Action Alert Archives - United For Peace and Justice

No wider war in Syria! Call Congress today. Join protests for peace around the country this weekend.

UFPJ web — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 00:23:46 +0000

As happened a year ago, the United States threatens to spark a wider war in the Middle East. Following allegations of a chemical weapons attack in a town near Damascus, Syria, the United States and its allies immediately placed responsibility on the Syrian government, with Donald Trump launching a twitter storm also blaming Syria’s allies Russia and Iran. Since then Trump has issued a steady stream of escalating threats, culminating in his April 11 tweet threatening that U.S. missiles soon will be heading for Syria, and taunting “Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and ‘smart!’”

Syria and Russia denied any chemical weapons attack has occurred. Both the United Nations Charter and the Chemical Weapons Convention provide means for international investigation and sanction of the use of prohibited weapons. Syria and Russia have declared that they would provide access for investigators from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to the area where the alleged attack occurred. A rush to judgment on these grave allegations is not only unnecessary, but extremely dangerous.

Unilateral use of military force in these circumstances by the United States, which has not been attacked and is not in imminent danger of attack, is unlawful. Strikes by the U.S. and its allies against Syria’s government and military could result in a wider war that brings the nuclear-armed militaries of Russia and the United States into direct conflict. The danger that hostilities could spiral out of control is even greater than it was when the U.S. struck Syria a year ago. U.S. forces in Syria in recent months have fought engagements resulting in the deaths of Russian nationals, likely military contractors. Any extensive campaign against Syria’s bases and military places Russia’s forces in the region at risk. Russian military officials have warned several times in recent weeks that their military may join in defending against any punitive strikes.

There must be an independent investigation of the chemical attack through the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and immediate, urgent diplomatic efforts to end the war in Syria. Call your Senators and Congressional Representatives at 202-224-3121 and tell them that military action only increases the dangers and intensifies the humanitarian catastrophe in the region. Demand that Congress invoke its war powers to block any strikes, and endorse calls for an investigation of the allegations of chemical weapons use, consistent with U.S. treaty obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and the United Nations Charter.

Finally, join us in protests against the endless U.S. wars and war spending scheduled for this weekend, April 14-15, across the country. Find an action near you at the links below. Whether or not the U.S. already has launched strikes against Syria by this weekend, it will be crucial to come out against a wider war, and for peace.

https://www.springaction2018.org/list-of-actions.html

http://demilitarize.org/gdams-2018/ (scroll down for actions in the United States).

Call your Senators and Congressional Representatives at 202-224-3121

Background: the April 2018 allegations of a chemical weapons use in Syria, U.S. threats of punitive actions, and the dangers of a wider war.

Since World War I, use of chemical weapons has been viewed almost universally as monstrous, and as a violation of treaty-based and customary standards of international humanitarian law. If they were used in Syria by any party, that action should be condemned, and all states should cooperate in identifying the perpetrators and in pursuing their apprehension and prosecution by all legal means. There is no provision of international law, however, that allows countries to determine for themselves who they believe the guilty parties to be, and to punish them by acts of war against the territory of a sovereign state. International treaties outlawing chemical weapons and prohibiting their use provide no special exception for such ad hoc use of military force. To the contrary, the Chemical Weapons Convention, the most comprehensive instrument concerning chemical weapons, ratified by the United States (1997), Russia (1997) and Syria (2013), provides for investigation of alleged violations by specialist bodies constituted by the Convention and recourse to the United Nations to authorize any use of force.

Token punitive strikes have neither a legal or practical rationale. If a government is desperate enough to use chemical weapons, it is unlikely to be deterred by a missile strike that has little effect on its broader war aims. Using military force that is likely to result in the deaths of human beings to distract from a leader’s domestic political problems or to cater to particular constituencies is immoral, while at the same time entailing some risk of triggering a broader conflict. A larger strike or aerial campaign designed to seriously damage Syria’s military capabilities would almost certainly risk killing Russian and Iranian military personnel present at Syrian bases. In this regard, it should be noted that Russian officials on several occasions have warned Russia’s armed forces in the region would join in defending against punitive strikes against Syria’s government and armed forces.

These events are occurring amidst a civil war, with outside forces ranging from neighboring states to nuclear-armed great powers aiding an array of warring groups. Russia and the United States, both nuclear-armed, each have troops on Syrian soil and aircraft flying combat missions against targets inside Syria’s borders. Even if the principle is accepted that the world community has a responsibility to protect people from the violence of their own governments, any such action must be crafted to reduce, rather than increase, the level of violence and chaos. Unilateral military strikes by a country already backing factions in a complex civil war are far more likely to intensify an already grave humanitarian crisis, and also could lead to a cycle of confrontation amongst heavily-armed militaries that easily could spiral out of control. In this dangerous context, it is especially important that transparent, credible procedures be followed for investigation of the allegations of chemical weapons use and a determination of the responsible party or parties, as well as for actions to prevent further use and to punish those culpable.

All U.S. military action against Syria’s government and military should cease immediately. All parties in the region, and especially the United States and Russia, which each hold vetoes in the Security Council, should take all necessary measures to facilitate a speedy and thorough investigation of the alleged attack, and to assure that those responsible are held to account. This incident only underscores the danger of this ongoing war and its terrible human toll. All the warring parties and the states that support them must renew a determined pursuit of the war’s end, and of a wider peace.

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THE VERDICT IS IN: STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH FERGUSON

admin — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 11:41:30 +0000

“As I have walked among the desperate, rejected, and angry young men, I have told them that Molotov cocktails and rifles would not solve their problems. I have tried to offer them my deepest compassion while maintaining my conviction that social change comes most meaningfully through nonviolent action. But they ask — and rightly so — what about Vietnam? They ask if our own nation wasn’t using massive doses of violence to solve its problems, to bring about the changes it wanted. Their questions hit home, and I knew that I could never again raise my voice against the violence of the oppressed in the ghettos without having first spoken clearly to the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today — my own government.”

– Martin Luther King, Jr., Beyond Vietnam – A Time to Break Silence, April 4, 1967, Riverside Church, New York City

Dr. King understood the fundamental connections between the war at home and the wars abroad. In the wake of yesterday’s grand jury decision not to indict DarrenWilson for the murder of Michael Brown, United for Peace and Justice continues to stand in solidarity with Mr. Brown’s family, the people of Ferguson and communities around the country who are committed to transforming this tragic miscarriage of justice into a powerful movement to replace racism, injustice, violence and the militarization of police with economic and social justice for all.

In the days to come, we call on groups around the country to express their solidarity by joining or organizing local nonviolent actions.

Here are links to resources you can use:

Ferguson Action: Action listings, demands and resources: www.fergusonaction.com

Don’t Shoot Coalition: Press release, demands and resources: www.dontshootstl.org/

Ferguson National Response Network: Listing of actions around the country: http://fergusonresponse.tumblr.com/

Take the Pledge: Build Political Power in Ferguson: Sign the petition

Participate in #BoycottBlackFriday this week

Text alerts: Text “HANDSUP” to 90975 to stay connected

Words to Action:

On October 3, UFPJ held a national briefing call about Ferguson, featuring Michael McPhearson. To listen to the recording: Playback Number: (712) 432-1219; Meeting ID: 446-724-667#; Recording number: 7#

Send a note to info.ufpj@gmail.com to let us know what your group is planning. [Note corrected e-mail address.]

If you appreciate receiving timely information alerts like this, please make a donation to UFPJ so that we can continue to keep our member groups and dedicated activists linked together for effective action and impact.

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Your Voice Is Urgently Needed! To Advance Diplomacy and Avoid War

admin — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 20:51:18 +0000

The Senate is back in session and will soon be considering the Nuclear Weapons Free Iran Act (S 1881). The clear purpose of this bill is to undermine the promising diplomatic opening to Iran, undertaken by the Obama Administration.

The vast majority of Americans are tired of war and want peaceful solutions to problems. But the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and Israel’s hard-line Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are lobbying furiously to prevent these negotiations from succeeding. This joint effort has already produced 47 co–sponsors in the Senate.

For list of co-sponsors:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d113:SN01881:@@@P

For text of S1881:
http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th/senate-bill/1881/text

All of these Senators need to hear from you, along with your friends and relatives. The last thing most constituents want is another war in the Middle East.

Call the Capitol toll-free at 855-68-NO-WAR (855-686-6927)

Be sure to speak to both your Senators. If they are co-sponsors of this dangerous bill, let them know you want them to withdraw their name. If they are not co-sponsors, let them know you expect a NO vote!

Please forward widely.

If you appreciate receiving timely action alerts like this, please make a donation to UFPJ so that we can continue to keep our member groups and dedicated activists linked together for effective action and impact.

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ACT NOW: Stop Iran Legislation & National Defense Authorization Act

admin — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 21:06:32 +0000

There is one thing worse than a “do-nothing” Congress, and that’s a Congress that actively promotes militarism and war.

This week the House of Representatives will be voting on two dangerous bills:

Representative Cantor (R-VA), with the support of some Democrats, will introduce legislation calling for increased sanctions on Iran and zero enrichment of uranium. This bill could totally derail on-going negotiations, make a final deal impossible, and put us on a path to war. Its aim is in fact to undermine a diplomatic solution.

Also this week, the House will be voting on a final version of the 2014 National Defense Authorization Bill. This measure includes $80.7 billion to continue the war in Afghanistan, on top of a $552.1 billion base budget for the Pentagon. Coming at a time, when we are experiencing cuts in food stamps, public housing, Head Start and a host of federal programs that our people urgently need – this bill is outrageous!

Please call your Representative today on the Capitol Switchboard

1-855-686-6927 with two messages:

I strongly urge you to vote against Rep. Cantor’s legislation on Iran, which would tie the hands of our negotiators and prevent a diplomatic solution.
I strongly urge you to vote against the 2014 Defense Authorization Act, which continues the war in Afghanistan and squanders billions of dollars on wasteful weapons systems at a time when we are not adequately funding the urgent needs of our people.

Call Today! Then Ask Your Friends and Family to Join in this Vital Effort.

Capitol Switchboard 1-855-686-6927

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Call on the White House to Exit Afghanistan NOW!

admin — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 21:09:43 +0000

After 12 years in Afghanistan, the longest war in U.S. history, it is time for our troops and contractors to come home now – leaving no one behind.

Secretary of State John Kerry and President Hamid Karzai are finalizing negotiations to keep as many as 10,000 troops in Afghanistan for years to come. The Obama Administration’s deadline to reach an agreement is Thursday, October 31.

If you support our troops, please take action right now, Call the White House (202-456-1111) or send an email www.whitehouse.gov/contact telling President Obama we want our men and women in uniform home NOW – leaving no U.S. troops or contractors in Afghanistan.

No compelling case has been made for why it is necessary to leave U.S. troops in Afghanistan. All indicators literally scream for an end to the War in Afghanistan with a total withdrawal of all troops:

2,289 U. S. soldiers have died – almost 19,000 injured

the war is not almost over

our troops are still dying and sustaining lifelong injuries every day in Afghanistan

Skyrocketing military suicides, PTSD and TBI injuries
“Green on Blue” attacks, in which members of Afghan forces kill U.S. troops – highlighting the growing resentment against the U.S. occupation even among our Afghan partners
The Afghan people have suffered greatly, alarmingly high rate of civilian deaths http://costsofwar.org/article/afghan-civilians
President Karzai is not a trusted partner and has been highly critical of the U.S.
The costs of this war, $550 billion, clearly outweighs any “supposed” benefits
The vast majority of Americans have supported a quick end to the Afghanistan war for years

It is time for President Obama to listen to the American people and give real support to our troops.

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Civics 101: Cutting Defense Means Not Voting for $642.5 Billion for US Military

admin — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:45:35 +0000

by Carolyn Eisenberg and Gael Murphy

Some readers probably heard on the news how the Democrats were hopping mad when the House Republicans voted recently to overturn the “sequester” on the Pentagon budget, enacted at the end of the year as part of the deficit reduction deal. With that money restored, House Republicans cheerfully went about their business of making up the difference by slashing food stamps, Medicaid for children, federally supported Meals-on-Wheels for the elderly and other programs that help the most vulnerable. Democrats were united in opposing this move and promptly incorporated it into the campaign narrative of hard-hearted, mean-spirited Republicans, whom they are determined to challenge and expose come November.‘Bloated’ does not begin to describe the annual US military budget.

But one odd thing occurred last week. In the House Armed Services Committee, when the Republicans put forward a sequester- busting $642.5 billion for the 2013 Defense Authorization bill, Democrats on the Committee overwhelmingly supported it in a lop-sided vote of 56-5.

In every respect this is an appalling bill. Apart from the colossal waste of money, it includes $88 billion for a war in Afghanistan that the majority of Americans oppose; nuclear upgrades that threaten non-proliferation agreements; programs and weapons that even the Pentagon doesn’t want. The bill also promotes reckless threats on Iran, enables reckless actions by Israel and once again prohibits the transfer of prisoners from Guantanamo Bay to the United States.

On Thursday Representative Barbara Lee, who has been valiantly opposing the war in Afghanistan before it even began, introduced amendment #158 that would limit funding for the war to the safe and responsible removal of all US troops and security contractors from the country. Showing greater strength than previously, 113 members of the House voted in favor. It’s a sign of progress, albeit snail-like, that this many Representatives were willing to stand up and take a clear position. On the other hand, it’s a remarkable commentary on our democracy that 303 Representatives voted to continue a war, which the American public now rejects.

Throughout this week Congressional progressives and libertarians have been battling for valuable amendments that would curtail drone attacks, prevent a military confrontation with Iran and strike out “indefinite detentions.” However, at the end of the day, HR 4310 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) remains an outrageous bill, which no self-respecting member of Congress should be supporting. Partisan rhetoric must not be allowed to obscure the reality that if this over-sized military budget passes the Congress, it will be paid for by the middle and working class and especially the poor.

It makes no sense to excoriate Republicans for lifting the sequester on military spending and then yielding to their request for $642.5 billion for the Pentagon.

This inconsistency persists when constituents are not paying attention to what their elected officials are up to. On Friday May 18, it will be easy to follow the story: members of Congress will be voting on the FY 2013 Defense Authorization. Every person in reach of a cell-phone can do something useful today: call your Representative’s office and make it clear that voters are paying attention and that if he or she continues to feed the war-machine at the expense of truly urgent human needs, they should not expect constituent support come November.

originally posted here

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A Thank You from the Legislative Working Group

admin — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:32:06 +0000

Last week for the first time, the majority of Democrats voted in favor of the Lee Amendment limiting funding for the Afghanistan War to the safe and orderly withdrawal of US troops and security contractors. (101 ayes, 79 Noes). This represents a sea-change of opinion from the time that Rep. Barbara Lee stood alone among her House colleagues eleven years ago, challenging the wisdom of the war. It is unfortunately no surprise that this amendment was defeated 113-303. However, in our upcoming work it will be important to emphasize that the President’s political base is now in clear opposition to his Afghanistan war policy.

On the 2013 NDAA as a whole (HR 4310) we did better than anticipated with a final vote of 120 Noes and 299 Ayes. Fortunately the majority of Democrats voted against the 2013 NDAA. (104-77). The reasons for Democratic voting on this item are ambiguous because the White House itself was displeased with the final version of the bill and because civil liberties was also an important concern. Yet clearly for many Democrats a major factor was the size of the military budget at a time when domestic programs are under attack.

Going forward, it seems possible that with greater unity we might achieve a better result in the next round of votes. The bill now goes to the Senate, where there will be various efforts to shorten the American stay in Afghanistan and to cut billions from the Pentagon budget. Our Legislative Working Group will continue to support these initiatives, as well as stronger amendments to end the war in Afghanistan and to garner more NO votes against the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act.

Roll Call for 2013 Defense Authorization Act:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2012/h291

Roll Call for Lee Amendmenthttp://www.opencongress.org/vote/2012/h/264

Many thanks for everyone who did the Congressional Calls last week. If you obtained any additional information from a Congressional Office, please pass along to

rustiandgael@unitedforpeace.org

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IVAW: MARCH FOR JUSTICE AND RECONCILIATION

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:27:17 +0000

originally posted here

When: Sunday May 20 Rally and March 9AM
Where: Rally Grant Park South of the Lincoln Monument at (E. Balbo Ave. and S. Columbus Dr.)

We, Afghanistan and Iraq veterans, from around the country will converge in Chicago on May 20th to march to the NATO summit and ceremoniously return our medals to NATO generals. We were awarded these medals for serving in the Global War on Terror, a war based on lies and failed polices. This endless war has killed hundreds of thousands, stripped the humanity of all involved, and drained our communities of trillions of dollars, diverting funds from schools, clinics, libraries, and other public goods.Iraq Veterans Against the War calls on fellow service members, veterans, Chicagoans, and everyone who believes in justice, dignity, and respect forall peoples to join us in the streets on May 20th. On this day, we will hold a nonviolent march to the site of the NATO summit where we will ceremoniously return our military service medals. We will demand that NATO immediately end the occupation of Afghanistan and relating economic and social injustices, bring U.S. war dollars home to fund our communities, and acknowledge the rights and humanity of all who are affected by these wars. We wish to begin a process of justice and reconciliation with the people of Afghanistan and other affected nations, fellow service members, veterans, and the American people.

The city of Chicago will host the NATO summit from May 20th-21st. NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is an organization of western military superpowers whose combined military might is the world’s largest and most powerful military force. The NATO mission in Afghanistan has dragged on for over a decade, to the detriment of the people of Afghanistan, military service members and their families, and our communities.

The recent news that the G8 summit, originally set to take place in Chicago this May, has been moved to Camp David shows that the world’s large economies fear the mass mobilization and collective organizing of the people of Chicago. NATO should also be advised that the world’s military superpowers, responsible for unjust wars, occupations, and militarism, are also not welcome in our hometown. We are emboldened by the knowledge that Chicagoans’ call for popular mobilizations was enough to move the G8 out of our city. We must now harness this same people power to send the message loud and clear to NATO that they too will be met with resistance. Furthermore, even though the G8 and NATO will now be held apart from each other, we know that these two summits, and the interests they represent, are linked. War, austerity, poverty, and economic exploitation by the 1% go hand in hand.

It is time for us to take a stand and make our voices heard. We stand in international solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and all the people of the world who are demanding their right to self-determination, their human rights, and economic justice.

To cosponsor the march or for more information contact chicago@ivaw.org I 217-898-9083

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Confronting Corporate Power: Bank of America

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:08:52 +0000

Converge for Justice

Occupy Wall Street, South

Break Up BOA’s Business as Usual!

May 6-9, Charlotte, NC

On May 6-9 people from across the country and world will be converging in Charlotte, NC, home of Bank of America’s Headquarters and their annual Shareholder meeting, to demand an end to their practices that are bankrupting our economy and wrecking our climate.

Homeowners, students, immigrants, environmentalists, workers, women’s groups, peace activists and more will be in Charlotte, bringing their stories, hearts and communities to the fight against Bank of America and the economic inequality, racial injustice and environmental destruction they have wrought.

Bank of America is:

#1 forecloser of homes in the US,
#1 funder of the US coal industry,
Job killer by letting go of nearly 100,000 workers over the past several years,
Bonus Buster paying its top five executives over $500 million in bonuses,
Saddling students with a lifetime of debt, and
Financing the war machine.

Bank of America, and its profits-over-people-and-planet business model, is drowning our democracy through huge financial contributions to lobbyists that are serving the interests of the 1% and are participating in corporate-funded groups like American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the Financial Services Roundtable.

As a global community united for real economic and racial justice, it is time that BoA is held accountable, invest in public needs and services, or face being broken up to achieve the justice we need. Whether you are a community member, homeowner, worker or student, we need to come together to challenge corporate power and create an economy and democracy that works for all of us.

Join the 99% for a Week of Actions

as We Break Up Bank of America’s Business As Usual!

Week of Action!

Sun, May 6

Interfaith Activities

Day of Training

Art making

Action Spokes Council

Mon, May 7

Visibility Day with activities in high traffic areas and local banks!

Action Spokes Council

Tues. May 8

Education Day with Press event and Alternative Summit!

Final trainings and action spokes council

Wed. May 9

Break Up Business as Usual for Bank of America Shareholders!

May 9^th BOA Shareholder Meeting Action Plan:

On the morning of May 9 at 8 am, people from around the state, country and world will converge on the “Wall Street of the South” to participate in creative, mass non-violent direct action to “Break Up Business As Usual for Bank of America.” Our marches will carry our call for justice to the doors of the Shareholder meeting and surrounding areas. On the day of the Shareholder meeting, people will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of creative educational, cultural, theatrical, visibility, and nonviolent direct action activities.

March Assembly Sites:

Housing Justice Now! Bank of America, N. Tryon @ 9^th St.

Stop Funding Coal and the Militarization of Our Communities! The Green, Tryon @ Levine Ave of the Arts

Corporations Out of Politics: Pay Your Taxes Not Your Lobbyists! Old City Hall, Davidson @ 4^th St

For more information on how to get involved in organizing for the Bank of America Shareholder’s protest, visit www.ncagainstcorporatepower.org

Facebook event: Protest the Bank of America Shareholder Meeting

https://www.facebook.com/events/283287288413972/

Twitter: #MakeBoAPay

For questions related to general information, please email: nc.boa.general@gmail.com

For questions related to the Week of Actions, please email: BOA.actioninfo@gmail.com

Originally posted Here

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Direct Action: The 99% Takeover of the Wells Fargo Annual General Meeting

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:48:52 +0000

Tuesday, April 24th at 10am Meet at Justin Herman Plaza Mass sit-in and rally

March to Shareholder Meeting at Merchants Exchange Building 465 California St., SF  

Wells Fargo has hurt millions of people around the country with their bad practices. Almost every section of our communities have been impacted by this bank and there are so many reasons why you need to come out and stand up to them.

On Tuesday, April 24, the 99% who have been devastated by Big Banks’ bad practices are stopping Wells Fargo Shareholders from having their same old Annual Meeting.

Instead of them discussing how they are going to continue to profit off the devastation of communities of color, we will be holding a Peoples’ Stakeholder meeting to share the stories of those of us most impacted by Wells Fargo’s greedy, racist practices.

Someone you know has been hurt by Wells Fargo, whether they are a senior fighting to save their home, a student struggling to afford school or a husband fighting to keep his wife from deportation and his family intact.

Enough is enough! We need to let them know that we will not stand by as they continue to hurt our families and communities.

Wells Fargo Bank is responsible for some of the worse abuses of public funds and resources. It has received $43.7 billion in bailout funds, but continues to foreclose on families and neglects to pay taxes.

One in five foreclosures in the nation are concentrated in California and Wells Fargo owns a significant portion of loans that they have allowed to go into foreclosure.

Here are the numbers: Wells Fargo Bank is the lender on almost 2,000 (1,745) homes in San Francisco that are in some stage of foreclosure. That’s almost 12% of the 14,956 homes in San Francisco that are in some stage of foreclosure

Their application of the federally approved Home Affordable Modification Program, (HAMP) which aim to lower monthly payments so that distressed homeowners can avoid foreclosure, has been negligible.

Numbers for Wells Fargo as of Feb 2011 show that only 77,402 homeowners got permanent modifications: a 22% rate of modification more than two years into the program.

Wells Fargo has canceled 118,697 trial modifications and denied 175,336 homeowners from accessing HAMP. Unlike other national banks, Wells Fargo has not changed its foreclosure procedures despite numerous confirmed reports of “robo-signing” and other illegalities in the foreclosure process.”

Not only that, over the last ten years, Wells Fargo paid the lowest worldwide tax rate of the top five big banks (24.8%–$27.5 billion on $110.9 billion pre-tax earnings) and reportedly did not pay any federal taxes in 2009.”

Private Prison And Detention Center Connections

Wells is no friend to immigrants either. In fact, it is a prison profiteer. As of December 31, 2010, Wells Fargo had $88.7 million, or 4 million shares invested in the GEO Group, http://www.geogroup.com/

in the nation’s second-largest private prison company, and $5.9 million, ½ shares, in CCA (Corrections Corporation of America) according to Security and Exchange Commission filings. Their combined prison holdings are valued upwards of 120 million. GEO and CCA spend millions lobbying against comprehensive immigration reform and for anti-immigrant legislation and share the same lobbyists in Washington D.C. firm, The Podesta Group.

Private Prisons receive an average of $122 a day per person in detention. The average number of people in detention is 30,000, which costs taxpayers over $3.7 million daily. HB87 is expected to create record profits for private prison companies, Georgia is already home to the largest detention center Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin (1752 capacity).

Wells Fargo and CCA made contributions to HB87 sponsor Georgia Senator Bill Hamrick. HB87 is considered to be one of the most draconian anti-immigrant measures in the country. GEO and CCA made contributions Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, who signed the anti-immigrant measure. CCA, GEO, and Wells Fargo made contributions to several politicians in State House and State Senate who voted in favor of HB87. GEO Group also sponsored and lobbied for Arizona’s HB 1070 law which is one of the worst anti-immigrant laws in the country

Wells Fargo uses its mutual funds, the money deposited by its clients, to invest in these private detention corporations. Wells Fargo is undermining San Francisco’s status as a sanctuary city by profiting off the criminalization of immigrants with immigrants’ own money.

Wells Fargo has its hands deep in this nation’s pockets and continues to take far more than its fair share. From homes, to interest on payday loans, to priosns and detention centers, to student loans to tax dollars, Wells Fargo’s profits
at the cost of our communities.

So join us on April 24, when we let Wells know that in their single-minded pursuit for profit, they are bankrupting the 99%!

*** Call To Action Originally Posted here**

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