Donate to Christiana & her evicted family

Update: We’re working to raise $2000 for storage for Christiana’s and her tenants’ belongings, and for moving trucks used the day they were evicted. They’re so grateful for all your support.

At 7:30am on August 16, Cook County sheriffs arrived with a battering ram and forcibly removed residents — not only Christiana Powell but her sister, her great-nephew and his family, and family friends. Developer GA Roslyn and sheriffs evicted them from Christiana’s three-flat and coach house.

Christiana’s grandfather was a Pullman Porter and purchased 6141 S Greenwood Ave in 1950. His family became only the second Black family to move into Woodlawn.

In 2013, when Christiana’s mother was old, US Bank illegally changed the mortgage from FHA to conventional, such that monthly payments went from $800 to $3500/month. US Bank did so without Christiana’s knowledge! In 2016, Woodlawn was announced as the site of the future Obama Center, and gentrification began intensely. That year, Christiana’s property went into foreclosure proceedings. In 2022, was bought by developer GA Roslyn.

Since last year, STOP and the CBA coalition have been organizing to #DefendChristiana. On July 18, we began an encampment at her property. On Friday, dozens of community members were there to fight the eviction. Over 55 police officers came to back up the eviction. Employees of the developer threw residents’ belongings out of windows. Community members helped move residents’ belongings onto trucks.

Coverage: WGN, Hyde Park Herald, Chicago Maroon

AND IT’S NOT OVER. We will continue to fight, in the courts and in the streets, until Christiana gets her home back.