The Trial of Chris Horton

Doctor of Mathematics Fights the Bosses

Chris Horton is something of an enigma. He has a Doctorate in Mathematics and he is an organizer for the Worcester Anti-Foreclosure Team (WAFT).  Chris is about seventy years old and suffers from several ailments; yet he still fights the good fight.

In the Spring of 2014 Chris and other people of the WAFT organized opposition to an eviction of a Hispanic family on Providence St. 

He was arrested for alleged unlawful actions.  WAFT was only partially successful that day in 2014.  The family got a delay of the eviction for three months, but the judge was adamant that they would have be out by the end of three months.

Chris’ appeared in Worcester District Court on June 30, 2015 prepared for trial. 

One of the people who came to support Chris was John Marian who to a large extend is the heart and mind of WAFT. He only stayed until 9:30 AM and then left in order to get to Boston to speak at an anti-foreclosure hearing at the Statehouse. The hearing was related to the recent Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts’ ruling that the Worcester ordinance regarding foreclosures in Worcester was unconstitutional.

Silas and his wife came to support Chris. Silas is an organizer for WAFT. He spoke of how many people who are being evicted face other issues, such as a change in income caused by a divorce or involuntary layoff. He said only a small percentage of people wanted to oppose their evictions or wanted to take actions to modify their mortgages. Silas said that many organizers burn out. However he said that new people were always joining WAFT.

Before the trial there was a rumor that the City was offering a deal, but it needed the agreement of the arresting officer. It was unclear what happened on regards to the deal as Chris went before the judge and the trial was continued until August 26, 2015.