Orlando police steal food from children, arrests 6 others for feeding the hungry

aww what's the matter, did all the nice families get too uncomfortable with a crowd of homeless feeding at their precious park more than twice a year? Sorry, but forcing them to get out of your sight just to eat is too easy. Put it in these peoples faces every day, so they don't forget: there are homeless people in your city, and they're all hungry. REal hungry. ANd not for some industrial grade slop you'd feed a dog.

Oh well at least SOMEONE is doing something about it, even if it costs them their freedom.

 

You really don't get it do you?

Doing it legally might work if all you wanted to do is feed the homeless, but these guys are hard core activists. Would there even be any cops to berate at a soup kitchen? And even if there were, how is anyone supposed to get video of themselves being arrested at a church or anywhere else the city has deemed appropriate? Because that's the gold medal of activism, getting arrested while fighting the good fight. Otherwise, what's the point?

Your way just sounds like a bunch of work, with none of the excitement or spectacle. Yawn.

 

So let me get this straight... you wonder why these people wanted to bring more public awareness about a large group of homeless/starving people in the United States of America?

This reminds me of people in Dubai who complain about publiscizing charity - charity which goes to 20% of Dubai's population who make less than $500 a month in a city with one of the highest GDP's in the world.

I think, when it comes to charity, one of the biggest barriers is the pressure you face from people who don't want to see things which make them feel guilty. If they didn't feel guilty, then they'd likely have nothing to complain about.

 

That's a nice platitude but not that relevant when we have close to 10% unemployment and a foreclosure crisis.

 

Have you heard of a concept called "Civil Disobedience"?

 

Don't forget the circuit appeals court and the federal appeals court that upheld the law.

 

So, you'd have no problem living across from a park or using a park and every single day have it inundated with the homeless (or whoever) coming there for a free meal? As more and more learn about the program, more and more would come for the meals. The park then becomes a de facto homeless shelter.

Perhaps twice a year in any single park is too restrictive but there is a reason for the ordinance.

What are you doing about the problem?

 

based on the premise that everyone has an equal oppertunity and capability to do so?

You're right in some respects, but wrong on others. Guy begging for money? Yea I think I'd agree with you.

Food?

Nope. We as human beings like eating food, good food. When it gets to the point we really don't care about anything just as long as it fills out stomach you can pretty much assume the person is facing special circumstances.

 

I like this post. One of the fallacies of having an indirect democracy. Most of the elected officials are **** bags, even though they are supposed to be better representatives when it comes to a local level.

Maybe they're just not being grilled enough and don't feel the heat. Such a law is inexcusable.

Laws need to simple, decisive, effective, and practical. Theres no place for laws that lack those qualities.

 

Overall, is the law inexcusable? Don't you think there needs to be some sort of law prohibiting this type of activity 365 days a year at a public park (or other gathering space)?

 

Excellent point. On the note of civil dissobedience maybe some of the people here need to watch the all the arrests, marches, etc when it came to the civil rights movement.

Law forbidding going to a white only restuarant? Show how unpractical it is by breaking it and getting arrested in masses. Opens peoples eyes about how much of a priority problem there is when murders, rapes, and thefts are going on and an entire police unit is taking away from that to devote its resources to such a pointless law.

 

As others have stated, the law is the problem as the police officers are just enforcing said law. I could understand the need for such a law as well but maybe it needs to be modified somehow to allow this sort of event.

 

Its a public park. I don't understand how you could stratify groups of people and deem those getting food because they are homeless from the hundreds of others having picnics.

A public park is a place where people get a good sense of community, and to see people like that over there it does a lot to help people get involved. THe fact is the nation is going through a rough period economically, to see homeless people in places of public gatherings seems and prohibit it seems like more of a coverup and willfully ignorant practice to hide the reality of the situation.

 

And if hungry people show up as people serve breakfast for an 1hr every 2-3 days a week or w.e?

That doesn't make it a homeless shelter. And it you saw the video, you heard the people saying this wasn't downtown, where problems like that really lie. And when it comes to a decent % of those being children, I don't understand how you could turn them away, given that most people goto parks for their children in the first place, which they have every right to as well.

 

quoting bobrek again in case people missed it. Important

 

^ Yeap, they're not going to arrest them until they DO serve someone. If the food is just sitting there, they're not breaking any law.

I, for one, admire the ability of those police officers to stay focused and not answer any questions and just do their jobs (enforcing the laws being broken).

If you don't like the law, either impeach those that passed it, vote against them in the next election, or go up to the courts to fight it yourself. For now, a law is a law and it must be obeyed. I can't see it on this video, but I am sure that by the looks of it, all the cameras there, all the people shouting at the cops, that they had been warned. They can give them a warning no more.

We agree with feeding the homeless. [check]
We agree with feeding kids, those in need, etc. [check]

Do we agree that the police officers were doing their job? [check]

Here we go. This makes sense. The lazy won't want to feed themselves or find a job to feed their family.

 

when I lived in florida, back in 1997-2002 there was a big stir in Orlando because they had just passed ordanices/laws the designated begging areas.

http://www.orlandofoodnotbombs.org/weeklypoorboxes.html

Inside that area will be about two dozen "exempt zones," 3 feet by 15 feet, in which panhandlers -- and people who distribute bar fliers and other business literature -- can beg or disperse information.