This past weekend seven volunteers from the group Food Not Bombs were arrested for distributing food to the homeless in a public park without a permit. This is outrageous.
Food Not Bombs is a homeless charity group that operates in a variety of cities across the U.S. In Tampa, the group has served warm meals to the less fortunate for many years without legal trouble; in 2016 alone their volunteers held at least 100 events like the one held this past Saturday.
Homelessness is a problem that the city of Tampa cannot and should not ignore, and it is certainly not something those trying to do something about it should be punished for. The city's lawmakers and politicians owe it to their homeless citizens to put time and resources toward helping them rather than arresting those that are.
Please share and add your name to this petition to tell Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and the Tampa City Council that this absurd ordinance must be repealed!
