The LGBT activist group Gender JUST joined the more than 100 organizations that marched against the American Bankers Association's ( ABA's ) Chicago convention Oct. 27.
"Queer people are a part of every community. We are affected by foreclosures and bad banking just like everyone else," stated Gender JUST leader Sam Finkelstein. "So we are out here to add a queer voice to this struggle."
More than 5,000 protesters gathered in front of the Hyatt Regency's west tower to begin their short march to the Sheraton Hotel, 301 E. North Water, where members of the ABA were staying.
At about 10 a.m. the marchers walked to the corner of Wacker and Michigan, where clergy persons of all different faiths and congregations had organized a prayer vigil.
Following the religious leaders' sermons, top officials from the Service Employees International Union ( SEIU ) gave directions to the crowd before they were then led to the front of the Chicago Sheraton. An anti-ABA banner was also unfurled from one of the windows of the Chicago Sheraton after a few protesters were able to infiltrate the hotel.
Although SEIU was the major organizer of the protest, the march was well attended by activist organizations hailing from as far away as Buffalo, N.Y., and Detroit, Mich.
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Gender JUST was represented by a small but vocal contingent, almost all of whom were under the age of 30.
"I'm here because as a student my credit score has gotten worse due to the bad decisions made by these bank executives," said Gender JUST member and Malcolm X College student Lucky Mosqueda. "Also, though, I'm here because the queer community is a minority group that is extremely vulnerable to being marginalized by the greedy actions of these banks. We are here to show these executives that we have had enough."
The march was the culmination of a three-day protest against the ABA's convention, which included direct-action training, protests in front of the Goldman Sachs building and a surprise takeover of the Wells Fargo building by a reported 1,000 protesters.
Gender JUST has also been a strong advocate for improving the treatment of LGBT students and LGBT persons of color. More information can be found about Gender JUST by visiting it Web site at www.genderjust.org .
