Anita Reyes Travels 90 Miles to Confront Bank; Bank Executive Hides in Office, Calls Police

American Indian Movement founder Mary Wilson Medrano and supporters flood the Onamia headquarters of Woodlands National Bank.
When homeowner Anita Reyes traveled 90 miles to native-owned Woodlands National Bank’s Headquarters in Onamia, MN on Thursday, she hoped to meet with someone to discuss her foreclosure. Instead, bank representatives called the police. 
Anita was joined by supporters from the American Indian Movement and Occupy Homes MN.  The caravan spanned four generations of activists, including Mary Jane Wilson-Medrano, one of the founding members of AIM. The group peacefully entered the bank and asked to speak with Vice President Cindy Koonce, who has been Anita’s main point of contact. Although Koonce was in the building, she relayed via cashier that she would not meet with Reyes nor members of the American Indian Movement.  When they asked if there was a better time or day, supporters were told to leave the property.

Anita Reyes has been battling Woodlands National Bank for over a year, and over the last few weeks has received support from her neighbors in the Longfellow Neighborhood, members of the American Indian Movement and Occupy Homes MN.  The bank foreclosed on Anita when she fell three months behind on her mortgage because of illness.

Anita received an eviction notice in mid-June.  In response, Occupy Homes MN organized a national call-in drive to the bank, and within hours, Anita got a call from the bank offering a deal to keep her in her home. The next day, the bank backed out, claiming that she had called four minutes after the deadline.  Since then, she has been living in constant distress, waiting for sheriffs to appear and kick in her door.
Spirits were high in spite of the bank’s refusal to meet.  “Now we’re on the offensive,” said Chris Gray, an Occupy Homes MN organizer, “we’re not waiting around at Anita’s house for the sheriffs.  We’re knocking on the bank’s door, showing them the support Anita has, letting them know we’re not going anywhere.”

Anita expressed disbelief at the bank’s continued refusal to meet with her. “All that I am asking is for Woodlands National Bank to sit down and negotiate with me, so I can stay in my community,” she said. “All I want to do is to pay my mortgage and stay in my home.”

Supporters said they were enthusiastic about returning to the bank and planning more actions for the weeks to come.
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Showing 8 reactions


Wanda Boomhower commented 2012-08-15 14:47:57 -0500
It seems there is something missing in the story…was she late when?? Makes no sense…the lady wants to pay her mortgage and go home..where is the lateness when THE BANK CALLED HER to come in and make the arrangement? Somethin’s missing …is it because she was to call them the next day first or what?
@laureloutloudd tweeted link to this page. 2012-08-08 11:32:00 -0500
Troy Amlee – a seeds of CHANGER! http://t.co/zVH9lRUy
@HenryCorp tweeted link to this page. 2012-07-31 14:20:06 -0500
Anita Reyes Travels 90 Miles to Confront Bank; Bank Executive Hides in Office, Calls Police http://t.co/X53nBrvP via @OccupyHomesMN
@darealmaozedong tweeted link to this page. 2012-07-31 11:18:49 -0500
@OccupyBaltimore tweeted link to this page. 2012-07-31 11:03:41 -0500
@RupturEone mentioned @OccupyHomesMN link to this page. 2012-07-31 10:00:53 -0500
Anita Reyes Travels 90 Miles to Confront Bank; Bank Executive Hides in Office, Calls Police http://t.co/X53nBrvP via @OccupyHomesMN
@OccupyHomesMN tweeted this page. 2012-07-31 09:53:09 -0500
Anita Reyes Travels 90 Miles to Confront Bank; Bank Executive Hides in Office, Calls Police. Ask bank why: 320-532-7003 http://www.occupyhomesmn.org/anita_reyes_travels_90_miles_to_confront_bank_bank_executive_hides_in_office_calls_police?recruiter_id=67
Occupy Homes MN posted about Anita Reyes Travels 90 Miles to Confront Bank; Bank Executive Hides in Office, Calls Police on Occupy Homes MN’s Facebook page 2012-07-31 09:48:04 -0500
When Anita traveled to Woodlands National Bank’s national headquarters last week hoping to meet with someone about her foreclosure, bank executives called the police instead. Please LIKE and SHARE if you think banks owe their customers a face-to-face meeting. Then call Ken Villebro at (320) 532-7003 and ask him why his bank is more comfortable calling the police than working with its customers.
Chris Gray published this page in News 2012-07-31 00:25:00 -0500