Grassroots Campaign to Clean Up Wall Street

A national coalition of nearly 200 state and local organizations—ranging from financial experts to community advocates—have kicked off a major campaign to reform our financial system and rebuild our economy.

They are operating under the banner of Americans for Financial Reform, and at a news conference Tuesday, heard here, some of the coalition members explained how they intend to change the political dynamic that up to now has allowed Wall Street bankers to write the rules for themselves.The coalition will fight for real changes that get at the root causes of this financial crisis, including lack of protection for consumers and an oversight system that is not up to the job.

Featured in this audio of the news conference is Jim Carr, Chief Operating Officer, National Community Reinvestment Coalition; Rob Johnson, economist with the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute; Ed Mierzwinski, U.S. PIRG’s Consumer Program Director; and George Goehl, Executive Director, National People's Action.

Americans for Financial Reform calls on Congress to put in place a strong watchdog structure with the resources and authority to police Wall Street and protect our financial security. The goal is to obtain reforms that keep people in their homes and prompt smart investment in communities and businesses that create good jobs and strong neighborhoods.