Fray night Atlanta police literally had to evacuate a person from Chase Bank in Midtown, after an Occupy Atlanta rally turned heated and confrontational.
ATLANTA (WXIA) -- Friday night Atlanta police literally had to evacuate a person from Chase Bank in Midtown, after an Occupy Atlanta rally turned heated and confrontational.
The movement, which has evolved nationally into an advocacy for homeowners facing foreclosure, has repeatedly targeted banks like Chase for taking away homes from people in financial distress.
"Everybody knows that this was really wrong," said Valerie Pittman, whose mother owned the foreclosed home. "I hope that Chase Bank will look out and hear us today, because we really want our mother's house back."
Shouting "give us the keys back!" the protestors converged on the bank, which had closed early. The dispute began about a mile away at a foreclosed home in the Old Fourth Ward.
"This particular home is worth a hundred-thousand dollars," said family spokesperson Sandra King. "But obviously with the predatory loan, they're charging us $400,000 for the home."
Chase officials dispute that figure, but citing privacy concerns would not reveal what was offered or owed.
Occupiers have been camped in the yard of the home for weeks, defying the bank to evict the family.
"The 99 percent built these homes. The 99 percent is staying in their homes," promised protestor Kevin Sloat, as he prepared to march with 100 others to the bank.
Chase says the family has been offered a new cheaper mortgage, but says it will not give them the deed for free, as the protestors are demanding.
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