Activists are giving the middle finger to the law by continuing to feed homeless people

by Samantha Tapp

Photos via CL Tampa / Anthony Martino.

I think we can all generally agree that giving back to those who have less than you is considered a good deed. Whether it be in the form of a monetary donation, some clothes, or food, helping the less fortunate brightens both of your days. That is, of course, unless you’re donating food to homeless people in your city and you get arrested.

On Saturday, January 7, activists in Tampa, Florida, were doing their usual duty of delivering free food in a public park to homeless people. The activists, a part of the group ‘Food Not Bombs,’ routinely hands out free vegan and vegetarian meals in protest of war and poverty. This past weekend the group was in Lykes Gaslight Park offering their help in the form of hot coffee and bagels when authorities intervened. Despite the lack of any obvious illegal actions, the Tampa police ended up arresting seven of the activists.

Why? In Tampa you have to have a special permit to be able to hand out free food to homeless people in public parks. The permit is not only expensive and only allows the group to hand out food twice a week in parks, but the city also requires groups to buy an insurance policy, which is also expensive.

So, what the hell happened? Earlier in the week, police had warned activists of their illegal behaviour, and the group decided to ignore them (police-0, humanity-1). When the cops showed up to the scene, which in a dream world would be a happy one, they gave the group three minutes to move out. The group refused of course, and seven of the activists who continued to serve food were arrested. According to True Activist, even a homeless man who reached for a bagel after the cops arrived was arrested.

[More…]

Philosophers stone – selected views from the boat http://philosophers-stone.co.uk