The 99% vs Wells Fargo (Tuesday, April 24)

ana_casas_wilson.jpgOn Tuesday, Wells Fargo is holding its annual shareholder meeting in San Francisco, where top corporate executives, board members and shareholders come together to discuss company profits.  But they are also going to have to deal with me and thousands of other members of the 99% demanding justice from Wells Fargo abuses.

I was born with cerebral palsy and use a wheelchair for mobility. In 2009, I was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer.  After my breast cancer diagnosis, my husband James had to take time off of work to care for me. We decided to ask Wells Fargo for a loan modification on the home I grew up and have lived for over thirty years.

Wells Fargo denied my request for a loan modification and decided to foreclose on us. Even though my husband is back to work and we are able to make our full payments, the bank won’t budge.

On Tuesday, I’m joining thousands of families impacted by Wells Fargo’s policies to meet Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf face-to-face. I’m going to ask him to accept my mortgage payments.

Will you join me for the 99% Takeover of Wells Fargo’s Annual Shareholders Meeting, April 24th?  We’ll be meeting at 10am at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco.  Click here to RSVP.

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Vote now for Mr. or Ms. 1% of California

Which CEO deserves to be voted Mr. or Ms. 1% of California?  Click to Meet the candidates and vote!

While the majority of Californians continue to suffer from the economic crisis, big corporations and super-rich individuals are driving an agenda in our state to ensure the 1% prospers at the expense of the 99%.

The result has been an increased economic burden for working families that includes escalating costs of higher education and healthcare, fewer jobs, more foreclosures, depressed wages, and a deteriorating quality of life.

Why? Because rich CEOs and executives in the Golden State are pocketing millions while backing and bankrolling an agenda that keeps economic and political power in the hands of the few, killing or delaying the chances of a broad economic recovery for the rest of us.

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Thousands of Students March On Sacramento Demanding The 1% Pay to Refund Higher Education

sb_college.jpgHundreds Occupy Capitol Rotunda, Calling for Millionaires Tax, Freeze on Tuition Hikes and Spending Cuts – And Calling Out Governor's Effort to Co-Opt Rally

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 Coming from every corner of California, and from dozens of Cal, Cal State and Community College campuses, thousands of students rallied in Sacramento yesterday to hold the line on higher education cuts and tuition in the State. Seventy students were arrested in the State Capitol Rotunda after hundreds of activists non-violently occupied the Capitol Rotunda for over 7 hours, while others lobbied their representatives to fully fund education. 

The rally was the culmination of several days of action to "refund education" in California, beginning last Thursday with protests on 30 campuses statewide and a 99-Mile march of students and faculty from the Bay Area to Sacramento. The events were the followup to Novembers statewide campus protests, which successfully pressed the State to hold off on a proposed round of tuition increases. 

 tent.jpg"Thousands of students, workers, faculty and advocates stood together yesterday to demand that the 1% pay its share to fund education," said Charlie Eaton, an organizer with REFUND California. "After experiencing the highest tuition hikes in the country, students came to Sacramento to tell Governor Brown enough is enough. The movement that was out on campuses in November was on the steps of the Statehouse yesterday, and we will continue to fight to refund higher education." 

In "people's assemblies" inside the Capitol, protesters developed a list of demands for the legislature and the Governor. Number one was support for the "Millionaire's Tax" ballot initiative, which would add $5-6b in revenue every year - including nearly $2b in dedicated funds for higher education- to support critical social services that have been ravaged by state budget cuts. Other priorities included full funding for education statewide, and democratization of the UC and CSU board of regents. Chanting "hear us out or we'll vote you out," students made clear throughout the day that they are squarely focused on the Governor and the Legislature as the keys to refunding education in California.

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Occupy the Capitol week launched and headed to Sacramento (3/5)

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With California leading the nation in tuition increases after years of cuts, thousands of students, teachers, parents, and workers kicked off a week of actions, rallies and events to make the 1% pay to refund education, jobs, essential services, and a better future for the next generation.

The Occupy Education week kicked off on March 1st with over 30 on-campus actions across the state and will culminate on March 5th when thousands of activists will descend on Sacramento to Occupy the Capitol.  Additionally, dozens of activists launched a 99 Mile March from Oakland to Sacramento.

As reported by the AP, "The protesters are calling on Gov. Jerry Brown to reject any budget deal that includes higher education cuts or tuition increases. They also want the governor to support a ballot measure that would raise taxes on millionaires to pay for education and social services."

We'll see you on March 5!

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ABOUT US: The "Make Banks Pay" actions are organized by Refund California, a state-wide coalition of homeowners, community members, faith leaders and students working to make Wall Street banks pay for destroying jobs and neighborhoods with their greedy, irresponsible and predatory business practices.

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