Fight over feeding homeless goes to court — again

Orlando, 2/14

This case is going to court on Tuesday.

The arguments before the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals come more than four years after the Orlando City Council restricted how often people may feed large groups in parks around downtown. Businesses and residents had complained that frequent group meals at Lake Eola Park drew the homeless into the neighborhood.

After years of legal wrangling, the case has been condensed to a single question: Whether sharing food with homeless and hungry people in a public park is “expressive conduct” protected by the constitution. Expressive conduct is an act or behavior that’s equivalent to free speech, like burning a flag or wearing a black armband to protest a war.

Members of the group Orlando Food Not Bombs argue that by feeding the homeless, they are spreading the message that society should ensure no one goes hungry.

I admire the tenacity of these activists more than I can say.