7 Arrested in Eviction Defense at 9 Ravenwood Ave.
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At about 9:05am this morning about 13 police cars blocked off Ravenwood Ave. and stormed 9 Ravenwood Ave. to forcibly evict the Lennon-Griffen family from their home. Police put up crime scene tape and a group of movers with a U-haul showed up to empty the house. Around 10:30am a group of community members ran through the police crime scene tape and blocked the front door to the house in an act of civil disobedience. Five community members—Jake Allen, Emily Good, Crescenzo Scipione, Zora Gussow, and Ryan Gromkoski—were arrested and charged with obstruction of government administration and trespass. Currently they are being processed at the public safety building on Plymouth Ave. Jail support is scheduled to start a 1pm.
As of 11:15am, two more community members were arrested. Jake Spezio was arrested for trespass and disorderly conduct when he was caught cutting the corner of the police line (an honest mistake it seems) and the other, Liz Rich, a neighbor on Aberdeen St., (a 70 year old retired woman in her pajamas), was arrested for disorderly conduct when she was asking an officer why Spezio was being arrested. The police then forced all witnesses to the end of the street and threatened neighbors for walking by the house.
Take Back the Land - Rochester has been working with Catherine Lennon and her family to get Fannie Mae to renegotiate her mortgage. Public support and an eviction defense has been going on for the last two weeks.
A press conference is scheduled for 7pm tonight at 9 Ravenwood Ave. followed by a candle light vigil at 7:30pm. Please come down and show your support and outrage!
Update: Ravenwood Eviction: Negotiations with Fannie Mae Begin | Ravenwood 7 Arraigned in Judge Johnson's Court
Eviction and Arrests at 9 Ravenwood Ave.
Take Back the Land Rochester Press Conference, Speakout and Vigil on 3/28/11
Additional Information: Cathy Lennon is Still in Her House! Nearly 2-Week Old Eviction Blockade Working! The Struggle Continues!