legal advice?

[Gordon Fitch]

I don't have any legal advice, but I do know this situation
arises occasionally with FNB activities, most famously in San
Francisco, where over 1000 people were arrested quite a few
years back.  Several months ago the police threatened to stop
an FNB operation in New Brunswick, New Jersey, but they got
some bad publicity and the FNB "chapter" consented to filled
out a pro-form permit application.  In New York City a few
years ago, a non-FNB free food party was busted, but the cops
waited until all the food had been given out, and then gave
one person a ticket, on the basis of a law that makes it
illegal to serve hot food to the public without a license of
some kind.  The authorities of liberalism are conflicted about
such things: they _want_ to make them stop until properly
licensed and authorized (that is, incorporated into the State)
but the use of police force against the likes of FNB gives the 
game away all too obviously.

Thus, the most effective response seems to be to publicity.

-- Gordon

Doug Henwood:
> An acquaintance writes... I've stripped away identifiers, so if you 
> want to respond, write me directly and I'll forward it.
> 
> Doug
> 
> ----
> 
> >Subject: Former student in need of legal advice
> >Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 19:19:42 -0800 (PST)
> >
> >Mr. X-
> >
> >This is N____ H_____ class of 2001. I am hoping that this e-mail 
> >finds you. I stalked you down through the internet. I am e-mailing 
> >due to legal troubles that I fear in the near future. I have been 
> >volunteering with a vegetarian food kitchen called Food Not Bombs. 
> >We have produce donated to us that would otherwise be thrown out due 
> >to small bruises or overstock. We then cook it and serve it to 
> >anyone that is hungry at a memorial near Westport. Today (12/2/2001) 
> >we had an officer come claim that there been complaints against us 
> >from other food shelters due to the fact that they do not like that 
> >we do not have permits or an insurance policy to serve. He told us 
> >that he did not know the laws for certain regarding food shelters 
> >but he will be coming back next week to possibly arrest us if we are 
> >still serving.
> >
> >He then requested for the main speaker to give her name, address, 
> >and phone number. We contended we had no spokesperson and that we 
> >are all equals so if he forced one person to give their names he 
> >would have to force us all. He then proceeded to take all our names 
> >and phone numbers.
> >
> >My question is if you know of any loopholes in which we may continue 
> >to serve. Would we be able to get by claiming for us to be having a 
> >picnic in which anyone may attend? We will be out there next Sunday 
> >once again to help those in need. If we can find no way out, we will 
> >willingly be arrested. Any advice you can give would be greatly 
> >appreciated.