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FAIRFIELD, Conn. Demonstrators led by MoveOn.Org will rally Thursday afternoon at a Fairfield Bank of America branch as part of a nationwide protest to demand President Barack Obama hold banks accountable for the countrys foreclosure crisis.
The rally, which may also include Occupy Wall Street protesters, will kick off at 4:30 p.m. at the Bank of America branch at 1366 Boston Post Road.
The national day of action called "Yes He Can" is taking place across the country at Obama for America campaign offices and at some of the largest banks in America.
The protests are calling on the president a week before his State of the Union address to hold the big banks accountable by ordering a federal investigation into Wall Streets involvement in the foreclosure crisis and oppose a sweetheart deal that would give them immunity from investigation.
Terry Masters, MoveON regional organizer in Fairfield and New Haven counties, said shes hoping for between 40 and 50 people at the Fairfield protest.
It is far past the time for big banks to be held responsible for the housing crisis, but there have been some members of the Obama administration pushing for a woefully inadequate settlement with big banks for their role in the financial meltdown, said Masters. Were counting on Obama to fight for the 99 percent so the big banks do not get let off the hook with a slap on the wrist.
Four rallies are being held in Connecticut.
In addition to the Fairfield protest, rallies are planned at Bank of America branches at noon in New Haven, 157 Church St.; at 3:30 p.m. in Bridgeport, 10 Middle St., and at 4:30 p.m. in Danbury, 323 Main St.
At the events, participants will distribute a petition with more than 220,000 signatures demanding President of Obama "hold Wall Street banks accountable by fully investigating the big bank fraud that caused the housing crisis."
The rallies and petition drive come after state attorney generals temporarily blocked what MoveOn calls a sweetheart deal that would have given broad immunity to the banks for their role in the housing crisis. The president has the power to decide whether or not to move forward with a full federal investigation of the banks.
MoveOn contends that at the end of 2011, big banks doled out $156 billion in compensation and had foreclosed on over 350,000 homes.
Tiffany Mellers, a Bridgeport MoveOn member, said "millions of homes and jobs have been lost, and the president has yet to hold the banks accountable for the fraudulent foreclosure practices that nearly torpedoed the economy.
"President Obama has the power to order a federal investigation and start the year with a real win for the 99% movement, Mellers said. The big banks must be held responsible for the havoc they wreaked on homeowners and the economy."
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