Colorado Foreclosure Resistance Coalition will no longer be meeting at Coffee at the Point out of protest. CFRC has been meeting regularly at Coffee at the Point, a black owned business in five points, for more than a year. This business has served as a meeting place for many community activist groups.  Due to recent statements by the owner, Ryan Cobbins, CFRC urges all activist groups and people of conscience to consider no longer meeting or spending money at this business.

It came to our attention that on January 28^th , two days after the killing of unarmed 17 year old Jessie Hernandez, Cobbins made the statement below, starting with “We love our Denver Police Department.” The statement was released by Coffee at the Point in response to a flyer about a police accountability meeting scheduled at the coffee shop. Several CFRC activists, who also work on police accountability issues and who have experienced police militarization and public endangerment themselves, were insulted by the blanket statement of police support and proposed we move our meetings.

During our usual meeting on February 28^th, before the scheduled agenda topic regarding moving the meeting came up, we were interrupted by a confrontation between the owner, Ryan, and a man asking patrons for money to buy some food. The man in need appealed to Ryan as a fellow black man to help him out. As CFRC activists intervened, offering to buy a meal for the person being forced to leave, the owner stated that although he would take our money and we could buy this man a meal that he would have to eat it outside.  Unfortunately this kind of treatment of those in need is common in Denver’s business community. We chose not to give Coffee at the Point any more of our money and walked our new friend down the street to A Taste of the Caribbean to get a meal.

After this disturbing treatment of a fellow community member, CFRC activists spoke with the owner, Ryan for about 45 minutes regarding our concerns over his statement of support for DPD and our intent to no longer patronize his establishment. During this conversation, the owner Ryan told several stories of incidents he himself has had of Driving while Black and other profiling by the DPD. He also shared stories of times he called the police as a business owner and they responded in which he valued their service. Over the course of our discussion, CFRC activists requested several times that Ryan and Coffee at the Point reconsider their statement, and make an additional statement that acknowledges the many recent killings, shootings, and beatings of people of color in Denver.  Although Ryan, politely listened to our concerns and had a long dialogue with us, it became clear that he valued the patronage of the Mayor, the Denver Police Department, and other business concerns over the many victims, known and unknown, who have experienced, and will continue to experience, trauma at the hands of DPD. We at CFRC believe that violence at the hands of the Denver Police Department will only cease when we as a community, including citizens, activists, members of law enforcement, and business owners, all stand together to demand that the killings and beatings of our community members at the hands of DPD be met with criminal charges, firings, and reparations to the community.

Colorado Foreclosure Resistance Coalition will now be meeting at Whittier Café at 1710 E 25th Ave. every 2^nd and 4^th Saturday of each month, from 5 to 7 p.m.

 

Coffee at The Point (Statement made on Facebook 01-28-15)

We love our Denver Police Department. It has come to our attention that there is a flyer being circulated regarding an anti-police event with Coffee at The Point’s name on it. Coffee at The Point was unaware of this event, the group, or this flyer. Although we respect the opinions of all, it is important for Coffee at The Point to communicate that we love our Denver Police Department. DPD has a tough job. Let’s recognize that DPD protects our communities. As with most things, there are bad apples that tend to taint the waters. But let’s not categorize all police this way. We love our Denver Police Department. ‪#‎Denver ‪#‎DenverPolice @DenverPolice @DenverPoliceDepartment ‪#‎CaTP

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Dear Homeowner,

If you are struggling to make payments, or if you are facing foreclosure and feel that you have been working earnestly with your bank to stay in your home, we are here to help.

Many people seem to feel that they are immune to the foreclosure crisis. That it is simply a financial crisis that affects only people that are irresponsible or have fallen on hard times. The Truth is that no one is immune! This foreclosure crisis and recession were driven by bad business practices on the part of mortgage servicing companies and supposed "financial experts" devising and selling mortgages that were destined to fail.

We are the Colorado Foreclosure Resistance Coalition, which is made up of Occupy Denver, Occupy Littleton, Home Defenders League, Occupy Our Homes, MoveOn, and private citizen members who have also gone through this ordeal during the financial crisis.  We want to let you know that you are not alone and we want to help.

We are not attorneys and we do not give legal advice; we do not consider ourselves to be practicing law and further suggest that you do consult an attorney; however, we can offer moral support and, if your situation qualifies, will work hard to try to keep you in your home.  We have helped three people achieve loan modifications and stay in their homes after being foreclosed on. We encourage you not to go through this process alone, as lack of knowledge on your part is helpful only to the banks.

If you are facing foreclosure, a big first step in fighting back would be for you to join us at a Colorado Foreclosure Resistance Coalition meeting, held the 2^nd and 4^th Saturdays of the month at 5:00 p.m., at Coffee at the Point, 710 E. 26th Ave, Denver, CO. Getting support and taking steps as early as possible will improve your chances of keeping your home.

We are so sorry you are in this situation right now.  You have probably been made to feel that losing your home to foreclosure is a source of shame and a social stigma, just like most of the hundreds of thousands of homeowners who already have or soon will lose their homes feel.  Remember, the big banks want you to feel isolated, but working together we have the power of solidarity.