A homeless advocacy organization will distribute free food outside the Atlanta municipal courthouse on Thursday morning while one of its members is in court facing a citation for distributing food without a permit.
Adele Maclean said she was cited on Nov. 19 by Georgia State University police for feeding the homeless in Hurt Park. Maclean belongs to an organization called Atlanta Food Not Bombs.
“The city is trying to say we need a permit to serve food to homeless people,” said Maclean. “But this law that applies to establishments is immoral when it applies to our efforts.”
Maclean's citation said she is in violation of section 86-2 of the city's health ordinances.
Maclean said the city is trying to make homeless people unwelcome in the park.
"They're trying to make downtown as inhospitable for homeless people as possible," said MacLean. "They hope that if they can make it uncomfortable, it will force homeless people to go elsewhere. We believe everyone should be welcome downtown, and that includes the poor."
"The ticket was issued by a Georgia State University police officer for conducting an event, in this case mass feeding, without a permit from the Fulton County Health Department," said GSU Chief of Police Joseph Spillane. "Large gatherings in Hurt park without either a large gathering permit from the city or a Fulton County permit is causing a myriad of negative issues in the park.
"Those who choose to feed outdoors with no facilities, no sanitation, no food safety to prevent food born illness, and no order create serious issues as hundreds gather to get a meal."
Food Not Bombs calls itself an international group that distributes free food as a protest against war and capitalism.
"If Food not Bombs has an event in the park without a permit that includes more that 75 people, then they are deliberately violating Atlanta's large gathering permit process," Spillane said. "They are aware of the permit requirement as it is mentioned in their flyers and on their social media platform.
"I appreciate the fact that so many people are passionate about helping the less fortunate and encourage them to donate time, food, clothing and energy to a shelter or faith-based organization that provides more than just a meal on the street."
