Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
PHOENIX Shuts down handing out of FREE bottle water in 112 deg heat
2 views
Skip to first unread message
BurfordTJustice
Aug 22, 2012, 5:16:28 AM8/22/12
to
PHOENIX - The City of Phoenix could face a lawsuit if the city doesn't
apologize to a Valley woman for telling her she could not hand out free
bottled water to people in the summer heat.
Dana Crow-Smith said a City of Phoenix worker came up to her during the
First Friday festival in downtown Phoenix last month and told her she was
violating city code by handing out free water because she did not have a
permit.
Crow-Smith and a group of others were there exercising their Christian
beliefs by engaging people to talk about religion if they wanted.
The group brought several cases of bottled water to give away in the
112-degree heat, but said a Neighborhood Preservation Inspector told the
group they had to stop handing out the water or would be cited.
"It was really hot and yeah we wanted to show God's love and a small act of
kindness is a great way to do that without shoving it down someone's
throat," said Crow-Smith.
The Rutherford Institute , a non-profit civil liberties organization,
stepped in to represent Crow-Smith and calls this is "a violation of
Crow-Smith's First Amendment right to freely exercise her religion, her
Fourteenth Amendment due process rights, as well as Arizona's Free Exercise
of Religion Act."
"It is a sad day when local government officials prohibit Americans from
such charitable acts as giving water to the thirsty in their city," said
John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute.
In a letter to the city , Whitehead demanded the City issue a formal,
written apology to Crow-Smith, assure her no City officials will interfere
in future with her distribution of water, and require City workers go
through training on the proper enforcement of the City's code.
If not, a lawsuit could follow.
A city spokesperson was working on a statement but did not have one ready by
the end of the business day Monday.
But Crow-Smith said she hopes to avoid a lawsuit and just wants to be able
to hand out water.
"But I don't think it's even about religious beliefs. I think anybody should
be able to giveaway water on the sidewalk to anybody. It's hot and it's a
nice thing to do," said Crow-Smith.
apologize to a Valley woman for telling her she could not hand out free
bottled water to people in the summer heat.
Dana Crow-Smith said a City of Phoenix worker came up to her during the
First Friday festival in downtown Phoenix last month and told her she was
violating city code by handing out free water because she did not have a
permit.
Crow-Smith and a group of others were there exercising their Christian
beliefs by engaging people to talk about religion if they wanted.
The group brought several cases of bottled water to give away in the
112-degree heat, but said a Neighborhood Preservation Inspector told the
group they had to stop handing out the water or would be cited.
"It was really hot and yeah we wanted to show God's love and a small act of
kindness is a great way to do that without shoving it down someone's
throat," said Crow-Smith.
The Rutherford Institute , a non-profit civil liberties organization,
stepped in to represent Crow-Smith and calls this is "a violation of
Crow-Smith's First Amendment right to freely exercise her religion, her
Fourteenth Amendment due process rights, as well as Arizona's Free Exercise
of Religion Act."
"It is a sad day when local government officials prohibit Americans from
such charitable acts as giving water to the thirsty in their city," said
John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute.
In a letter to the city , Whitehead demanded the City issue a formal,
written apology to Crow-Smith, assure her no City officials will interfere
in future with her distribution of water, and require City workers go
through training on the proper enforcement of the City's code.
If not, a lawsuit could follow.
A city spokesperson was working on a statement but did not have one ready by
the end of the business day Monday.
But Crow-Smith said she hopes to avoid a lawsuit and just wants to be able
to hand out water.
"But I don't think it's even about religious beliefs. I think anybody should
be able to giveaway water on the sidewalk to anybody. It's hot and it's a
nice thing to do," said Crow-Smith.
BurfordTJustice
Aug 22, 2012, 5:16:28 AM8/22/12
to
0 new messages