WAMU 88.5 : News

Filed Under:

Former Occupy DC Protesters Help Local Reverend

By: Markette Smith // September 30, 2012
Play associated audio
comments
Rev. Robert Vanzant protests the foreclosure of his home outside the Bank of America on 14th Street NW in Columbia Heights.
Markette Smith
Rev. Robert Vanzant protests the foreclosure of his home outside the Bank of America on 14th Street NW in Columbia Heights.

Reverend Robert Michael Vanzant is facing foreclosure on his home after health problems forced him to stop working, and caused him to fall behind on his payments.

The local reverend received help from former Occupy DC protestors this weekend, as they demonstrated in an effort to shut down Bank of America branches in the District.

The protesters blocked off the entrance and ATM at the Bank of America in Columbia Heights with yellow tape that read "Occupy."

"I would love to keep my home," says the reverend. "I've lived there for 24 years."

Vanzant, who is also a former Metro employee, fell behind on his mortgage payments after a mild stroke caused him to stop working in 2008.

Protestor Mike Haacks hopes the demonstration will get more people to speak out against bank practices he calls unfair.

"The banks have been bailed out, but yet they're still evicting people," he says. "For example, they haven't responded to Rev. Vanzant after two years of him reaching out them."

Similar protests took place across at bank branches across the area today.

Arts & Culture

NPR

Dan Brown: 'Inferno' Is 'The Book That I Would Want To Read'

Dan Brown, author of the blockbuster The Da Vinci Code, is back with his first novel in four years. Inferno follows academic hero Robert Langdon on a chase through Italy as he attempts to avert a biological catastrophe.

Food

NPR

'Picture Cook': Drawings Are The Key Ingredients In These Recipes

Designer Katie Shelly's upcoming cookbook offers 50 illustrated recipe "blueprints" for basic meals — from simple snacks to more hefty dishes like eggplant Parmesan. She hopes they'll inspire any level of cook to improvise in the kitchen.

Politics

NPR

Nonconservative Groups Say IRS Scrutinized Them, Too

The IRS has admitted it flagged tax-exemption requests from groups with "tea party" or "patriot" in their names starting in 2010. But some liberal groups and journalism organizations say their applications also faced long delays during the same period.

Technology

NPR

Book News: Amazon May Be Called Before Parliament Over Taxes

Also: AARP and The Nation join a growing list of ebook publishers; Hilary Mantel on Jane Austen; Anne Applebaum on Sheryl Sandberg.

Leave a Comment

Help keep the conversation civil. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Code of Conduct before posting your comments.