When 90-year-old Florida resident Arnold Abbott said following his arrest on Sunday that police couldn’t stop him from feeding the homeless, he apparently meant it.
Abbott was charged again on Wednesday night for violating a new city law in Ft. Lauderdale that essentially prevents people from feeding the homeless.
“I expected it” he said in a Sun Sentinel report. “At least this time they let us feed people first.”
Officers lingered in the area for about 45 minutes during which time Abbott and volunteers with the Love Thy Neighbor charity he founded handed out more than 100 plates of hot chicken stew, pasta, cheesy potatoes and fruit salad to homeless men and women.
If he’s found guilty of violating city ordinance laws — his second in a week — he faces 60 days in jail or a $500 fine.
Abbott said he’s prepared to go to jail over his efforts.
“Why do I keep doing this?” he asked rhetorically. “Because these are my people and they deserve to be fed.”
In a slightly more confrontational incident on Sunday, four police cruisers and approximately a half dozen officers with the Ft. Lauderdale Police Department descended upon an area in the city where Abbott, charity representatives and church members were handing out hot meals to local homeless people.
One officer demanded that he “drop that plate right now” as others picked up the trays off food and inserted them directly into the garbage with lines of homeless people looking on.
he new law in Ft. Lauderdale comes after the city announced in January that people are restricted from camping, panhandling, food sharing and engaging in other “life sustaining activities.” The laws regarding food sharing where ironically enacted on Halloween when millions of people were out sharing candy.
Abbott applauded the officers for being more courteous in their enforcement of the law the second time around this week.
“They were very gentle,” Abbott said. “I think they feel a little guilty doing their job.”
Credits: The Usual Routine.
You are a wonderful man, Mr. Abbott. Thank you for the good work you do. The world needs more people like you in it, and fewer who would pass such callous ordinances.
Another example of governmental idiocy.
What the fu#k is wrong with people just because something is against the law does not make it wrong . This is a clear example of how insane government and big business have become.
IT IS ONLY FOR POLITICAL POWER.
Eurasian Brahmins are the sole cause of all types of inccident which occurred in India. They will design the whole policy for the word “HINDU”. They will take care that no body should have doubt about it.
To establish the so called identity they have been trying to divert common masses & international opinion in their favour.
The welfare of the common people, principles, ideology, right and wrong: these are related to the means to the end, but the goal is Power. They will do whatever to takes them to remain in power and extend their power.
I met this man and volunteered at this homeless feed 😀
Act of charity? why
It is a sad day when you are not able to help people without being arrested. Such a beautiful world filled with beautiful people controlled by a power hungry machine.
This is absolutely ridiculous
It’s s joke!.
my highest respect to you, mr. abbott. if you cannot pay the 500 dollars, i will pay it. please, keep on doing your mission. thank you for doing this.
It’s not ok to help people but it’s ok to go &fight their senseless stupid senseless money making wars . One of the reasons why Jehovah’s Witnesses won’t obey money making war mongers
And the people who enforce it…
What nonsense this man is doing a good deed. What a sad world if you cannot help each other.
Shame on the Police and those policies who jailed a great man. #RIPHumanity
America has gone mad!
How insane is this. Evil really is ruling America
Why is it illegal?
Good news. It’s not illegal at the moment.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/12/03/after-90-year-old-is-arrested-florida-judge-halts-law-that-restricts-feeding-the-homeless/?utm_term=.5c4afb238e5e#
But you do need permit to go to war, what the hell is it with these stupid title?
This is america for u…
Oh,for goodness sake!
This is crazy!!!
Obviously Ft Lauderdale police are a collection of heartless tossers – like their lawmakers.
Yes, this is wherre police need to sornd their time.
Look at the evil smug grin that that cop has.
What? Idiots….he’s a saint….
Wow! It’s outrageous that someone could go to jail for helping others. It just really says alot about our society. The powers that be wanna see more people die of starvation when food is wasted everyday smh….
You are truly an earth angel and i salute you, Gabriele.
there is something seriously wrong with this! what the hell!
It is so sad , so unfair and so ……pppfffffff God is watching you Mr. Abbott. Those homeless are very fortunate to have a very caring and compassionate person like you. God is using you as one of His divine connections to help them. You are a great man ! Love & Respect.
You’re absolutely right, Debbie. Unfortunately, the devils are everywhere also. Yes, that is very sad.
What a country, does Obama know this?
This world is really going nuts!
should have fed the illegals or the refugees. He would be a fre3 man.
WTH IS WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY WHEN IT’S ILLEGAL TO FEED AND HELP THE HOMELESS?
How crazy is this?
The police need to turn there heads . And worry about more important things.
The stupid american laws
THE CHARGES AGAINST THIS MAN ARE OBCENE!!! IS THIS WHERE OUR NATION HAS ENDED UP! WE REWARD BAD BEHAVIOR FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOTHING SHORT OF CRIMINALS, AND THROW THOSE IN JAIL, THAT SEEK TO DO GOOD AND MAKE A DIFFERANCE
My goodness- what poor excuse of a human being would ever contemplate putting that law in place ???!!
Thank you for your love for others Mr. Abbot!