'It's the Foreclosures, Stupid!'

Americans facing foreclosure and homelessness will install a temporary
dwelling on Congress' doorstep Tuesday to highlight their plight and
protest the bailout of bankers and the auto industry. At 9 a.m., they
will brief the media on their demands for equitable relief for families
facing foreclosure. Speakers include Gael Murphy, a co-founder of
CODEPINK Women for Peace, the Rev. Graylan Hagler from the
Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA), Michael Stoops
from the National Coalition for the Homeless, and Steven Smith of the
Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

At 10 a.m. they will attend the House Finance Committee hearing on oversight of the $700 billion bailout in Room 2128 Rayburn.

"We
will tell Congress that their bailout has been a dismal failure,"
Murphy said. "It has not offered relief to working families and the
poor, who find themselves in increasingly desperate circumstances."

One in eight Americans is unemployed or underemployed, two million
face foreclosure and the number of homeless is rising sharply.

"The
Paulson Plunder--spending bailout funds on paying CEO bonuses, buying
banks, purchasing assets at twice their value--benefits banks and other
lending institutions but not average Americans," Hagler said. "Congress
should be besieged by constituents demanding that they redo the
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to put the needs of
distressed homeowners and working people before those of distressed
banks and mismanaged industries."

The "foreclosed living room" is organized by CODEPINK, Neighborhood
Assistance Corporation of America (NACA), National Coalition for the
Homeless, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Plymouth Congregational UCC BoSA, and
ANSWER. The groups will also attend the House Finance Committee hearing
Wednesday morning on bailing out the auto industry to demand that
Congress bailout homeowners, not mismanaged industries.

For more information contact Gael Murphy at 202-412-6700 or gael@codepinkalert.org, or Medea Benjamin at 415-235-6517 or medea@codepinkalert.org.

WHAT: "Foreclosed living room" on Congress' doorstep to protest banker, auto industry bailout

WHEN: 9 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 18

WHERE: At Rayburn House Office Building, Independence Ave. and South Capitol St. SW