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A small group of protesters attended the Hudson County Council of MoveOn.org’s “Make the Big Banks Pay” rally on Thursday by the fountain in Journal Square. Dave Stump, the local council organizer, said the event was one of 137 similar rallies happening around the country and kicked it off with a “make banks pay!” chant. Protesters handed out fliers and asked passersby to sign a petition.

The group argues that banks should pay up for the foreclosure crisis since deceptive and in some cases fraudulent lending practices led to millions of foreclosures around the country. They are against a proposed $25 billion settlement between state attorneys general and major banks that would go toward helping homeowners while providing the banks with some protection from prosecution.

“The Attorneys General of several states are moving to prosecute the Big Wall Street Banks for acts of fraud that caused the collapse of the mortgage market and for illegally foreclosing on the homes of many Americans,” the group’s fliers read. “The banks have gone to Washington to buy immunity from prosecution by putting up a fund to help American homeowners who are in danger of losing their homes.”

Stump, standing atop a three-step platform with a megaphone in hand, argued that the $25 billion fund is inadequate. When that sum is divided by the 14 million homeowners in need it would “come out to almost $1,800 apiece to help save their mortgages,” Stump said. “Does that sound right to you?”

He led a chant of “When people rob a bank / It’s a crime / When a bank robs people / It’s 1 percent bonus time” and concluded with a message to President Obama: “Hold banks accountable by fully investigating the big bank fraud that caused the housing crisis.”

“Mark Twain once said a banker is someone who will gladly loan you an umbrella when the sun is shining but will demand it back as soon as it starts to rain,” Joe Harkins, the second speaker, remarked to a crowd of less than a dozen people.

He led in singing “American the Beautiful” followed by two chants, including Occupy Wall Street’s rallying cry “We are the 99 percent!”

Also speaking at the event were Omar Dyer, a potential candidate for the 8th Congressional District seat, and a man who said he lost his home to foreclosure after investing more than $200,000 in it.

Throughout the speeches, one group member held a sign reading: “YES YOU CAN Investigate Wall Street.” Michael Angelo Bosch, a Stegman Avenue resident who was involved with Occupy Wall Street, said he learned about the event through Facebook. By the end, the group had collected 31 petition signatures and passed out 120 fliers.

Despite the low turnout, Harkins was optimistic. “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness,” he said, adding “everything starts with one person.”

Photos by Eric Schkrutz