George Goehl, executive director of National People's Action
George Goehl, a member of a broad coalition behind the organization of the Showdown in Chicago, which will take place October 25-27, sees this action as a way to target the banks and direct a message to Congress that they need to stand up for the American people and pass real reforms.
The Showdown in Chicago aims to convince Congress to put more support behind the creation of a strong Consumer Financial Protection Agency. It will also urge leaders to break the stranglehold on democracy that a handful of banks, which dominate the financial market, currently possess.
"More than anything we've got to get the attention of our elected. Thus far we haven't seen the administration or Congress really take on the financial industry and say no to the lobbying and campaign contributions and stand with the American people," says Goehl.
Goehl explains retirees, family farmers, urban/rural renters, homeowners, young and old people, and others who are not necessarily professional activists will be coming together for the Showdown.
People from 20 states and from 40 to 50 organizations will participate in actions during the American Bankers Association convention:
"[On Sunday] there will be a People's Commission where a panel of everyday Americans will hear testimony from everyday Americans ---people affected by shrinking pensions, foreclosures, unemployment, state budget cuts, etc.," says Goehl.
He continues, "On Monday, there will be a demonstration at the Chicago headquarters of Goldman Sachs and then a demonstration at the American Bankers Association."
And finally, "On Tuesday, the numbers will grow much larger in a march of over 5,000 people, [which] will take off from Stetson and Wacker and head to the Sheraton Hotel."
Skeptics would suggest that this is going to be just another event that produces little political momentum for real change. But, the setting of Chicago ensures that there will be a fiery energy to any action that takes place during the Showdown.
"Between 2006 and 2008, foreclosure filings doubled [in Chicago], which is particularly scary because in 2006 we weren't looking at a pretty picture," explains Goehl.
He goes on to say:
"What really started with predatory lending in communities of color then started spreading out like a virus until it affected everybody. And now whether you were one of these families that got bad loans or not, we're all affected by it because the economy's gone down the tubes."
Goehl is the Executive Director of National People's Action, which is a network in Chicago that was founded in 1972 and "exists to create a society in which racial and economic justice are realized in all aspects of society."
He has experience crafting national campaigns on affordable housing, predatory lending, and immigrant justice issues and has been a community organizer, strategist, and trainer for 15 years.
"Right now, we're seeing a lot of private frustration and anger. People are sitting at home upset about this, watching the news and getting upset about this, sitting at the barbershop or being in a corner store and getting upset about this," says Goehl. "I think this may be the first of many mobilizations where people take that frustration and move it out into the streets."
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