Iowans Have Their Day in Court
CCI members arrested on April 23 say they will keep pressuring the bank to put people first
Ten members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement pled guilty to charges of loitering after taking an arrest outside of Wells Fargo's Des Moines headquarters at 666 Walnut on April 23. CCI members were prostesting Wells Fargo's record on predatory lending, investing in private prisons, funding factory farms and payday lenders, and refusing to pay their fair share of taxes.
Three CCI members provided statements to the press and to the court prior to sentencing:
Kenn Bowen, retired, Winterset, IA: "Wells Fargo is a perfect example of the corporate rot that destroys our democracy. What they do is horrendous to millions of people and yet I am the one who is now subject to fines."
Jim Yungclas, retired, Grinnell, IA: "Somewhere along life's journey, I got the idea that we lived in a democratic, capitalistic society formed to serve the common good. This system only works when it controls capitalism so it serves the common good and is not allowed to grow into a corporate self serving monopolistic greed machine. Part of that control is the right to speak truth to power."
Stephanie Simmons, retired, Guthrie Center, IA: "I took that arrest because it was the right thing to do. I believe it is always right to speak up against the outright greed of corporations like Wells Fargo, who hurt hardworking, everyday people, the environment, the poor, the imprisoned and the immigrant."
All ten members vowed to face arrest again, if necessary, until Wells Fargo agrees to change their policies toward everday people and put communities before profits.