Orlando Food Not Bombs member Eric Montanez arrested.
April 5, 2007
Erik Montanez is a pedicab operator ie. bike taxi! He plays in that band Republicorpse, they played at Ouroboros’s first show. That was fun. Erik also helps with the Orlando Food Not Bombs group. Who feed people in Lake Eola park every Wednesday and Sunday.
He was arrested last night for violating a controversial city ordinance that states quite simply that you can’t feed more than 25 people inside Lake Eola’s park. Violation of this ordinance is a misdemeanor.
Police spokeswoman Sgt. Barbara Jones said officers worked surveillance and counted exactly 30 people that Erik fed. Local news station WFTV said that, “Police even took a sample of what was served as evidence.” You can watch a video of the stations coverage here.
Erik got out of Jail this morning on $250 bond.
Food Not Bombs and Erik are plaintiffs in a federal suit against the city arguing that the ordinance is unconstitutional. The group is persuing this along with Stop-Orlando.org, a grassroots coalition fighting the ordinance and the criminalization of homelessness in Orlando.
ACLU lawyers were meeting Thursday afternoon to take legal action against the arrest of the homeless advocate. They said the city publicly said it would not enforce its ordinance about feeding the homeless until the ACLU lawsuit worked its way through the courts. They don’t think the city’s law has a leg to stand on.
In regard to this incident, the ACLU claims it’s just another example of the harassment it endures as its group, and several others supporting the homeless, try to help those in need. They believe the city doesn’t want the homeless around because of the image some worry it presents to the public.
Jacksonville’s Jerry Moran, mentioned here in Folio’s Blog, has a different approach to dealing with homelessness. Remember? He was the guy who would takes pictures of homeless people and post youtube videos of them publicly defecating. I haven’t heard much about him lately, you? He certainly has a different perspective (arguably his wallet) when it comes to homeless people. Well, the Orlando Food Not Bombs group is being entirely more helpful to the community for sure! Please check out the group’s website, or even look over a wishlist of items they need.
Inertia Records 
[…] who counted the number of people he fed. Josh put together a good article on his Inertia blog here. […]
Jerry Moran was also the one who showed up to Jacksonville Food Not Bombs incognito (ratty sweater and zubaz) and took pictures before walking around the corner to call the police.
ERIC MONTANEZ AND ‘FOOD NOT BOMBS’ SHOULD HOOK UP WITH ANOTHER ORGANIZATION TO SET UP TWO FEEDING AREAS IN THE PARK SO THEY CAN FEED ALL THE HOMELESS PEOPLE BY EACH INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATION FEEDING 25 OR LESS PERSONS WHICH IS WELL WITHIN THE LAW. THIS MEANS THAT INSTEAD OF FEEDING ONLY 30 AND GOING TO JAIL, THE TWO INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS CAN TOGETHER FEED 50, LEGALLY! HELL, PUT 3 SEPARATE ORG’S OUT THERE AND LEGALLY FEED 75!!! FUCK IT – 4 = 100!!! 😉
So much for ‘compassionate conservatism.’ Let me guess; next time the Orlando Police will arrest a toddler for loitering. The names of those responsible for such an evil, hateful ordinance need to be published across the net and on flyers in their community churches. The legislators responsible need to be publicly called out on this one and ostracized. Make them pariahs in their own churches and communities! Let’s prosecute these legislators for criminal malfeasance in office. Let’s humiliate them and disgrace them for this evil act of greed.
Most likely those who voted in this ordinance call themselves Christian. However, they are not following the teachings of Christ, who told us to feed the hungry and clothe the poor. With this ordinance, they then would put Jesus on trial, for He feed 5,000 in an open, public space.
BOYCOTT Orlando, home of arrogant, selfish, elitist City Officials. What will they do next? Kick people out of town for having too low of an income? Arrest the poor? These officials should be imprisioned for hate crimes against humanity! ‘Compassionate conservatism’ my foot! Conservatives are arrogant, selfish, elitists!!!
Ironically Jerry Moran is now on the board of directors for the Homeless Coalition in Jacksonville.
i’m about to become a bum in lake eola park. someone feed me please.