7 people arrested defending family; police use extortion to coerce homeowner to leave home

<div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6867" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;text-align:center;"><font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6872" face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6871" style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6870" color="#8b0000" size="5"><b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6869">Take Back the Land Rochester News Alert:&nbsp;</b></font></span></font></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6876" style="font-size:13px;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;text-align:center;"><font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6875" face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6874" style="font-weight:bold;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;"><font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6873" size="4">7 People Arrested Defending Webster Ave Family from Eviction&nbsp;</font></span></font></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6879" style="font-size:13px;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;text-align:center;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6878" style="font-weight:bold;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;"><font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6877" face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="4">Police Use Extortion to Coerce Homeowner to Leave Home</font></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6886" style="font-size:13px;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;text-align:center;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6885" style="font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6884" face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="4">Press Conference held at 5pm, Thursday, June 18 at 394 Webster Ave, Rochester, NY</font></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6883" style="font-size:13px;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;text-align:center;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:13px;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;text-align:center;">[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"drupalimc_large","fid":"12105","attributes":{"alt":"Press Conference regarding Joe Woods' eviction, the 7 arrests, and hostage taking by the RPD","class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6882" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6881" face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6880" style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">ROCHESTER, NY - On the morning of June 17, 2015, <a href="https://www.midfirst.com/InsideMidFirst/PresidentContactForm.aspx">MidFirst Bank</a>, the Rochester City Marshal, and 15-20 Rochester police forcefully evicted Joe Woods and his family from their longtime home of 25 years at 394 Webster Ave, Rochester, NY 14614. In order to evict the family, 7 people were arrested, including one family member and 6 home defenders, chanting “Housing is a Human Right.” </span></font></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><!--break--></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>See the people's videos of the eviction and arrests made on June 17, 2015:</strong></span></font></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"drupalimc_large","fid":"12147","attributes":{"alt":"RPD evict Joe Woods after holding daughter ransom","class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">Video above courtesy of Liz Mcgriff, edited by Julie Gelfand. The video shows the initial interaction with police, the marshal, and the Woods' family as well as Audrey Woods being arrested, while her two sisters were allowed to re-enter the home and get their things. The arrest of Audrey had accomplished the goal of getting Joe to abandon his home. Is ransom by police legal?</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"drupalimc_large","fid":"12146","attributes":{"alt":"Joe's Eviction Air","class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3">In the video above, the arrest of Audrey Woods can be seen at the 3:11 minute mark. The video is courtesy of Liz Mcgriff.</font></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"drupalimc_large","fid":"12106","attributes":{"alt":"Joe Woods Evicted from his home, 6 17 15, SL vid","class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]</strong></span><br class="yiv2027261427kix-line-break">Video above is courtesy of Ricky Six and Lisa</font>.</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3">[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"drupalimc_large","fid":"12107","attributes":{"alt":"Joe Woods evicted via Christian","class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]</font><br class="yiv2027261427kix-line-break">Video above of eviction and some arrests is courtesy of Christian.</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"drupalimc_large","fid":"12108","attributes":{"alt":"Joe Woods evicted, via Alyssa","class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">Video above is of events during the eviction and some of the arrests. Courtesy of Alyssa.</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"drupalimc_large","fid":"12109","attributes":{"alt":"David talks to press at eviction of Joe Woods","class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">David talks to the press. Video above is courtesy of T. Forsyth.</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"drupalimc_large","fid":"12110","attributes":{"alt":"Contractors hired by bank would rather participate in eviction than be filmed","class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">Contractors hired by the bank would rather evict Mr. Woods than be filmed. Video above is courtesy of T. Forsyth.</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"drupalimc_large","fid":"12111","attributes":{"alt":"Sleeping Dragon cut apart at Joe Woods' eviction","class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">A Sleeping Dragon is cut apart by police and fire at the eviction. Video above is courtesy of Ryder.</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">In September 2013, the Woods family successfully defended their home from a bank eviction. After protests, and the support of community members who were prepared to commit acts of civil disobedience to defend the human right to housing, MidFirst Bank and Rochester Police backed down. For more background on the first successful eviction defense and Woods family struggle to keep their home see: <a href="https://leftlaborreporter.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/blockade-stops-eviction-in-rochester-ny/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://leftlaborreporter.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/blockade-stops-eviction-in-rochester-ny/</a></span></font></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div class="yiv2027261427envelope" style="font-size:16px;float:left;" align="left">&nbsp;</div><p><b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6896" style="font-size:16px;"><font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6895" face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">Police Escalation to Execute the Eviction used Extortion Tactic</font></b><br><font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6898" face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6897" size="3">This time Rochester Police escalated their tactics by using one of Joe’s daughters as collateral to coerce him to leave his home. Twenty year old Audrey was arrested and handcuffed after awakening to find police surrounding the house. She exited the home to see what was going on, and was arrested when she attempted to go back inside. After escorting her away, the police then used her as a bargaining chip to remove Joe and the rest of his family from the house. According to Mr. Woods, the police said, “We will release your daughter, if you leave your house.” Seeing the police threats were creating a volatile hostage situation and not wanting his daughter to be harmed, Mr. Woods agreed and vacated the house. Despite being assured that she would not be charged, when the police took him to retrieve his daughter, Woods learned that she had been charged with obstructing government administration. Meanwhile, Joe’s two other daughters were let into the house to retrieve their belongings, thus indicating their was no need to arrest Audrey in the first place, and providing proof that her arrest was a questionable ploy to scare Mr. Woods into leaving the home he did not plan to vacate.<br class="yiv2027261427kix-line-break"><br class="yiv2027261427kix-line-break"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6899" style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">On a national level, this immoral manipulation of Joe’s wish to protect his children is one of the largest escalations of police tactics used to displace black families. The Rochester police showed that they are capable of going to unconscionable lengths to support bank displacement of families in order to suppress their right to housing. Six other supporters were arrested for crossing the police barrier. Two of them were chained to the front porch via a concrete lockbox and were removed after the police sawed into the the concrete. Those arrested were following the adage,</span><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“When you come for one of our neighbors, you come for all of us.”</span></font></font></p><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><span style="font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3">Demands </font></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3"><a href="http://takebackroc.rocus.org/">Take Back the Land Rochester</a> is calling for: </font></span></div><ol id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6904" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;vertical-align:baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3"><span style="line-height:1.38;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">A moratorium on police enforced bank evictions. The City mu</span><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:22px;">st</span><span style="line-height:1.38;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> insist that banks be partners in negotiating to keep homeowners in their homes, rather than profiteers looking for financial benefit. </span></font></div></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;vertical-align:baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3">An independent dual-track investigation into allegations of suppression of civil rights and the human right to housing for the Woods family and other struggling homeowners. An investigation into the underlying social, racial, and economic conditions that lead to police abuse and displacement of families of color.. &nbsp;</font></span></div></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;vertical-align:baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3">Greater community control over land in the form of community land trusts which will stem the trend of mass displacement and unaffordable housing. </font></span></div></li><li dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6903" style="list-style-type:decimal;vertical-align:baseline;"><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6905" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3">In order to stem the trend of police abuses around displacement and other forms of racial profiling, greater community control over the police in form of a Civilian Control Board of the Rochester Police which has power to set priorities, policies, and practices. </font></span></div></li></ol><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><strong>Upcoming and <u>updated</u> court dates</strong></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">The six arrested home defenders and Joe Woods' daughter all have court appearances coming up.</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><strong>Audrey Woods</strong><strong>: </strong>Audrey was held by police until her father left their home. She was eventually released to him. She was charged with obstruction of governmental administration. Her arraignment before <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/99307">Judge Stephen T. Miller</a> took place on June 25, 2015. Her next hearing is <strong>Tuesday, June 30, 10:30am at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd.</strong></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><strong>Shannon Coleman, Jacob Spezio, and Christian Nelson: </strong>All three were charged with trespass and resisting arrest. They were arraigned last week. Their next court date before Judge Maija C. Dixon is <strong>Monday, June 29, 2015, 2:00pm at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd.</strong></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><strong>Alex Comardo and Mike Connelly</strong><strong>: </strong>Alex and Mike were charged with trespass. They were arraigned last week. Their next court date before Judge Maija C. Dixon is <strong>Monday, July 13, 2015, 2:00pm at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd.</strong></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><strong>David Josiah Krause</strong><strong>: </strong>David was charged with criminal mischief, obstruction of governmental administration, trespass, resisting arrest, and harassment. He was arraigned last week as well. His next court date before Judge Maija C. Dixon is <strong>Friday, July 17, 2015, 9:30am at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd.</strong></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><strong>Please come out and support Joe's family and these home defenders. </strong><strong>Housing is a human right! Fight! Fight! Fight!</strong></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><strong>Other coverage of the eviction: </strong>Black Rose Anarchist Federation:<strong> </strong><a href="http://www.blackrosefed.org/when-you-come-for-our-neighbors-you-come-for-us-all/">When You Come For Our Neighbors, You Come For Us All</a> | Democrat &amp; Chronicle: <a href="http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2015/06/18/eviction-protest-rochester-webster-avenue/28937897/">Housing-rights group seeks changes to eviction policies</a> | <a href="http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2015/06/11/rochester-man-fights-webster-avenue-eviction/71086296/">Rochester man protests eviction</a> | WROC Channel 8: <a href="http://www.rochesterhomepage.net/story/d/story/protest-over-local-mans-eviction/31794/XwNJPsrBO0OU0kIiqRyZFw">Protest over local man's eviction</a></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><strong>Other pending eviction actions: </strong>Liz Mcgriff is facing foreclosure as well. Her next court appearance is before Judge John J. Ark, on <strong>Wednesday, July 1, 9:30am at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd.</strong> She has not been evicted yet, but is combatting the bank's arguments for her removal. Please come out and support her. Let's stop it before it begins!</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><strong>Related stories: </strong><a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/100149">Day one of the eviction defense for Joe Woods' house</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/146841">George Douglass evicted! Shame on Wells Fargo!</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/146829">Eviction Protest and Blockade of the Home of George Douglass</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/104392">Stories of Survival &amp; Resistance: a night with Cheri Honkala</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/98403">Mary Smith Pledges to Stay in Her Rochester Home Resisting Foreclosure by American Tax Funding</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/99029">Fannie Mae Calls Off Eviction of Renee Madison in Rochester, Amid Community Pressure</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/99011">Renee Madison at 612 Brooks Ave. Pledges to Stay in Her Home</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/97879">Victory on Barlett Street: Windom Bey Family Get Back their Home for the Holidays after 18 year Struggle and Several Protests</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/47396">Victory for the Windom Bey Family; Mayor Intervenes and Halts Eviction!</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/73477">Community Groups Join Family In Protest at City Hall to Defend Their Home</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/41413">Amid Protests, City Marshal Grants 10-Day Stay on Eviction of Windom Bey Family</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/31677">Facing Foreclosure, Leonard Spears Pledges to Stay in His Home</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/98048">Virginia Henry and Take Back The Land--an interview from 2011</a> |<a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/101110"> Take Back the Land's Catherine Lennon Seals Historic Foreclosure Fight Victory</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/7489">Cathy Lennon is Still in Her House! Nearly 2-Week Old Eviction Blockade Working! The Struggle Continues!</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/7501">Community Groups Demand Justice for the Lennon-Griffin Family; Lennon Livid Over Fannie Mae "Offer"</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/6962">Community Groups Demand Justice for the Lennon-Griffin Family</a> | <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/van-jones/this-is-not-america-swat-_b_843708.html">'This Is Not America': SWAT Team Evicts Grandmother, Community Fights Back (Video)</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/20063/index.php">7 Arrested in Eviction Defense at 9 Ravenwood Ave.</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/20061/index.php">Cathy Lennon is Still in Her House! Nearly 2-Week Old Eviction Blockade Working! The Struggle Continues!</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/20058/index.php">Local Family and Take Back the Land Announce Eviction Defense</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/6460">Woman Arrested in Her Front Lawn for "Trespassing"</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/20053/index.php">"We got sold out; they got bailed out!" Anti-Eviction Rally on S. Goodman Street</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/6091">Take Back the Land Rochester Liberates a Home on CNN</a></div><p>[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"drupalimc_large","fid":"12140","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]</p>

<div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6867" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;text-align:center;"><font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6872" face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6871" style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6870" color="#8b0000" size="5"><b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6869">Take Back the Land Rochester News Alert: </b></font></span></font></div> <div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6876" style="font-size:13px;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;text-align:center;"><font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6875" face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6874" style="font-weight:bold;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;"><font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6873" size="4">7 People Arrested Defending Webster Ave Family from Eviction </font></span></font></div> <div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6879" style="font-size:13px;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;text-align:center;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6878" style="font-weight:bold;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;"><font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6877" face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="4">Police Use Extortion to Coerce Homeowner to Leave Home</font></span></div> <div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6886" style="font-size:13px;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;text-align:center;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6885" style="font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6884" face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="4">Press Conference held at 5pm, Thursday, June 18 at 394 Webster Ave, Rochester, NY</font></span></div> <div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6883" style="font-size:13px;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;text-align:center;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="font-size:13px;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;text-align:center;"><div class="media media-element-container media-drupalimc_large"><div id="file-12105" class="file file-video file-video-youtube"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/12105">Press Conference regarding Joe Woods&#039; eviction, the 7 arrests, and hostage taking by the RPD</a></h2> <div class="content"> <div class="media-youtube-video media-image media-youtube-1"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" width="620" height="480" title="Press Conference regarding Joe Woods&#039; eviction, the 7 arrests, and hostage taking by the RPD" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C97pz9fWwqs?wmode=opaque&controls=" name="Press Conference regarding Joe Woods&#039; eviction, the 7 arrests, and hostage taking by the RPD" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Press Conference regarding Joe Woods&amp;#039; eviction, the 7 arrests, and hostage taking by the RPD</iframe> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6882" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6881" face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6880" style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">ROCHESTER, NY - On the morning of June 17, 2015, <a href="https://www.midfirst.com/InsideMidFirst/PresidentContactForm.aspx">MidFirst Bank</a>, the Rochester City Marshal, and 15-20 Rochester police forcefully evicted Joe Woods and his family from their longtime home of 25 years at 394 Webster Ave, Rochester, NY 14614. In order to evict the family, 7 people were arrested, including one family member and 6 home defenders, chanting “Housing is a Human Right.” </span></font></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> <!--break--></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>See the people's videos of the eviction and arrests made on June 17, 2015:</strong></span></font></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><div class="media media-element-container media-drupalimc_large"><div id="file-12147" class="file file-video file-video-youtube"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/12147">RPD evict Joe Woods after holding daughter ransom</a></h2> <div class="content"> <div class="media-youtube-video media-image media-youtube-2"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" width="620" height="480" title="RPD evict Joe Woods after holding daughter ransom" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i_EiJG84VQU?wmode=opaque&controls=" name="RPD evict Joe Woods after holding daughter ransom" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of RPD evict Joe Woods after holding daughter ransom</iframe> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">Video above courtesy of Liz Mcgriff, edited by Julie Gelfand. The video shows the initial interaction with police, the marshal, and the Woods' family as well as Audrey Woods being arrested, while her two sisters were allowed to re-enter the home and get their things. The arrest of Audrey had accomplished the goal of getting Joe to abandon his home. Is ransom by police legal?</div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><div class="media media-element-container media-drupalimc_large"><div id="file-12146" class="file file-video file-video-youtube"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/12146">Joe&#039;s Eviction Air</a></h2> <div class="content"> <div class="media-youtube-video media-image media-youtube-3"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" width="620" height="480" title="Joe&#039;s Eviction Air" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cL96Gssq0WY?wmode=opaque&controls=" name="Joe&#039;s Eviction Air" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Joe&amp;#039;s Eviction Air</iframe> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3">In the video above, the arrest of Audrey Woods can be seen at the 3:11 minute mark. The video is courtesy of Liz Mcgriff.</font></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong><div class="media media-element-container media-drupalimc_large"><div id="file-12106" class="file file-video file-video-youtube"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/12106">Joe Woods Evicted from his home, 6 17 15, SL vid</a></h2> <div class="content"> <div class="media-youtube-video media-image media-youtube-4"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" width="620" height="480" title="Joe Woods Evicted from his home, 6 17 15, SL vid" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xdwu9xmzRoQ?wmode=opaque&controls=" name="Joe Woods Evicted from his home, 6 17 15, SL vid" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Joe Woods Evicted from his home, 6 17 15, SL vid</iframe> </div> </div> </div> </div></strong></span><br class="yiv2027261427kix-line-break" />Video above is courtesy of Ricky Six and Lisa</font>.</div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3"><div class="media media-element-container media-drupalimc_large"><div id="file-12107" class="file file-video file-video-youtube"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/12107">Joe Woods evicted via Christian</a></h2> <div class="content"> <div class="media-youtube-video media-image media-youtube-5"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" width="620" height="480" title="Joe Woods evicted via Christian" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iX7f6Jgw3Sc?wmode=opaque&controls=" name="Joe Woods evicted via Christian" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Joe Woods evicted via Christian</iframe> </div> </div> </div> </div></font><br class="yiv2027261427kix-line-break" />Video above of eviction and some arrests is courtesy of Christian.</div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><div class="media media-element-container media-drupalimc_large"><div id="file-12108" class="file file-video file-video-youtube"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/12108">Joe Woods evicted, via Alyssa</a></h2> <div class="content"> <div class="media-youtube-video media-image media-youtube-6"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" width="620" height="480" title="Joe Woods evicted, via Alyssa" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/89pdyfgAoHc?wmode=opaque&controls=" name="Joe Woods evicted, via Alyssa" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Joe Woods evicted, via Alyssa</iframe> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">Video above is of events during the eviction and some of the arrests. Courtesy of Alyssa.</div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><div class="media media-element-container media-drupalimc_large"><div id="file-12109" class="file file-video file-video-youtube"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/12109">David talks to press at eviction of Joe Woods</a></h2> <div class="content"> <div class="media-youtube-video media-image media-youtube-7"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" width="620" height="480" title="David talks to press at eviction of Joe Woods" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zDUmokKbz0A?wmode=opaque&controls=" name="David talks to press at eviction of Joe Woods" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of David talks to press at eviction of Joe Woods</iframe> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">David talks to the press. Video above is courtesy of T. Forsyth.</div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><div class="media media-element-container media-drupalimc_large"><div id="file-12110" class="file file-video file-video-youtube"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/12110">Contractors hired by bank would rather participate in eviction than be filmed</a></h2> <div class="content"> <div class="media-youtube-video media-image media-youtube-8"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" width="620" height="480" title="Contractors hired by bank would rather participate in eviction than be filmed" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oNdzguFIThM?wmode=opaque&controls=" name="Contractors hired by bank would rather participate in eviction than be filmed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Contractors hired by bank would rather participate in eviction than be filmed</iframe> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">Contractors hired by the bank would rather evict Mr. Woods than be filmed. Video above is courtesy of T. Forsyth.</div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><div class="media media-element-container media-drupalimc_large"><div id="file-12111" class="file file-video file-video-youtube"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/12111">Sleeping Dragon cut apart at Joe Woods&#039; eviction</a></h2> <div class="content"> <div class="media-youtube-video media-image media-youtube-9"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" width="620" height="480" title="Sleeping Dragon cut apart at Joe Woods&#039; eviction" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NmHjeK8zOgo?wmode=opaque&controls=" name="Sleeping Dragon cut apart at Joe Woods&#039; eviction" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Sleeping Dragon cut apart at Joe Woods&amp;#039; eviction</iframe> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">A Sleeping Dragon is cut apart by police and fire at the eviction. Video above is courtesy of Ryder.</div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">In September 2013, the Woods family successfully defended their home from a bank eviction. After protests, and the support of community members who were prepared to commit acts of civil disobedience to defend the human right to housing, MidFirst Bank and Rochester Police backed down. For more background on the first successful eviction defense and Woods family struggle to keep their home see: <a href="https://leftlaborreporter.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/blockade-stops-eviction-in-rochester-ny/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://leftlaborreporter.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/blockade-stops-eviction-in-rochester-ny/</a></span></font></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div class="yiv2027261427envelope" style="font-size:16px;float:left;" align="left"> </div> <p><b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6896" style="font-size:16px;"><font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6895" face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">Police Escalation to Execute the Eviction used Extortion Tactic</font></b><br /><font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6898" face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6897" size="3">This time Rochester Police escalated their tactics by using one of Joe’s daughters as collateral to coerce him to leave his home. Twenty year old Audrey was arrested and handcuffed after awakening to find police surrounding the house. She exited the home to see what was going on, and was arrested when she attempted to go back inside. After escorting her away, the police then used her as a bargaining chip to remove Joe and the rest of his family from the house. According to Mr. Woods, the police said, “We will release your daughter, if you leave your house.” Seeing the police threats were creating a volatile hostage situation and not wanting his daughter to be harmed, Mr. Woods agreed and vacated the house. Despite being assured that she would not be charged, when the police took him to retrieve his daughter, Woods learned that she had been charged with obstructing government administration. Meanwhile, Joe’s two other daughters were let into the house to retrieve their belongings, thus indicating their was no need to arrest Audrey in the first place, and providing proof that her arrest was a questionable ploy to scare Mr. Woods into leaving the home he did not plan to vacate.<br class="yiv2027261427kix-line-break" /><br class="yiv2027261427kix-line-break" /><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6899" style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">On a national level, this immoral manipulation of Joe’s wish to protect his children is one of the largest escalations of police tactics used to displace black families. The Rochester police showed that they are capable of going to unconscionable lengths to support bank displacement of families in order to suppress their right to housing. Six other supporters were arrested for crossing the police barrier. Two of them were chained to the front porch via a concrete lockbox and were removed after the police sawed into the the concrete. Those arrested were following the adage,</span><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“When you come for one of our neighbors, you come for all of us.”</span></font></font></p> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><span style="font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3">Demands </font></span></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3"><a href="http://takebackroc.rocus.org/">Take Back the Land Rochester</a> is calling for: </font></span></div> <ol id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6904" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;vertical-align:baseline;"> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3"><span style="line-height:1.38;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">A moratorium on police enforced bank evictions. The City mu</span><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:22px;">st</span><span style="line-height:1.38;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> insist that banks be partners in negotiating to keep homeowners in their homes, rather than profiteers looking for financial benefit. </span></font></div> </li> <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;vertical-align:baseline;"> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3">An independent dual-track investigation into allegations of suppression of civil rights and the human right to housing for the Woods family and other struggling homeowners. An investigation into the underlying social, racial, and economic conditions that lead to police abuse and displacement of families of color..  </font></span></div> </li> <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;vertical-align:baseline;"> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3">Greater community control over land in the form of community land trusts which will stem the trend of mass displacement and unaffordable housing. </font></span></div> </li> <li dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6903" style="list-style-type:decimal;vertical-align:baseline;"> <div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435010529567_6905" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3">In order to stem the trend of police abuses around displacement and other forms of racial profiling, greater community control over the police in form of a Civilian Control Board of the Rochester Police which has power to set priorities, policies, and practices. </font></span></div> </li> </ol> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><strong>Upcoming and <u>updated</u> court dates</strong></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;">The six arrested home defenders and Joe Woods' daughter all have court appearances coming up.</div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><strong>Audrey Woods</strong><strong>: </strong>Audrey was held by police until her father left their home. She was eventually released to him. She was charged with obstruction of governmental administration. Her arraignment before <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/99307">Judge Stephen T. Miller</a> took place on June 25, 2015. Her next hearing is <strong>Tuesday, June 30, 10:30am at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd.</strong></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><strong>Shannon Coleman, Jacob Spezio, and Christian Nelson: </strong>All three were charged with trespass and resisting arrest. They were arraigned last week. Their next court date before Judge Maija C. Dixon is <strong>Monday, June 29, 2015, 2:00pm at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd.</strong></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><strong>Alex Comardo and Mike Connelly</strong><strong>: </strong>Alex and Mike were charged with trespass. They were arraigned last week. Their next court date before Judge Maija C. Dixon is <strong>Monday, July 13, 2015, 2:00pm at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd.</strong></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><strong>David Josiah Krause</strong><strong>: </strong>David was charged with criminal mischief, obstruction of governmental administration, trespass, resisting arrest, and harassment. He was arraigned last week as well. His next court date before Judge Maija C. Dixon is <strong>Friday, July 17, 2015, 9:30am at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd.</strong></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><strong>Please come out and support Joe's family and these home defenders. </strong><strong>Housing is a human right! Fight! Fight! Fight!</strong></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><strong>Other coverage of the eviction: </strong>Black Rose Anarchist Federation:<strong> </strong><a href="http://www.blackrosefed.org/when-you-come-for-our-neighbors-you-come-for-us-all/">When You Come For Our Neighbors, You Come For Us All</a> | Democrat &amp; Chronicle: <a href="http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2015/06/18/eviction-protest-rochester-webster-avenue/28937897/">Housing-rights group seeks changes to eviction policies</a> | <a href="http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2015/06/11/rochester-man-fights-webster-avenue-eviction/71086296/">Rochester man protests eviction</a> | WROC Channel 8: <a href="http://www.rochesterhomepage.net/story/d/story/protest-over-local-mans-eviction/31794/XwNJPsrBO0OU0kIiqRyZFw">Protest over local man's eviction</a></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><strong>Other pending eviction actions: </strong>Liz Mcgriff is facing foreclosure as well. Her next court appearance is before Judge John J. Ark, on <strong>Wednesday, July 1, 9:30am at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd.</strong> She has not been evicted yet, but is combatting the bank's arguments for her removal. Please come out and support her. Let's stop it before it begins!</div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"> </div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:1.38;"><strong>Related stories: </strong><a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/100149">Day one of the eviction defense for Joe Woods' house</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/146841">George Douglass evicted! Shame on Wells Fargo!</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/146829">Eviction Protest and Blockade of the Home of George Douglass</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/104392">Stories of Survival &amp; Resistance: a night with Cheri Honkala</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/98403">Mary Smith Pledges to Stay in Her Rochester Home Resisting Foreclosure by American Tax Funding</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/99029">Fannie Mae Calls Off Eviction of Renee Madison in Rochester, Amid Community Pressure</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/99011">Renee Madison at 612 Brooks Ave. Pledges to Stay in Her Home</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/97879">Victory on Barlett Street: Windom Bey Family Get Back their Home for the Holidays after 18 year Struggle and Several Protests</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/47396">Victory for the Windom Bey Family; Mayor Intervenes and Halts Eviction!</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/73477">Community Groups Join Family In Protest at City Hall to Defend Their Home</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/41413">Amid Protests, City Marshal Grants 10-Day Stay on Eviction of Windom Bey Family</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/31677">Facing Foreclosure, Leonard Spears Pledges to Stay in His Home</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/98048">Virginia Henry and Take Back The Land--an interview from 2011</a> |<a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/101110"> Take Back the Land's Catherine Lennon Seals Historic Foreclosure Fight Victory</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/7489">Cathy Lennon is Still in Her House! Nearly 2-Week Old Eviction Blockade Working! The Struggle Continues!</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/7501">Community Groups Demand Justice for the Lennon-Griffin Family; Lennon Livid Over Fannie Mae "Offer"</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/6962">Community Groups Demand Justice for the Lennon-Griffin Family</a> | <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/van-jones/this-is-not-america-swat-_b_843708.html">'This Is Not America': SWAT Team Evicts Grandmother, Community Fights Back (Video)</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/20063/index.php">7 Arrested in Eviction Defense at 9 Ravenwood Ave.</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/20061/index.php">Cathy Lennon is Still in Her House! Nearly 2-Week Old Eviction Blockade Working! The Struggle Continues!</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/20058/index.php">Local Family and Take Back the Land Announce Eviction Defense</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/6460">Woman Arrested in Her Front Lawn for "Trespassing"</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/20053/index.php">"We got sold out; they got bailed out!" Anti-Eviction Rally on S. Goodman Street</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/6091">Take Back the Land Rochester Liberates a Home on CNN</a></div> <p><div class="media media-element-container media-drupalimc_large"><div id="file-12140" class="file file-image file-image-png"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/12140">Joewoods61815.png</a></h2> <div class="content"> <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/Joewoods61815.png?width=500&amp;height=500" class="colorbox-load" alt=""><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/styles/drupalimc_large/public/Joewoods61815.png?itok=s6sWI6zE" alt="" title="" /></a> </div> </div> </div></p>

R-IMC / Contributors: Ricky Six (and photos), Lisa (and photos), Alyssa (and photos), Ryder, Christian, and T. Forsyth (and photos), Liz Mcgriff, and Julie Gelfand

R-IMC / Contributors: Ricky Six (and photos), Lisa (and photos), Alyssa (and photos), Ryder, Christian, and T. Forsyth (and photos), Liz Mcgriff, and Julie Gelfand

7 people arrested defending family; police use extortion to coerce homeowner to leave home

7 people arrested defending family; police use extortion to coerce homeowner to leave home

7 people arrested defending family; police use extortion to coerce homeowner to leave home http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/146942

7 people arrested defending family; police use extortion to coerce homeowner to leave home

7 people arrested defending family; police use extortion to coerce homeowner to leave home

7 people arrested defending family; police use extortion to coerce homeowner to leave home

7 people arrested defending family; police use extortion to coerce homeowner to leave home

7 people arrested defending family; police use extortion to coerce homeowner to leave home

7 people arrested defending family; police use extortion to coerce homeowner to leave home