On Friday, November 18th, fourteen members of Occupy Philadelphia were arrested for participating in a citizens’ foreclosure of Wells Fargo bank. We foreclosed on Wells Fargo for robbing the people of Philadelphia and for Wells Fargo’s failure to pay their debt to society. We have called this press conference tonight to announce our ongoing campaign to hold big banks accountable to the 99%.

When we foreclosed on Wells Fargo, we acted in solidarity with all those around the world fighting for justice, equality, and democracy. All across the nation, the Occupy Movement is changing the national dialogue to highlight the realities of economic inequality and corporate control of our country. One of the clearest manifestations of economic disparity is the banking system. Bank executives collect record profits on the backs of the working and poor. In Philadelphia, the worst criminal is Wells Fargo.

Wells Fargo forecloses on more families in Philadelphia than any other bank. Pocketing more than $12 billion in profits last year, the bank continues to engage in racist and discriminatory predatory lending. Wells Fargo was one of three banks that took $63 million from the Philadelphia School District in bad swap deals.

In a city where people are struggling to get by, provide for their families, and ensure strong communities; in a city that closes schools and libraries, cancels programs for youth, and cuts services in our neighborhoods; it is outrageous and unacceptable that Wells Fargo refuse to pay their fair share of taxes.

For their failure to pay their debt to society, we foreclosed on Wells Fargo. And fourteen of us were arrested.

• But who are the real criminals?

• We stand with families who are being kicked out of their homes. With the people who have to decide between paying an electric bill and a mortgage. We stand with the families who are broken by the banking system.

• Who are the real criminals?

• We stand with the unemployed and underemployed in this city. We stand with the people who struggle to provide for themselves and their families every day.

• Who are the real criminals?

• We stand with the parents of the children whose futures are being destroyed by corporate greed. With the teachers and firefighters whose budgets are being cut. We stand with all the people in our communities who care about the quality education and services big banks are robbing from us.

• Who are the real criminals?

• Since we were arrested on Friday, Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf has earned more than $200,000. Since we were arrested, the average Wells Fargo teller has earned less than $350. Meanwhile, Wells Fargo aggressively pursues foreclosure on Philadelphia families, engages in racism, robs from our children, and refuses to contribute their fair share.

For the mothers, the fathers, the children, and our brothers and sisters affected by these crimes we issue the following demands to Wells Fargo:

1) Cease racist and discriminatory predatory lending immediately

2) Stop nationwide foreclosures immediately

3) Repay the Philadelphia School District the $63 million dollars the bank stole

We were right to foreclose on Wells Fargo last Friday. We are taking our case to trial to prove to the court, to the city, to the banks, to the nation, and to the world that now is the time hold corporations accountable. We are part of a global, nonviolent people’s movement, based, in part, on the idea that people are more important than profits. Our actions Friday were in the best spirit of that movement and that idea. We acted, and we will continue to act, nonviolently, collectively, transparently, and compassionately for the benefit of all the 99% now and always.

--words by the Wells Fargo 14, photo by onion