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Catherine Lennon was forcibly evicted from her home on March 28, 2011. Lennon moved back in with the help of Take Back the Land-Rochester and is prepared to defend against a second eviction.

From Take Back the Land:

After attempts to renegotiate the mortgage were stonewalled by Fannie Mae, Catherine Lennon made local and national news by defending her home from eviction for two weeks with help from neighbors and Take Back the Land- Rochester. On March 28, 2011, Rochester police executed the eviction with 2 dozen or so police and by arresting seven people, including a 70 year old neighbor still in her pajamas. Charges against those arrested are being dropped in exchange for 8 hours of community service. The Lennon-Griffin family of 11 has been dispersed with grandchildren living with friends and family and Catherine living in a local Motel 6.

Negotiations began with Fannie Mae, but broke down after they demanded Lennon pay almost $50,000 for a house the family bought for $30,000 in 2006. According to New York State Supreme Court records Fannie Mae bought the house for $500 and are now try to sell the house back to family for a 10,000% profit. Fannie Mae received over $90 billion in taxpayer money as part of the federal government bailout of the financial system in 2008. The stated purpose of the bailout was for institutions like Fannie Mae to keep families like the Lennon-Griffin family in their home. On Friday May 6, Fannie Mae announced it was seeking and receiving another $8.5 billion bailout from the federal government.

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The foreclosure process was handled by the same law firm of Steven J. Baum currently under investigation by the New York State attorney general for massive fraud in processing foreclosures. Steven J. Baum is also being sued under the same federal racketeering laws—the RICO laws—used to bring down the Mafia and other criminal organizations.

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