Uninvited Guests Crash Mortage Banker Show

The Mortgage Bankers Assn.'s Annual Convention & Expo doesn't sound like it would be the most politically charged event of the year, but it did have its moments.

The convention, held Oct. 19-22 at San Francisco's Moscone West, had nearly 100 demonstrators stage multiple protests, both inside and outside the venue, concerning the mortgage crisis and the $700 billion bank bailout.

“When we heard that the Mortgage Bankers Assn. was having their meeting, we thought that was a great time to continue trying to get our message out about the need at this point for a moratorium on foreclosures and for a reform of the bankruptcy laws,” said Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CodePink, a protest group formed in 2002 to speak out against the war in Iraq that has since expanded its activities to include other issues.

The protests were misplaced, according to Cheryl Crispen, senior vice president of communications and marketing for the MBA, because the association is committed to helping homeowners find ways to stay in their homes.

“In fact, we've helped over 2.5 million homeowners avoid foreclosure,” Crispen added.

On the second day of the meeting, Oct. 20, Benjamin walked on stage during a panel discussion featuring the heads of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and said, “Given that your companies have been bailed out by the public, I think the public should have the right to ask a question.”

Benjamin said she was escorted off stage by security officers who held her briefly and then released her.

The following day, six CodePink members interrupted a panel discussion featuring Steve Preston, secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development; former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell; and Karl Rove, former deputy chief of staff and senior adviser to President George W. Bush.

Again, a protester, Janine Bonaparth, climbed on to the stage where she attempted to slip a pair of handcuffs on Rove. Benjamin said police did not cooperate when Bonaparth and others asked them to assist in making a citizen's arrest of Rove.

“We weren't arrested (either),” she added. “Unfortunately, neither was Karl Rove. ... It did make a lot of the national news.”

Protests are not that unusual at Moscone West, according to Naina Ayya, communications manager for the venue. She said a security department employee takes on the role of public agency liaison, keeping the venue, show management and authorities updated on local activities that could interfere with an event.

“When I say local activity,” Ayya added, “I'm talking about rumors, Web sites – for instance, Web sites of nonprofit groups that may be protesting – information (and) tips.”

Crispen said MBA officials were aware that protestors demonstrating outside the building had the appropriate permits to do so and followed all city protest guidelines. Those who found their way inside were a different story.

“We do firmly believe that free speech is a constitutional right,” she added, “but we also believe that there's the right time and place for it. So, for the few protestors that were in the audience, we feel it's unfortunate that they chose an open-press venue to exhibit their constitutional right of free speech.”

The MBA showfloor had about 24,500 net square feet, 164 exhibitors and 2,550 attendees.