Washington, DC - Hundreds of workers and community allies, members of National People's Action affiliates and the Service Employees International Union, visited the homes of the top lobbyists and government affairs staff of Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase today to demand the Wall Street firms stop fighting efforts to help rebuild the economy.

Several people at the demonstration had stories of the failure of Bank of America and other banks to save their homes from foreclosure. Trenda Kennedy, a member of Indiana People's Action, has had to speak to 27 different Bank of America representatives and still has not reached a modification agreement.

"Bank of America and other Wall Street firms must take responsibility for foreclosed homes, and for helping homeowners stay in their homes. We demand real, effective foreclosure prevention," said Roger Davis of Communities United for Action in Cincinnati. "And we need Wall Street banks to provide safe, affordable credit to our communities."

Peter Scher, Executive Vice President for Global Government Affairs and Public Policy for JPMorgan Chase and Gregory Baer, Deputy General Counsel for the Regulatory and Public Policy Group of Bank of America, are among the chief lobbyists and government affairs staff fighting against Wall Street reform and other solutions to help people keep their homes and put America back to work. Since the bailouts, Bank of America has spent more than $17 million on lobbying and JPMorgan Chase has spent $15 million fighting reforms.

"Once my home entered into foreclosure proceedings, I did everything I could to modify my loan. But the entire process has been truly frustrating and after almost a year of trying to stabilize my situation, the modification process is still not complete," said Mark Freeman, a shipping and receiving clerk and a member of SEIU from Minnesota who is in danger of losing his home following an injury on the job. "I'm in Washington with other workers to take back our economy."

Today's demonstration launches two days of actions challenging the toxic influence of Wall Street and corporate lobbyists on our political and economic system. Tomorrow, SEIU and NPA members and leaders will join thousands of workers and community allies from across the country for a number of actions targeting Wall Street lobbyists and a major rally and march on K St. The rally begins at 11:45am at 15th and K St. NW.

Photos and videos of all events and activities are being captured and provided to the media through the following websites:

• www.SEIU.org/bigbanks
• YouTube - http://YouTube.com/ShowdownInAmerica
• Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=ShowdownInAmerica

"

###