Bank protesters descend on downtown Chicago

Bank protesters descend on downtown Chicago
By Daarel Burnette II
Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune
October 27, 2009 7:24 PM
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/10/american-bankers-association-protest-michigan-avenue-chicago-showdown.html


"Downsized Man" -- aka Stan Wiklinski of Clifton, N.J. -- joins thousands of activists outside the Sheraton Hotel on North Water today to protest the American Bankers Association convention. (Michael Tercha/Chicago Tribune)

Angenita Tanner, a 45-year-old owner of a day care center, said that times are so tough that her customers have begun paying with food instead of money.

"Everything's in limbo," said Tanner, who lives in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood. "It just seems like everyone is struggling."

Tanner this morning joined about 3,000 people in downtown Chicago to protest the American Bankers Association convention. The event, organized by a host of unions, human rights and advocacy groups, is part of a series of protests aimed at bankers and congressmen who are trying to prevent financial reform.

On Sunday, protesters tried unsuccessfully to crash the convention's opening reception.

Many of the protesters Tuesday arrived on buses and marched toward Pioneer Court, where they held a rally.

People chanted, held signs and cheered for local workers, clergy, union activists and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Speakers told of rising foreclosure rates, unemployment and credit card fees.

"We are at a crossroads in this country," said Thomas Balanoff, president of the Service Employees International Union Illinois Council. "There shouldn't just be recovery at the top. There should be a recovery for everyone. The people are angry, and they want the banks to be held accountable."

Officials with the ABA have said that they support reform of banking practices but they are not in favor of the Obama administration's proposal to create the Consumer Financial Protection Agency, which could establish consumer protection rules and ban business practices deemed unfair, dishonest or abusive, among other things. ABA officials said the agency would be simply another bureaucracy, a spokesman has said.