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Action Against Laws Restricting Sharing Food
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Nar Gilah
Feb 17, 2012, 2:16:18 PM2/17/12
to
From: ke...@foodnotbombs.net
Date: February 15, 2012 7:00:03 PM EST
To:<me...@foodnotbombs.net>
Subject: Proposal for FOOD IS A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE action
on April 1, 2012 to protests laws against sharing food.
(Please give feedback)
We are writing to ask for your support. Our office has seen a huge
increase in reports of people and groups being stopped for sharing
food with the hungry. There is also a new wave of laws restricting the
sharing of food. The expense and regulation required by authorities
makes it impossible to provide help. In many cities you can be jailed
for weeks and even months for sharing meals with the hungry. Many of
our volunteers have been arrested and held for days for their acts of
compassion. Please consider endorsing our campaign and issuing a
statement of support. You are also encouraged to organize a a local
celebration in your community on April 1, 2012.
Thanks for your consideration.
Keith McHenry and Kathy Mitro
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 15, 2011
CONTACT:
Keith McHenry
575-770-3377
me...@foodnotbombs.net
www.foodnotbombs.net/food_is_a_right.html
Kathy Mitro
386-795-9643
kathy...@yahoo.com
FOOD IS A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE
Sharing food with the hungry is an unregulated act of kindness.
End all efforts to stop people from feeding the hungry.
Rescind all laws restricting compassion.
"THERE IS NO RIGHT WAY TO GIVE OUT FOOD, THERE IS ONLY GIVING OUT ALL
THE FOOD YOU CAN"
- Kathy Mitro who posted a petition on line after being threatened
with arrest for sharing food in Daytona Beach. Florida in January 2012
We are proposing that people all over the world consider sharing free
meals in celebration our right to food and participate in our campaign
for an end to laws restricting acts of compassion. Celebrate our right
to feed the hungry with music, theater, and the sharing of food.
SUNDAY, APRIL 1, 2012
It has been distressing to receive so many reports in the past few
weeks of people being threatened with arrest or cities adopting new
laws limiting people's right to share free food with the public.
People in England, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,
and Florida contacted Food Not Bombs about having been threatened with
arrest. Others report that their local governments are considering
laws to limit acts of compassion.
This new wave of threats is happening as half of all Americans are
struggling to survive. The Department of Agriculture's February report
shows that 46,286,294 people relied on food stamps in November of
2011. People have been arriving at Food Not Bombs meals claiming they
had not eaten in four days because other food programs had exhausted
their resources. The Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that
1 in 7 people or 925 million people world wide went hungry in 2010.
We are announcing a global campaign to recognize that sharing food
with the hungry is an unregulated activity of compassion and should
not be interfered with by the authorities.
Our movement started when the "Diggers" occupied St George's Hill in
Surrey, England on April 1, 1649 in a protest for the right of
landless people to feed themselves. We are announcing our global
campaign for the right of all people to share food with the hungry
without regulation on the anniversary of the first act of the peaceful
resistance by the "Diggers" of St George's Hill.
The public is encouraged to share meals with their community on
Sunday, April 1, 2012 in defiance of government's efforts to restrict
acts of compassion. Please email our office so we can post your event
on our website.
FOOD IS A RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE – End all efforts to stop people from
feeding the hungry
http://www.foodnotbombs.net/food_is_a_right.html
FOOD IS A RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE – End all efforts to stop people from
feeding the hungry on blog.foodnotbombs.net
http://blog.foodnotbombs.net/food-is-a-right-not-a-privilege-end-all-
efforts-to-stop-people-from-feeding-the-hungry/
ENDORSED BY
Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed
Noam Chomsky, author and professor M.I.T.
Eric Holt-Giménez, Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy
Bill McKibben, author Deep Economy
David Barsamian, founder and director of Alternative Radio
David Rovics,musician, USA
Kevin Devine, musician, Brooklyn, NY
Kathy Kelly, Co-coordinator, Voices for Creative Nonviolence
Michael Stoops, National Coalition for the Homeless
Kathy Mitro, Daytona Beach. Florida
Keith McHenry, Co-founder of the Food Not Bombs Movement
###
PLEASE ENDORSE THIS CAMPAIGN
Please consider endorsing this nonviolent campaign. Email us you name,
position and city or if your group is endorsing the name of your
organization and city. Seek to overturn all local laws restricting the
sharing of food.
Thanks so much.
me...@foodnotbombs.net
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The current cities actively seeking to restrict the sharing of food
are Los Angeles, Daytona Beach,Tampa, St Petersburg, Dallas, Myrtle
Beach, Philadelphia.
A PLACE AT THE TABLE
http://www.foodnotbombs.net/A_Place_at_the_Table.pdf
Food is a Right Jean Ziegler
http://www.righttofood.org/
Hunger Is a 'Weapon of Mass Destruction', says Jean Ziegler
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Hunger-Is-a-Weapon-of-Mas-by-Siv-O-
Neall-120120-44.html
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: NUMBER OF PERSONS
PARTICIPATING
http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/29snapcurrpp.htm
2012 World Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistics Food and
Agriculture Organization
http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world 20hunger facts 202002.htm
Anti-Poverty Groups Alarmed At Obama Budget
http://www.npr.org/2011/02/14/133756360/Anti-Poverty-Groups-Alarmed-At-
Obama-Budget
PETITIONS
If you have been threatened with arrest for sharing food please
contact us. me...@foodnotbombs.net
Speaker of the House: Change the laws that criminalize sharing food with
hungry individuals
http://www.change.org/petitions/the-president-of-the-united-states-change-
the-laws-that-criminalize-sharing-food-with-hungry-individuals
Allow Food Not Bombs Myrtle Beach to Feed the Hungry
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/allow-food-not-bombs-myrtle-beach-to-
feed-people/
The City of Dallas: Stop
threatening people for feeding the homeless
http://www.change.org/petitions/the-city-of-dallas-stop-threatening-
people-for-feeding-the-homeless
NEW REPORTS ON EFFORTS TO LIMIT THE SHARING OF MEALS
PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia may start requiring permits for those who feed the homeless
February 10, 2012
http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/health-science-multimedia/item/33820-
philadelphia-may-start-requiring-permits-for-those-who-feed-the-homeless
Proposed rules for feeding homeless on Parkway assailed February 9, 2012
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/139063949.html
Proposed rules for feeding homeless on Parkway assailed
http://articles.philly.com/2012-02-09/news/31042407_1_regulation-bad-
policy-shelters
Ronnie Polaneczky: Dinner for the homeless, with a side of dignity
http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/
ronnie_polaneczky/20120214_Ronnie_Polaneczky__Dinner_for_the_homeless__with_a_side_of_dignity.html
Let Donald F. Schwarz, know there should be no restrictions to the
sharing of food in Philadelphia
Donald F. Schwarz, MD, MPH
Deputy Mayor for Health and Opportunity and
Health Commissioner
1401 JFK Blvd, Room 600
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Telephone: 215-686-5000
Fax: 215-686-5212
healt...@phila.gov
MYRTLE BEACH
WMBF Special Report: Homeless Bound
http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/10779717/wmbf-special-report-homeless-bound
Myrtle Beach Deals With Homeless, Or Do They?
http://www.nowpublic.com/health/myrtle-beach-deals-homeless-or-do-they
Please Don't Feed Our Homeless, Many Cities Say
http://news.change.org/stories/please-dont-feed-our-homeless-many-cities-
say
DETAILS ON THE DIGGERS
Our movement started when the "Diggers" occupied St George's Hill in
Surrey, England on April 1, 1649 in a protest for the right of
landless people to feed themselves. Consider performing the World
Turned Upside Down at your meal on April 1, 2012.
The English Diggers
http://www.diggers.org/english_diggers.htm
The World Turned Upside Down - The Diggers - Leon Rosselson text
http://www.diggers.org/english_diggers.htm#worl
The World Turned Upside Down - The Diggers - Leon Rosselson music video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=594JpY2ahFg
GET INVOLVED, PASS THE NEWS, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL MEDIA AND ORGANIZE AN
ACTION IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
PRINT OUT FLYER
http://www.foodnotbombs.net/food is a right day of compassion flyer.pdf
PRINT OUT FLYER ANNOUNCING THE TIME AND LOCATION OF YOUR CELEBRATION
http://www.foodnotbombs.net/food is a right diggers
flyer.pdf
PRINT OUT A SAMPLE COPY OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS TO SHARE FOOD
http://www.foodnotbombs.net/Bill of Rights to Share Food.pdf
FOOD IS A RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE – End all efforts to stop people from
feeding the hungry
http://www.foodnotbombs.net/food_is_a_right.html
FOOD IS A RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE – End all efforts to stop people from
feeding the hungry on blog.foodnotbombs.net
http://blog.foodnotbombs.net/food-is-a-right-not-a-privilege-end-all-
efforts-to-stop-people-from-feeding-the-hungry/
You can invite the Cooking for the Occupations - ELECT TO END HUNGER
AND POVERTY TOUR to visit you community. A presentation on the
occupations and the global effort against economic austerity!
http://www.foodnotbombs.net/speaker.html
Consider organizing a local celebration, contact your local media
about your event and PLEASE FORWARD- thanks!
Date: February 15, 2012 7:00:03 PM EST
To:<me...@foodnotbombs.net>
Subject: Proposal for FOOD IS A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE action
on April 1, 2012 to protests laws against sharing food.
(Please give feedback)
We are writing to ask for your support. Our office has seen a huge
increase in reports of people and groups being stopped for sharing
food with the hungry. There is also a new wave of laws restricting the
sharing of food. The expense and regulation required by authorities
makes it impossible to provide help. In many cities you can be jailed
for weeks and even months for sharing meals with the hungry. Many of
our volunteers have been arrested and held for days for their acts of
compassion. Please consider endorsing our campaign and issuing a
statement of support. You are also encouraged to organize a a local
celebration in your community on April 1, 2012.
Thanks for your consideration.
Keith McHenry and Kathy Mitro
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 15, 2011
CONTACT:
Keith McHenry
575-770-3377
me...@foodnotbombs.net
www.foodnotbombs.net/food_is_a_right.html
Kathy Mitro
386-795-9643
kathy...@yahoo.com
FOOD IS A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE
Sharing food with the hungry is an unregulated act of kindness.
End all efforts to stop people from feeding the hungry.
Rescind all laws restricting compassion.
"THERE IS NO RIGHT WAY TO GIVE OUT FOOD, THERE IS ONLY GIVING OUT ALL
THE FOOD YOU CAN"
- Kathy Mitro who posted a petition on line after being threatened
with arrest for sharing food in Daytona Beach. Florida in January 2012
We are proposing that people all over the world consider sharing free
meals in celebration our right to food and participate in our campaign
for an end to laws restricting acts of compassion. Celebrate our right
to feed the hungry with music, theater, and the sharing of food.
SUNDAY, APRIL 1, 2012
It has been distressing to receive so many reports in the past few
weeks of people being threatened with arrest or cities adopting new
laws limiting people's right to share free food with the public.
People in England, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,
and Florida contacted Food Not Bombs about having been threatened with
arrest. Others report that their local governments are considering
laws to limit acts of compassion.
This new wave of threats is happening as half of all Americans are
struggling to survive. The Department of Agriculture's February report
shows that 46,286,294 people relied on food stamps in November of
2011. People have been arriving at Food Not Bombs meals claiming they
had not eaten in four days because other food programs had exhausted
their resources. The Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that
1 in 7 people or 925 million people world wide went hungry in 2010.
We are announcing a global campaign to recognize that sharing food
with the hungry is an unregulated activity of compassion and should
not be interfered with by the authorities.
Our movement started when the "Diggers" occupied St George's Hill in
Surrey, England on April 1, 1649 in a protest for the right of
landless people to feed themselves. We are announcing our global
campaign for the right of all people to share food with the hungry
without regulation on the anniversary of the first act of the peaceful
resistance by the "Diggers" of St George's Hill.
The public is encouraged to share meals with their community on
Sunday, April 1, 2012 in defiance of government's efforts to restrict
acts of compassion. Please email our office so we can post your event
on our website.
FOOD IS A RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE – End all efforts to stop people from
feeding the hungry
http://www.foodnotbombs.net/food_is_a_right.html
FOOD IS A RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE – End all efforts to stop people from
feeding the hungry on blog.foodnotbombs.net
http://blog.foodnotbombs.net/food-is-a-right-not-a-privilege-end-all-
efforts-to-stop-people-from-feeding-the-hungry/
ENDORSED BY
Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed
Noam Chomsky, author and professor M.I.T.
Eric Holt-Giménez, Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy
Bill McKibben, author Deep Economy
David Barsamian, founder and director of Alternative Radio
David Rovics,musician, USA
Kevin Devine, musician, Brooklyn, NY
Kathy Kelly, Co-coordinator, Voices for Creative Nonviolence
Michael Stoops, National Coalition for the Homeless
Kathy Mitro, Daytona Beach. Florida
Keith McHenry, Co-founder of the Food Not Bombs Movement
###
PLEASE ENDORSE THIS CAMPAIGN
Please consider endorsing this nonviolent campaign. Email us you name,
position and city or if your group is endorsing the name of your
organization and city. Seek to overturn all local laws restricting the
sharing of food.
Thanks so much.
me...@foodnotbombs.net
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The current cities actively seeking to restrict the sharing of food
are Los Angeles, Daytona Beach,Tampa, St Petersburg, Dallas, Myrtle
Beach, Philadelphia.
A PLACE AT THE TABLE
http://www.foodnotbombs.net/A_Place_at_the_Table.pdf
Food is a Right Jean Ziegler
http://www.righttofood.org/
Hunger Is a 'Weapon of Mass Destruction', says Jean Ziegler
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Hunger-Is-a-Weapon-of-Mas-by-Siv-O-
Neall-120120-44.html
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: NUMBER OF PERSONS
PARTICIPATING
http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/29snapcurrpp.htm
2012 World Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistics Food and
Agriculture Organization
http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world 20hunger facts 202002.htm
Anti-Poverty Groups Alarmed At Obama Budget
http://www.npr.org/2011/02/14/133756360/Anti-Poverty-Groups-Alarmed-At-
Obama-Budget
PETITIONS
If you have been threatened with arrest for sharing food please
contact us. me...@foodnotbombs.net
Speaker of the House: Change the laws that criminalize sharing food with
hungry individuals
http://www.change.org/petitions/the-president-of-the-united-states-change-
the-laws-that-criminalize-sharing-food-with-hungry-individuals
Allow Food Not Bombs Myrtle Beach to Feed the Hungry
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/allow-food-not-bombs-myrtle-beach-to-
feed-people/
The City of Dallas: Stop
threatening people for feeding the homeless
http://www.change.org/petitions/the-city-of-dallas-stop-threatening-
people-for-feeding-the-homeless
NEW REPORTS ON EFFORTS TO LIMIT THE SHARING OF MEALS
PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia may start requiring permits for those who feed the homeless
February 10, 2012
http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/health-science-multimedia/item/33820-
philadelphia-may-start-requiring-permits-for-those-who-feed-the-homeless
Proposed rules for feeding homeless on Parkway assailed February 9, 2012
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/139063949.html
Proposed rules for feeding homeless on Parkway assailed
http://articles.philly.com/2012-02-09/news/31042407_1_regulation-bad-
policy-shelters
Ronnie Polaneczky: Dinner for the homeless, with a side of dignity
http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/
ronnie_polaneczky/20120214_Ronnie_Polaneczky__Dinner_for_the_homeless__with_a_side_of_dignity.html
Let Donald F. Schwarz, know there should be no restrictions to the
sharing of food in Philadelphia
Donald F. Schwarz, MD, MPH
Deputy Mayor for Health and Opportunity and
Health Commissioner
1401 JFK Blvd, Room 600
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Telephone: 215-686-5000
Fax: 215-686-5212
healt...@phila.gov
MYRTLE BEACH
WMBF Special Report: Homeless Bound
http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/10779717/wmbf-special-report-homeless-bound
Myrtle Beach Deals With Homeless, Or Do They?
http://www.nowpublic.com/health/myrtle-beach-deals-homeless-or-do-they
Please Don't Feed Our Homeless, Many Cities Say
http://news.change.org/stories/please-dont-feed-our-homeless-many-cities-
say
DETAILS ON THE DIGGERS
Our movement started when the "Diggers" occupied St George's Hill in
Surrey, England on April 1, 1649 in a protest for the right of
landless people to feed themselves. Consider performing the World
Turned Upside Down at your meal on April 1, 2012.
The English Diggers
http://www.diggers.org/english_diggers.htm
The World Turned Upside Down - The Diggers - Leon Rosselson text
http://www.diggers.org/english_diggers.htm#worl
The World Turned Upside Down - The Diggers - Leon Rosselson music video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=594JpY2ahFg
GET INVOLVED, PASS THE NEWS, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL MEDIA AND ORGANIZE AN
ACTION IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
PRINT OUT FLYER
http://www.foodnotbombs.net/food is a right day of compassion flyer.pdf
PRINT OUT FLYER ANNOUNCING THE TIME AND LOCATION OF YOUR CELEBRATION
http://www.foodnotbombs.net/food is a right diggers
flyer.pdf
PRINT OUT A SAMPLE COPY OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS TO SHARE FOOD
http://www.foodnotbombs.net/Bill of Rights to Share Food.pdf
FOOD IS A RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE – End all efforts to stop people from
feeding the hungry
http://www.foodnotbombs.net/food_is_a_right.html
FOOD IS A RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE – End all efforts to stop people from
feeding the hungry on blog.foodnotbombs.net
http://blog.foodnotbombs.net/food-is-a-right-not-a-privilege-end-all-
efforts-to-stop-people-from-feeding-the-hungry/
You can invite the Cooking for the Occupations - ELECT TO END HUNGER
AND POVERTY TOUR to visit you community. A presentation on the
occupations and the global effort against economic austerity!
http://www.foodnotbombs.net/speaker.html
Consider organizing a local celebration, contact your local media
about your event and PLEASE FORWARD- thanks!
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