "Fast Food Forward" or shared the videos at Low Pay is Not Ok helped get the attention of one of the largest corporations in America!
But as you know, the fight is far from over. And reading more in the McDonald's report to investors shows why...
And what is this "Plan to Win"? Is it a plan to raise workers' wages? OF COURSE NOT! Here's their Plan to Win (from page 4 of their Annual Report):
A pretty laughable "plan." Perhaps if McDonald's would pay their workers a living wage, they could go a little farther in gaining back the public's trust than by "optimizing their menu."
Want to learn more? See the Huffington Post article "McDonald's Admits It May Lose The Fight To Keep Wages Low."
We Lit Up John Kerry’s Office – With History (#NoKXL)
The State Department and John Kerry asked the public for comment on the Keystone XL pipeline. So we decided to project a few of the 2 million public comments against the pipeline...right ONTO the State Dept's front door!
WATCH:
Massive thanks to 350.org, the Illuminator Crew, NYC Light Brigade, We Act Radio, Fossil Free AU, and everyone else who made this possible.
Awesome Music: "Kopeika" by et_, at featured under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License.
#IlluminateDC: We Lit Up the State Dept and the EPA!
On Thursday, March 6th, The Other 98% teamed up with light projection artists to shine messages protesting the Keystone XL pipeline directly onto the U.S. State Department. Using “The Illuminator,” a large-scale, high-intensity projector, we projected comments from ordinary Americans asking Secretary of State John Kerry to reject Keystone XL.
We were joined by local climate activists from 350.org, Fossil Free AU, and some really awesome concerned citizens who showed up in the bitter cold. We gathered at the Foggy Bottom Metro and took a few photos before marching to the State Dept!
At the State Dept, we assembled with our "NO KXL" light brites, led some chants, and did a number of speak outs against the pipeline!
Finally, a smaller group ended the night with some amazing projections onto the Environmental Protection Agency, lighting up their columns with "SOS" messages.
The Other 98% has called on both the State Department and the Environmental Protection Agency to reject Keystone XL. To learn more, please see our two short videos telling these Agencies that Big Oil is not too Big to Fight:
http://bit.ly/StateDeptPonyUp
http://bit.ly/helpusepa
If you liked this action, and want to help support us in the ongoing fight for Climate Justice, you can donate here.
$91 Billion in bonuses for bailed out banks that made 10 Million homeless? More than 66,000 people signed a letter calling BS, and the intrepid Negin Farsad went to deliver it in person -- see what happened next!
Want to see more? Head over here!: http://bankerbonusseason.com
Wall Street Bonuses For The Homeless (A Special 'Alexis Breaks It Down')
This holiday season, we're calling on the banks to Donate their Bonuses to the People they made Homeless! Sign on! http://bit.ly/donatebankbonuses
You'll find cats, squirrels, the Grinch, and Wall Street Alexis (http://twitter.com/wallstalexis), who tries (unsuccessfully) to argue she should get to keep her bonus.
VERY SCARY EDITION!: A Nightmare On Wall Street, When A President Calls & Psy-Koch!
Can YOU spot all the horror movie references in this VERY SCARY EDITION of Take Action News for Halloween? Nicole talks about A Nightmare On Wall Street, When A President Calls & Psy-Koch!
Tell Jamie Dimon Where He Can Stick It: http://bit.ly/bankersgotojail
Details on our story, "When A President Calls": http://stopwatching.us
Source for the Psy-Koch story: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/23/us/koch-brother-wages-12-year-fight-over-wind-farm.html?_r=0
