More Than 5,000 Taxpayers to Converge on American Bankers Association Convention

March and Rally Launches Nationwide Campaign to Demand Banks Stop Lobbying
Against Financial Reform

SEIU's Anna Burger, AFL-CIO's Richard Trumka to Address Crowd

CHICAGO, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, in the largest taxpayer
mobilization since the economic crisis began, more than 5,000 Americans from
20 cities will converge on the American Bankers Association (ABA) convention
in Chicago. The march and rally concludes three days of demonstrations around
the ABA convention and launches a nationwide campaign to demand big banks and
Wall Street stop spending millions in taxpayer dollars to lobby against
financial reform.

Events kicked off Sunday with a gathering of hundreds of ordinary Americans
who have lost their homes, jobs, and pensions during the bank-induced economic
crisis sharing their stories and hearing from Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). That
evening, more than 900 people were organized to take their message directly to
the ABA at a banker's ball being held at their convention.

On Monday, FDIC Chair Sheila Bair addressed nearly 1,000 people and reaffirmed
her support for much needed reforms like the Consumer Financial Protection
Agency. She told the crowd she would deliver that message when she addressed
the ABA convention later that morning. Following Bair's remarks, taxpayers
took their message directly to the banks at demonstrations outside of Goldman
Sachs, Wells Fargo, and the ABA convention.

After taking $17.8 trillion in taxpayer bailouts and backstops, the ABA and
the six largest banks have spent more than $35 million fighting Congressional
action on financial reform. Meanwhile, ordinary Americans continue to face
rising foreclosures, record unemployment, skyrocketing bank and credit card
fees, and vanishing pensions and 401(k)s.

Taxpayers will leave Chicago today to mobilize their communities and ensure
Congress acts immediately to rein in the reckless policies of big banks.

Read a full report on ABA's actions to lobby against financial reform here.

Photos and videos of all events and activities are being captured and provided
to the media on the following websites:
-- YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/ABAShowdown
-- Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=ABAShowdown&m=text

-- www.seiu.org

National Taxpayer Mobilization to Break Bank Greed

October 27, 2009

WHAT: Taxpayer march on American Bankers Association conference to demand
banks stop lobbying against needed financial reform.

WHO: SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka,
more than 5,000 workers, clergy, and community allies and leaders from 20
cities.

WHERE: 9:45 am CDT- Prayer vigil at Intersection of Wacker and Stetson.

10:20 am CDT- March begins at Intersection of Wacker and Stetson.

11:00 am CDT- Rally outside the Sheraton Hotel, 301 E. North Water St. Crowd
will assemble on Park Dr.

VISUALS: Thousands of people marching, chanting, and holding signs, taxpayers
delivering a giant invoice for $17.8 trillion to the ABA convention, taxpayers
giving giant bank CEO puppets pink slips

Live photos and videos from the events will be posted to
http://www.seiu.org/bigbanks, www.StopBankGreed,org, or
www.ShowdownInChicago.org for more details.

Groups participating in the three days of mobilizations include: A New Way
Forward, AFL-CIO, Action Now, Albany Park Neighborhood Council, Alliance to
Develop Power (ADP), Americans for Fairness in Lending, Americans for
Financial Reform, ARISE Chicago, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, Central
Illinois Organizing Project (CIOP), Center for Community Change (CCC), Change
in Terms, Change to Win, Citizen Action, Chicago Coalition of the Homeless,
Communities United for Action (CUFA), Community Voices Heard (CVH), Contra
Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), Grassroots
Collaborative, Green Party of Nevada, Fuerza Laboral/Power of Workers,
Illinois Hunger Coalition, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Jobs with
Justice, Gender Just Metanoia Centers, Inc., Michigan People's Action (MPA),
MoveOn, National People's Action, Northside Action for Justice, Northside
POWER, Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition, People Organized for West
Side Renewal (POWER), PUSH Buffalo, Right to the City Alliance, Rights for All
People (RAP), Roomdad Productions, Service Employees International Union
(SEIU), SEIU Illinois State Council, SOUL, South Austin Coalition Community
Council (SACCC), Sunflower Community Action, Syracuse United Neighbors (SUN),
Teach Our Children (TOC), The Grassroots Collaborate, UE, UCLA Undergraduate
Students Association, Workers United, and Working In Neighborhoods (WIN)

SOURCE Service Employees International Union

Marcus Mrowka of SEIU, +1-202-531-0689, Ray Quintanilla of SEIU Illinois,
+1-312-505-7862, or Andrea Frye of National People's Action, +1-773-559-8078