Subscribe to Common Dreams News Updates
Most Popular This Week
Popular content
Today's Top News
Citibank Arrests Customers for Trying to Close Accounts
NEW YORK - Customers of Citibank were arrested over the weekend after trying to close down their bank accounts.
Twenty-three customers of Citibank allegedly found themselves under arrest after being locked in the bank at 555 La Guardia Place, New York by security guards who even forced legitimate Citibank customers going about their daily business back into the bank.
Citibank responded to the allegations of arresting customer by releasing this statement:
“A large amount of protesters entered our branch at 555 La Guardia Place around 2:00 PM today. They were very disruptive and refused to leave after being repeatedly asked, causing our staff to call 911. The Police asked the branch staff to close the branch until the protesters could be removed. Only one person asked to close an account and was accommodated.”
Video below shows quite clearly that those inside the La Guardia Place branch of Citibank were not disruptive and remained quite calm and peaceful and also there are reports from eyewitnesses stating the explanation given by Citibank is far from the truth.
The Occupy Wall Street movement has seen a resurgence of Eric Cantona’s call for people to withdraw their money from the banks and one site moveyourmoneyproject.org is attempting to assist this move.
This notion of removing money from the banks in order to bring them down is a genuine threat to the banking industry and we can expect more arrests by banks who are using the police force as their private security to prevent a collapse in their interests through mass deposit withdrawal.
- Posted in
91 Comments so far
Show AllArresting people for peaceful assembly, the hallmark of a free society.
I have been kicking around the idea of moving my money out of my current financial establishment. After this disgrace, I am no longer on the fence. My money is coming out and going into my nearest CU.
Actually, as far as I can tell, these CUSTOMERS were arrested for trying close their accounts.
Banksters and the politicians they own have been decriminalizaing this type of activity for 30 years under the guise of deregulation.
We must immediately demand that all of FDR's New Deal regulations that were decriminalized, be restored and banksters held to account retroactively.
I remember reading about protest training workshops and think a tactic was caught in this clip. The guy inside walked to the window and pointed to the inside of his elbow a couple of times. I'm guessing it was a signal to send lawyers, guns, and money. Ok, just defense lawyers with bail money. There are experienced people working in this movement and I'm grateful for there effort.
Oh, hey ray, how about we join the world community and cast off these oppressive governments and capitalism? Is this global movement about tweaking the u.s.'s laws to facilitate the perpetuation of capitalism or something larger?
The police are doing what's know as Trolling. DON'T FEED THE TROLLS.
Yes!! We must all take all of our money out of the big national banks. Take your money and put it in a Credit Union or buy gold or silver coins. Do not rely on the FDIC to protect your money in the bank. So many banks have already gone under and the FDIC is broke. You have NO GOVERNMENT INSURANCE to pay you what you have in that bank when it goes bankrupt---and that is any day now. The banks that took the trillions of our tax dollars are known as 'ZOMBIE BANKS'. These banks are the walking dead. Looks like it is an alive bank, but it is not. Get your money before the coming 'bank holiday'. Read about that. Happened in the depression in the 30s and it will happen again in this economic crash.
Even if FDIC doesn't go broke, you will continue to get near zero interest rates on FDIC insured accounts since the banks now are required to pay six times more for FDIC insurance (than they did prior to the wave of bank failuresthat started in 2008) in order to pay for all the banks FDIC "rescued" during the past three years.
The whole economy is analagous to a rubber band being stretched slowly ever tighter. Some part of it, the economic rubber band, at some most overstressed point, is going to suddenly SNAP. Would a run on the banks and a bank holiday open a few more eyes? Not to mention all those socialized externalized costs of numerous toxic assaults on the planetary environment. Will this planet survive the massive toxic overload we are generating in our efforts toward self-extinction? I hope some of the birds survive. And some insects for food for them. And some worms. If that much survives the planet can rebuild itself.
That doesn't always work, unfortunately. I just tried that a few weeks ago with an account at a bank that was just bought out by Capital One. The check cleared, all right, but the bank neither closed the account nor stopped making automatic withdrawals from another account. I spent quite a while on the phone getting that one cleared up.
This branch couldn't handle 25 people? Who are these "white shirts"? They arrested a person who clearly could prove she had business with the bank? And they arrested people outside the bank? On what grounds? I'd scream too, if ten police officers manhandled me outside my bank.
I believe the lady they dragged into the bank had previously been inside, and had already exited the bank when the bank officials locked the doors and ordered everyone to leave, after which they arrested people for not leaving. Seems like locking people into the bank is sort of like hostage taking, and that bank officials are the ones who should have been arrested, not to mention the cops who kidnapped the woman in front of tha bank and dragged her back inside. Perhaps she had successfully closed her account and they didn't want to let her get away with that...
"kidnapped" is exactly the right word. She was kidnapped --- and the jail time should be high for those who did this --- in a truly just world.
>>Who are these "white shirts"?
Exactly.
One can debate the right and wrong of this incident all day, but the more interesting aspect is that it's no doubt an example of the NYPD Cop For Hire program. And is blatant corruption, giving a RentACop the power and authority of a police officer.
There should be an investigative reporter from the NYT working on this story. This should be laid out for all to see. Badge numbers, Who's paying, etc. Some serious egg on Bloomberg's face. Front page stuff.
You know if their wish is swell the ranks of the "occupy" movement Citibank is doing all the right things.
Exactly. Just shows how utterly clueless the rulers of the corporate plutocracy truly are. Despite the hundreds of thousands protesting worldwide - or is it millions now? - in countries all over the world, and thousands of US cities growing by the day, these dumb shits STILL don't get it. Or they DO get it, but they smugly think that as long as they own the police and the military that they can continue acting like the snobbish cruel shits that they are. They are in for a rather rude awakening as time goes by, I'm afraid. These types of incidents are just adding fuel to the fire.
Outrage against the oppressors continues to build; all part of the Rebellion ! The empire WILL fall !
I think they do get it. They are not worried about the protests in the streets. If the people get too angry and loud the police and the army will be used to 'pacify' them. The government has army bases within the United States to imprison people for acts of civil unrest. Our government has invested in many forms of 'crowd control'. The mace, taser and tear gas are so old fashioned. Now they have high power water canons, machines that emit high pierced noise and devices to pulse ultra sonic waves to knock out your nervous system. Hit with these waves you fall like you had a heart attack.
The rich bastards who control 'our' government will use these tactics without remorse or pity. I fear these evil people want the demonstrations to get violent and will hire goons to throw bombs and start fires so these new tools can be used . The people will be so totally frightened into a state of passive acceptance to our new system of fascism. This is not democracy.
I think our only hope is to throw out the total membership of both the House and the Senate. We must somehow get Representatives who will heed the voice of the people. You must never again vote for ANYONE in an elected position in our federal government now. They are totally corrupt. And you know this. Forget that blather about the lesser evil. They are all EVIL and working in the pay of the members of the Forbes Four Hundred. This is no government of the people, by the people and for the people. And you know this too.
I believe you are absolutely correct. I know the plutocracy will indeed bring out all the tools at its disposal to quash any rebellion, or anything that even smells like an uprising. But - I'm starting to think that perhaps the citizenry may very well not go quietly into that good night after all. Anger is building, and I think the more the fascist government pushes back, the angrier they will become...
To the big banking crowd who thumb their nose at democracy, the 99% say "Stop now!" "We want the democracy so many have given their blood and lives for. It's not for sale!
This means all internationally who've given their blood and lives for same.
Sure sounds like grounds for civil suits.
Against the bank and the police.
My biggest problems are #1 I belong to a small local bank that thinks it's one of the big boys and #2 there aren't any credit unions near by for me to transfer to. Guess I came up snake eyes on this one!
Try checking here, they let you input your zip:
http://moveyourmoneyproject.org/find-bankcredit-union
Yea I hear you about the credit unions. One day I literally spent hours going over every local CU website seeing if I was eligible to join them. Most require that you be employed by such and such a company. I finally found two that the only requirement was residence in my county.
Bank by mail. You use your debit card from that bank to withdraw money from ATM's. If it is a good bank or credit union, they will pay the fee you are charged for withdrawing from a different bank.
Easy.
Anyone who still has money in a major bank is a part of the problem. What are you people thinking? The time to withdraw your money was 3 years ago, and even that was late.
I suppose better late than never, but, my God - what will it take?
US hunger rate triple that in China
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/oct2011/hung-o17.shtml
DTE Energy turns out the lights on Highland Park, Michigan neighborhoods
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/oct2011/high-o17.shtml
Bea
I think your idea is a good one. Unfortunately, the major bank that my wife and I belong to is also the same one which we had applied to ten years ago in order to purchase our home. It would then appear that we are beholden to this bank until our thirty year mortgage is finally paid off.
Only as far as your mortgage. You are still free to move your savings and checking accounts. Unless the terms of your mortgage state otherwise. You could just keep minimums in them and open new accounts in a local bank or credit union.
I don't know what your interest rate is, but I know that interest rates were higher 10 years ago than they are now. If you refinance now, you'll probably save a lot of money, and no, you don't have to stick to your current lender.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5985146_refinance-mortgage-different-bank.html
It's definitely worth investigating.
You've been paying your mortgage for 10 yrs. Got 20 years to go. With today's rate you should look at a 15 yr refi. I bet your monthly payment is gonna be lower and you gonna save a sh!tload of money in the long run. Now that's a good way to screw with your bank.
What you describe is exactly what I did several years ago. I went from 20 years at 9% to 15 at 4.5% with a lower payment and no private mortgage insurance. It is easily done assuming the bank doesn't make it needlessly difficult. Mine didn't at the time.
10 cops to subdue one female bank customer, outside of the building. Doesn't seem like a reasonable use of public resources to me. If the charges are dropped does the bank reimburse the police department?
The OWS folks chant: "This is what Democracy Looks Like!"
While the banks are chanting :"This is What Fascism Looks Like"
Locking people INSIDE the bank, and having people arrested for trying withdraw their own money?
Sounds like grounds for legitimate charges of unlawful confinement (a felony), coercive business practices (a felony), and making a false police complaint (misdemeanor). Charges against the Police of unlawful arrest could also be filed. Now multiply that by 25 or so, and you have grounds for the bank officers who called for the police, the security guards who illegally held people against their will, and the police themselves to be charged with multiple felonies in a 'Three Strikes' state.
Should be fun times.
OH BOY, the people are gettin madder by the minute. I love the videos and the truth pictures. Thank G-ates-od for technology.
On top of everything else, the guy in the sweatshirt and cap who pushed the female bank customer into the bank grabbed her breasts! He should be prosecuted for sexual assault. Or sued in civil court.
It did seem that way. He had no bloody reason to grab that woman that way. He needs to be prosecuted.
Yeah, btw who is that guy? Looks like it was staged for the camera. Does not make sense to grab someone from outside and drag them inside.
The cops did put him against the wall and patted him the end before pushing him inside with the others.
I took most of my money out of the big banks right after 911, when Bank of America sent me a notice that I could not withdraw any more than $2,000.00 until further notice. I now bank in a small local bank and a credit union. Folks, if you still have not withdrawn your funds from any of the major banks, then you are contributing to the 1% and are part of the problem.
Agreed. I've been doing the same for years also. As soon as I get money into any of my accounts, I withdraw all but a buck or two. Cash is king and you know you've always got it.
Under the Animal Enterprises act, the US Government made it a felony for a citizen to participate in certain actions that caused economic disruption to Industries involved in the use of animals in their business activities.
Those charged under this act are classified as terrorists.Indeed people running a website that supported actions such as blocking the entrances to such firms were tried and convicted as terrorists under that law,
Rest assured the Fascist States of America will soon be labeling these people as "Eco-terrorists" (ECOnomic or ECOlogical, whats the difference when all is a commodity and slave to profits) with all the NON rights given terrorists.
There is sure to be a move in congress to "Protect Commerce and the functioning of the Financial system and the rights to profit" whereby legislation will be passed that will make the withdrawal of ones own money from the bank a felony.
The banks are starting to get scared. : )
But this is only the beginning....
“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.”
—Thomas Jefferson"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
—John F. Kennedy
Écrasez l'Infâme!
All this is encouraging but as long as torturers in our government are not prosecuted what are the chances they're going after the banks that financed the operations to torture in the first place. And don't forget, the prison industry is salivating at all this; I wouldn't be surprised to learn they have a bidding process in place for it already.
Government contacts are no-bid now.
These guys are just like the "open carry" crowd in California. Walking around with an unconcealed, unloaded (useless) weapon trying to get some attention.
Jeez people, you wanna close your account just stop by the bank on your way home from work and do it. Stunts like that don't help your cause.
If the bank is open, what right do they have to dictate how my money should be handled? The bank was "open for business" these people were customers. If this stunt didn't help then why the overwhelming reaction to this practise of free commerce from the banksters? Chameleon, once agan water boy of the 1%.
When you go into a place of business to conduct business you stick to the business at hand. The video shows a lot of people milling around inside the branch, getting in and out and generally trying to draw attention to themselves.
I was their handler i would have arranged for everyone to quietly form a line, fill out their withdrawal slips and close their accounts. Instead we have people just walking around aimlessly, going to the windows and gesticulating to their buddies outside th branch. Not a well planned op if you're asking me.
Good thing nobody is asking tools like chameleon how to plan their protests. This type of incident and exposure is absolutely critical to the momentum Occupy is building up. Every arrest, kidnapping, pepper spraying, police beating will cause thousands more to arise. Had they consulted chameleon, the bank would have quietly lost 20 customers. Instead, they will now lose thousands due to this one incident, and probably face an embarrassing lawsuit.
I wonder how many of those customers are actually gonna go back and close their accounts later.
This whole movement is totally disorganized and it's just discrediting itself thru stunts like this one. They better get a grip and find some real leadership.
Chameleon,
Leadership here comes in each person standing up and doing right. As in any show of opposition, people are often awkward, unsure of events, and especially afraid that force will be used against them. It matters not whether one person was withdrawing money from an account with 24 supporters, or 25 were withdrawing funds, as long as they were orderly and the bank was open to the public for business. Does it mean that a person may not come to a bank to do business accompanied by a family member or friend? To lock everyone inside in order to detain them and arrest them, without prior warning is very fascist. Yes these events seem disorganized, but they are impressive and move the cause forward, with or without leaders.