There were 12 arrests in West Oakland today, Dec. 29, after police raided a foreclosed home on 10th Street that Occupy Oakland activists had taken over to use as housing for the homeless and meeting space, according to a press release just issued by Causa Justa :: Just Cause, a housing and immigrant rights organization based in Oakland and S.F.
Here’s a link to live footage shot earlier today: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/19454451
Organizers are asking supporters to contact the Oakland Police Department and demand the release of those in custody, the press release noted.
Activists took over the Fannie Mae-owned vacant property on Dec. 6, on the National Day of Action, “as a call to stop fraudulent lending practices and illegal evictions by banks,” according to CJJC.
Activists provided two reasons for taking over the property:”To demand that Fannie Mae turn it into low-income housing,” and “In support of the Ramirez family, whose home in East Oakland was improperly foreclosed on by Fannie Mae in May of 2011. Bank of America acting on behalf of Fannie Mae sold the Ramirez home while the bank was supposed to still be working with them. The family is now renting the home they once owned.”