On
Aug. 5 in San Francisco, about 300 people joined in a spirited
demonstration targeting corporations and financial institutions that
received TARP bailout money. Western Regional Advocacy Project
organized the demonstration dubbed the “TARP Tour.” The lead
banner and numerous signs said “House Keys not Handcuffs” and one
of the main chants was “Fight Fight Fight, ‘Cause Housing is a
Human Right.”
WRAP is a coalition of housing rights
organizations on the West Coast. Members are Building Opportunities
for Self-Sufficiency, San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness, Los
Angeles Community Action Network, and Sisters of the Road and Street
Roots. Other organizations that participated included Homes Not
Jails, Code Pink, ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and Racism)
and the Party for Socialism and Liberation.<
At
Union Square, speakers from the WRAP member organizations addressed
the crowd. Other speakers included representatives of Causa Justa
(Just Cause) and Poor Magazine. Brenda Barros, Service Employees
International Union (SEIU), and the Local 1021 delegate to the SF
Labor Council also spoke. SEIU Local 1021 represents employees of the
City and County of San Francisco.
“No
Contract, No Peace” rang out as the march approached the Hyatt
hotel. Mike Casey, president of UNITE HERE Local 2 and the SF Labor
Council delivered a militant speech in front of the hotel while the
marchers filled the street. Then, the Brass Liberation Orchestra
accompanied singers and dancers in a reprise of “Bad
Hotel.”
Following, the marchers proceeded to
hold brief street rallies in front of Charles Schwab, Sen. Dianne
Feinstein’s office at the McKesson Building and Wells Fargo Bank.
