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Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Federal Court: First Amendment Protects Sharing Food With Homeless People

Publishers Notes: For years we at Salisbury News would take the advertising revenue we'd collect and Pay It Forward, until Jim Ireton and Salisbury Police Chief Barbara Duncan stopped us dead in our tracks. When a local Fire Department, Church, VFW, etc., would hold a fundraiser they'd sell 200 or 300 tickets to a dinner to raise money for a particular member and they'd ask if we would be willing to promote the event. Ultimately SBYNews would buy out the entire event and ask on that day that they package up individual meals so we could feed the homeless. We killed two birds with one stone. The event was immediately sold out and the food would be donated. Once Jim Ireton found out what we were doing, he and Chief Duncan went to the Health Department and immediately stopped us from doing such a great thing. The article below is a step in the right direction and hopefully Salisbury will follow suit. 

In a colorful decision that managed to invoke the Boston Tea Party, Lady Macbeth and Jesus of Nazareth, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appealsruled on Wednesday that feeding the homeless is “expressive conduct protected by the First Amendment.” The decision revives a challenge brought by a local chapter of Food Not Bombs, which sued Fort Lauderdale, Florida for requiring a permit to share food in public parks.

Thanks to the city's ordinance, Fort Lauderdale has become infamous for cracking down on compassion. In 2014, police arrested a 90-year-old man and two ministers who were simply trying to share food with the homeless.

“We are very pleased with this ruling, and we look forward to continuing our community organizing in Fort Lauderdale,” Nathan Pim, a member of Fort Lauderdale Food Not Bombs and a plaintiff in the case, said in a statement. “We hope we are one step closer to something we've fought for over many years—simply being able to help people without being threatened with arrest by people who should be working with us.”

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8 comments:

Jersey boy said...

I am totally against encouraging the homeless to stay on the streets. Giving money or food to panhandlers only encourages their annoying behavior. If the food goes to a shelter, I can agree with that!!!

Anonymous said...

We throw away so much there is no reason anyone houseless could not dumpster dive for everything they need. The majority of it is no filthier when is was on the plate in the venue. They are just lazy. Raccoons are more savvy and wash their hands.

Anonymous said...

Very few people are panhandlers

Lots of people are hungry and homeless

Anonymous said...

Wow your comparing people to birds! It's one meal it's not going to make them say "hey I will stay homeless so I can get one meal". Where is your compassion? How would you feel if you were in that position? My daughter is always giving the homeless a blanket, clothes or a coat if she sees someone in need of help especially children, They don't get dependent on her because she felt bad for them and gave them a blanket. I wonder what is wrong with this country!

Anonymous said...

Feed the Homeless...The shelters Can't keep homeless indefinitely. Many have mental issues so remain on the streets. I ask this question...have you ever heard of a homeless person dying from eating donated food? NO. period! Again; feed the homeless. Joe you did what you thought was right and these idiots didn't want you to get credit for anything, so they stopped it. They really don't care about the Homeless.

JoeAlbero said...

Let me add to my story. When they, (Duncan and Ireton) went to the Health Department, they also went to the shelters demanding they not accept meals from my donations. I agree, no one ever got sick from meals like the ones we gave out. Keep in mind, we're talking about 200 to 300 meals, so of course many went to shelters. No one has the time to go to tent cities and find all of the homeless. Police Chief Duncan insisted that ALL homeless that stay at shelters MUST give their fingerprints to make sure they're not wanted. Many are also addicted to something or other and to stay at a shelter they cannot be on alcohol or drugs. It's a catch 22 for most of them.

Corrections officer said...

be stupid....

give them money .....feel sorry for them
more than likely they will take you wallet

use your common sense

get away from them , and not be robbed

Anonymous said...

It’s like feeding cats, they will just attract more. I say no!