Charity Worker Arrested for Feeding Crowd of Homeless People

Florida police have arrested a charity worker from the group Food Not Bombs for violating a law that prohibits feeding groups of homeless people in Orlando parks, reports the Orlando Sentinel.

Food Not Bombs, the antiwar group CodePink, and the local Young Communist League had come together to serve rice, stew, salad, and bread pudding to 35 transient people, the newspaper reports. Eric Montanez was caught giving “30 unidentified persons food from a large pot utilizing a ladle,’‘ according to an arrest affidavit.

A police spokeswoman said that Mr. Montanez is the first person arrested under the law, which was supported by business owners arguing that groups of homeless people discourage potential customers.

The Central Florida America Civil Liberties Union sued the city in October, arguing that the law, which restricts groups from feeding groups of more than 25 people, is unconstitutional. Mr. Montanez is one of the people who took the case to court.

“Police are arresting people for feeding the homeless,” said George Crossley, president of the local ACLU. “This has been a truly disgusting day.”

Mr. Montanez was charged with a misdemeanor.