SHOWDOWN IN CHICAGO

For Immediate Release
October 28, 2009
Andrea Frye, 312-676-2818
Andrea@nationaltraining.org

Showdown in Chicago is Over, But Not the Fight!

Thousands of Taxpayers are Already Planning for Next Actions Until Change is Made.

Chicago - 5000taxpayers are leaving Chicago after three successful days of rallying against the big banks and the American Bankers Association Conference, but members of the National People's Action (NPA) network leave one final message - IT'S NOT OVER YET.

"The Showdown was a success in that so many people came out to show their outrage to the banks," said Emira Palacios of Sunflower Community Action in Wichita, Kansas, but the fact still remains that millions of more families are facing foreclosure, the economy is still in recession, and the banks are still doing all they can to block reforms that would prevent another meltdown.

The next step is to take the stories of the thousands that came to Chicago to the Obama Administration, the Congress and the Financial Inquiry Commission - 10 member panel led by former California treasurer Phil Angelides, who is charged with examining the causes of the financial crisis.

In November, a select delegation of Showdown participants is heading to Washington to deliver the message of "Which side are you on?" to Congress and the administration.

Members of the National People's Action demand the following from Congress:
1.  A Consumer Financial Protection Agency that protects people from bad financial products
2.  A Break Up of the Big Banks - JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Citigroup, who have become too big, too unaccountable, and too unsustainable and
3.  Allow judges to modify mortgagees to prevent foreclosures.

"We leave Chicago with one question answered and one unanswered," said George Goehl, Executive Director of National People's Action.  "We now know that everyday Americans have reached a boiling point with bank greed and are ready to hit the streets.  What remains unanswered is the question of which side is our Congress on?  It is time for Members of Congress to take a pledge that they will not take money from institutions that played a role in creating the crisis, received bailout money, or continue handing out excessive bonuses."

Members of the National People's Action say big banks can expect even ore Showdown activities, but this time all across the country, with the same message of "Hold Banks Accountable and Reclaim America!"

"The recklessness of the banks wrecked the economy," said Dean Baker, Co-Director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research.  "Remarkably, the banks are behaving as though it is business as usual, engaging in the same sort of speculative activity that brought on this downturn and paying themselves huge bonuses.  They are betting on their ties to those in power to protect them, and now the only real hope for change is an outraged citizenry.

For more information on all "Showdown" activities, please visit:  www.showdowninchicago.org

ABOUT NATIONAL PEOPLE'S ACTION
NPA is a network of metropolitan, regional, and statewide organizations that build grassroots power.  Our purpose is to create  a society in which racial and economic justice are realized in all aspects of society, resulting in more equity in work, housing, health, education, finance, and other systems central to our well being,  Websites:  www.npa-us.org , www.ntic-us.org