Roslindale couple evicted despite protest

By Brian R. Ballou, Globe Staff

A couple was evicted from their triple decker in Roslindale this afternoon despite a noisy protest by an advocacy group.

Raul and Ana Esquivel carried black garbage bags stuffed with their clothing and other personal belongings out of their modest yellow home on Rowe Street. Movers lugged their furniture outside and loaded two vans.

The protest delayed the eviction for a few hours, giving the Esquivel family hope that they would be allowed to stay in their home through at least the weekend. Their goal was to work with Deutsche Bank to sell the building to a relative.




Deutsche Bank did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.

The Esquivel family said they had fallen on hard times since purchasing the home in March 2006. Their initial mortgage payment was nearly as much as the couple's combined income, but Deutsche Bank promised to help them refinance after six months, according to a press release from the advocacy group, City Life.

The couple had trouble getting the $1,200 in rental income that the bank had counted on, and they fell behind on their mortgage. That caused their monthly payments to balloon from $3,200 to $4,200, the family said.

City Life is a community activist group that has conducted ten other eviction protests this year. During the protest, organizers referred to the economic crisis gripping the country. One of the organizers, Steven Meacham, charged that Deutsche Bank was guilty of “greed.”