RALEIGH, NC — Apparently in Raleigh, NC, feeding those that are hungry is now a jailable offense. A local non-profit that cares for the city’s homeless was told by police that if they handed out a hot meal from the sidewalk, they would be arrested. More than 70 people had already arrived, knowing that the volunteers would be there with sausage biscuits and coffee.
“I had to face those who were waiting and tell them that I could not feed them, or I would be arrested.” Rev. Hugh Hollowell, pastor and director of Love Wins Minsitries, said in a blog post.
On August 24th, volunteers with Love Wins Ministries arrived at the sidewalk outside of Moore Square at 9:00am to pass out food to the hungry, like they did every weekend. Hollowell explained that they had always set up on the sidewalk, a public space, making sure to keep the pathway clear and clean up after themselves. ”We have operated, unmolested, under this assumption for the last six years,” Hollowell said.
This time, the volunteers were told that passing out the meals would be breaking a city ordinance and that anyone caught doing so would be arrested. However, no officer would tell the ministry what ordinance it was they were breaking. Hollowell quoted the officer as saying:
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http://www.policestateusa.com/2013/church-volunteers-threatened-arrest-feeding-homeless-people-biscuits-coffee/
