Bob Filner and Luz Maria Lockout

September 14, 2010 (Bonita) -- "Thank you, thank you!" Luz Maria Villanueva's voice was choked with emotion at a rally on her front lawn organized by Congressman Bob Filner (D-San Diego). Nearly 100 people turned out at 5:30 a.m. for a candlelight vigil to protest Union Bank's announced plan to have the Sheriff's department take Villanueva's Bonita home. She has pleaded for a reprieve at least until her son, who is legally blind and has cancer, completes chemotherapy treatments.

"I hope this will spread across America." - Congressman Bob Filner at a pre-dawn rally, where he announced that Union Bank called off plans to have the Sheriff issue a foreclosure notice today to evict a woman and her child with cancer. Congressman Bob Filner leads rally to save woman's Bonita home from foreclosure."We're going to stand together to change America," said Rep. Filner. "We have a president who talked about hope. We have to give him strength. The banks have taken over both parties." He called for changes in the law to protect those victimized by predatory lending practices.

The rally drew widespread media attention; at least three major TV stations as well as print and online media reporters were on hand to cover the event.

Filner was willing to risk arrest to halt the foreclosure. The Congressman knows first-hand the effectiveness of civil disobedience to right a wrong; in the1960s he rode the Freedom Train to Mississippi, where he was arrested in a Civil Rights protest and jailed for several weeks after standing up for rights of African-Americans.

Although Villanueva attained a temporary stay when Union Bank called off the Sheriff today, the order could be reissued, Filner warned those present. "We got them to back down, but we need you to be on call."

The crowd responded by chanting, "Stop Union Bank! Stop taking our homes!"

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