Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Hold Organizing Meeting in Detroit on November 7; Declare An Economic State of Emergency

For Immediate Release

Media Advisory

Contact: Abayomi Azikiwe, Media Liaison
313.671.3715

Event: Moratorium NOW! Coalition Organizing Meeting
Date: Saturday, November 7, 11:00am-1:00pm
Location: 5920 Second Ave. near Antoinette, WSU campus area
For Info: 313.887.4344
E-mail: info@moratorium-mi.org, panw@africamail.com
URL: http://www.moratorium-mi.org

Moratorium NOW! Coalition Declares An Economic Emergency in Detroit and Michigan; Saying Let's Get Organized So We Won't Starve or Freeze This Winter!

65,000 people lined up at Cobo Conference Center and at Neighborhood City Halls in early October for a few dollars to pay rent and utility bills. If this many people can come out during the day, imagine how many more are desperate and suffering.

Gov. Granholm has the legal and constitutional powers to declare an economic state of emergency in Michigan. In doing this she could automatically impose a moratorium on foreclosures, evictions and utility shutoffs.

With winter approaching hundreds of thousands of people are facing imminent peril. Unemployment is rising around the city and state, and consequently, more people will face evictions and the termination of their heating, electrical and water services. This corporate and state-sanctioned terrorism must stop. The people must clearly state that everyone has a right to a home, an income and utility services.

Mayor Bing has remained indifferent to the worsening conditions of the people in Detroit. We are demanding that he request emergency assistance for the people from the Governor and the federal government.

We must let President Obama know that the stimulus money is not reaching the people. We need jobs and an income now! We demand the enforcement of the Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act immediately! There are over 30 million workers in the United States who need full-time employment. The government has a legal obligation to put all of these people back to work.

Together we can fight back and win. Recently at the Highland Towers Apartments, residents organized and forced DTE Energy to restore their electrical power and cover the re-location costs for the tenants and their families.

The Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop Foreclosures, Evictions and Utility Shutoffs is working to build a city and statewide organization that will struggle to win the fundamental rights of workers and the poor. Join us for an organizing meeting on November 7 at our offices in Detroit.

The November 7 meeting will discuss the next phase in the fight to win a moratorium on evictions and utility shutoffs. We will examine the budget crisis and urge the people to demand freedom from the banks who are at the root of the deficit.

We are urging people to call Gov. Granholm at 517.373.3400 to demand that she declare an economic state of emergency and implement a halt to evictions and utility shutoff this winter.

Also call Mayor Bing's office at 313.224.3400 to demand that he immediately appeals to the state and federal government for emergency assistance to the people of Detroit in order to provide food, housing security and utility services to the hundreds of thousands of poor and unemployed.

In addition, please do not hesitate to telephone President Barack Obama at 202.456.1414 or 202.456.1111 to demand that he send relief to Detroit and the state of Michigan. We need jobs, housing, utility services and food for the coming winter months.

Members of the Moratorium NOW! Coalition are available for comments and interviews with the press. Just contact us at the numbers listed above.

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