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Group Intentionally Violating City Ordinance During "Ladle Fest"
POSTED: 7:32 am EDT October 8,
2007
UPDATED: 5:31 pm EDT October 8,
2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A controversial city ordinance has led to a number of protests and now a trial. An Orlando man is the first person to face a jury for feeding the homeless.
VOTE: Support Orlando's Homeless Feeding Ordinance?
It's the first trial of its kind. A man is facing a judge and jury for violating Orlando's ban on feeding the homeless. Eric Montanez, 22, was caught feeding a group in Lake Eola Park earlier this year. The prosecution told Eyewitness News their case rests on video taken of Montanez feeding the homeless, breaking Orlando's feeding ban."There are a lot better things for law enforcement to be doing in this town, but this was an outrage," said George Crossley of the ACLU.Montanez and a small group of supporters marched from Lake Eola Park to the Orange County on Monday morning."We're ready to take this on," Montanez said.Montanez and the group he's involved with, Food Not Bombs, returned to Lake Eola just after sunrise to once again violate the ordinance that has him on trial. Food Not Bombs volunteers served breakfast to about 100 Montanez supporters, most of them homeless. They will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner during what they're calling a three-day "ladle fest," not a protest."Me personally, I think that's discriminating for one," said Lamont Robinson, a homeless man."We're out here trying to survive from day to day life and this gentleman over here is helping us," said Melvin Moore, a homeless man.In April, Montanez was arrested for violating the city ordinance that bans mass feeding in one area. His attorney will argue that the law is a violation of civil rights and say Montanez did nothing wrong, because every feeding that he participated in was done at a public park."The law itself should be illegal. Feeding people should not be criminalized. Being poor should not be criminalized," Montanez said.The group is hoping to pressure city leaders into axing the ordinance that they believe is a violation of their civil rights, but the city has made no mention of such consideration being in their plans.
VOTE: Support Orlando's Homeless Feeding Ordinance?It's the first trial of its kind. A man is facing a judge and jury for violating Orlando's ban on feeding the homeless. Eric Montanez, 22, was caught feeding a group in Lake Eola Park earlier this year. The prosecution told Eyewitness News their case rests on video taken of Montanez feeding the homeless, breaking Orlando's feeding ban."There are a lot better things for law enforcement to be doing in this town, but this was an outrage," said George Crossley of the ACLU.Montanez and a small group of supporters marched from Lake Eola Park to the Orange County on Monday morning."We're ready to take this on," Montanez said.Montanez and the group he's involved with, Food Not Bombs, returned to Lake Eola just after sunrise to once again violate the ordinance that has him on trial. Food Not Bombs volunteers served breakfast to about 100 Montanez supporters, most of them homeless. They will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner during what they're calling a three-day "ladle fest," not a protest."Me personally, I think that's discriminating for one," said Lamont Robinson, a homeless man."We're out here trying to survive from day to day life and this gentleman over here is helping us," said Melvin Moore, a homeless man.In April, Montanez was arrested for violating the city ordinance that bans mass feeding in one area. His attorney will argue that the law is a violation of civil rights and say Montanez did nothing wrong, because every feeding that he participated in was done at a public park."The law itself should be illegal. Feeding people should not be criminalized. Being poor should not be criminalized," Montanez said.The group is hoping to pressure city leaders into axing the ordinance that they believe is a violation of their civil rights, but the city has made no mention of such consideration being in their plans.
Previous Stories:
- September 26, 2007: City Of Orlando Unlocks Gate At Park After Facing Questions
- September 26, 2007: City Fences Off Picnic Area That Group Uses To Feed Homeless
- May 17, 2007: Homeless Protest Disrupts Mayor's Fundraiser
- April 11, 2007: Group Says City Claims It Won't Enforce Homeless Feeding Ordinance
- April 5, 2007: Activist Arrested For Feeding Homeless At Lake Eola
- October 13, 2006: A.C.L.U. Suing City Of Orlando Over Homeless Feeding Ordinance
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