Police in Los Angeles arrested 22 people yesterday who were protesting in front of a Chase bank branch. The demonstrators, including some homeowners with mortgages from Chase, criticized the bank for what they said were unfair home foreclosures.
“The banks are not helping anyone stay in their homes,” David Mazariegos, a member of the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, which helped organize the protest, told the Los Angeles Times. “It’s highway robbery, what they’re doing to these people.”
The demonstrators blocked access to the Chase branch, and were arrested for trespassing. As the 12 men and 10 women were escorted peacefully to a waiting police van, dozens more protesters stood nearby waiving signs that read “Stop Bank Greed, Save Our Neighborhoods.”
The arrests happened Thursday morning. Everyone arrested was released by the afternoon, according to the Times. Eileen Leveckis, a spokeswoman for Chase, said that the bank has completed more than a quarter-million modifications since early 2009.
“Chase is committed to helping struggling borrowers remain in their homes,” Leveckis told the Times.
Image: Epicharmus, via Flickr.com
Christopher Maag Contributing writer for Credit.com, Chris graduated with honors from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and has reported for a number of publications including The New York Times, TIME magazine and Popular Mechanics. Have a question for our experts? Email them at CreditExperts@Credit.com.
Follow Us
