Union, community activists back anti-foreclosure fighter

The bank foreclosed on June Reyno’s home of over 19 years and ordered her eviction last week. Instead of quietly submitting, June has made a heroic decision to chain herself to her home.

Oct. 30 news conference shows broad support for June Reyno. WW photo: Bob McCubbin

Although her decision has brought upon her the wrath of the corporate world, it has also garnered her support from union and community activists.

The San Diego Ad Hoc Committee Against Foreclosures and the Los Angeles based Labor-Community Coalition Against Foreclosures and Evictions mobilized that support at a news conference Oct. 30.

Rosie Martinez, on the Executive Board of SEIU Local 721 and chair of the union’s Latino Caucus, who traveled a long distance to the conference, explained the importance of showing solidarity with Reyno. “June’s action is heroic and we are calling for a moratorium on all foreclosures,” Martinez explained.

Other participants at the press conference were Fernando Fernando of BAYAN-USA; Martha Rojas of the Labor-Community Coalition; Kathy Hughart of the Crown Point Shores Condominium Association; John Parker of International Action Center; and youth activist Eugene Gambol of San Diego Anakbayan.

Reyno spoke about her motivation: “I believe that after the $700 billion dollar bailout this home no longer belongs to the banks. It belongs to the American people who paid for that bailout.

“This is not just about me, this is about every person facing foreclosures. ... We cannot let the banks steal our American dream.”

Reyno’s actions have received wide media coverage. The news conference was no exception, with over seven TV news stations present.

However, given the support generated, undoubtedly the banks are worried about how her message encourages and inspires further militancy of those foreclosed and given an eviction order.

At least this was indicated by the calculated and ruthless attacks from the media, both in their hostile questions during the press conference and the distorted coverage afterwards.

Reyno, who is Filipina, was in the real-estate business. She owned other homes to resell and has defaulted on another loan. Because of this, the corporate media in San Diego have painted her as someone not deserving of help.

Reyno has also been attacked for refinancing to support her business, a practice many working people use to survive or build their small businesses.

The International Action Center in Los Angeles, a member organization of the Labor-Community Coalition, published the following statement in response to the media attacks:

“As could have been predicted, the media decided to side with their corporate supporters and move the issue from the crisis of foreclosure to the actions of an individual, trying to discredit her for defaulting on past loans and having a real e business.

“We know this is just an attempt to divide and conquer and unfortunately some so-called progressives get duped by this, but we know that any foreclosure is unjustified in this economic climate, with trillions of dollars of our money used to bail out corrupt banks that are responsible for destroying millions of lives.

“We know the banks and their mouthpieces are going after her because what she’s doing right now constitutes a real threat to them that could inspire others being foreclosed to undertake similar militant actions.

“The demand for a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions is rooted in history. During the Great Depression era 25 states had a moratorium on foreclosures and though it was challenged by the financial institutions, it was won again in a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Part of the strategy to stop evictions back then was to galvanize the community and move furniture back into the homes of those evicted.

“The activists didn’t stop to consider who deserved to be defended from eviction. They simply supported their neighbors—all of their neighbors under attack by monopoly bankers. It was unity that made these struggles powerful, compelling and victorious.

“If we are to support a call for a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions should we say ‘only for those who didn’t buy into the idea pushed on every working person to have your own business, sometimes in real estate.’ Should we have multiple exceptions and invite divisions amongst ourselves that our enemies will exploit, making our efforts weak and impotent.

“No, if we are to demand a moratorium on foreclosures we must have a united voice and not allow the corporate media to define our debate, nor make us defensive and distrustful of working people who will have the courage to stand up and defy them, no matter what mistakes they may or may not have made in the past.

“As long as the banks are being bailed out to the tune of trillions of dollars and the economic crisis persists, no working or poor person should be foreclosed or evicted—period.”

As of this writing, Reyno is still in her home. Let’s hope the crooked banks don’t become the beneficiaries of orchestrated divisions in this struggle.