Post by DAAA Collective on Oct 20, 2006 17:36:51 GMT -5
They Try and Catch us Cookin’ Dirty:
Police go after Food Not Bombs
Several months ago, D.A.A.A. Collective moved it’s Food Not Bombs program out of Graceada Park in Modesto, to over by the Modesto Gospel Mission. After getting close to 50 or so people at Graceada Park, attendance had gone down, and we wanted to move somewhere where we would get a set number of people. We decided to feed outside of the Mission for several reasons. First, it was a nice location where lots of people would have access to the food, clothes, canned goods, and free literature. Also, we have in the past organized against the Modesto Gospel Mission, because of it’s authoritarian nature and policies, (for more information on houseless objects to the Mission, view our website). There is also the fact that members of the management have been investigated for money laundry! In essence, Food Not Bombs is a shinning example of the gift economy in action, and also a celebration of solidarity not charity in opposition to the Gospel Mission.
Food Not Bombs first started to do our picnics across the street from the Gospel Mission, and this worked fine for about a month. Then, security guards who worked for the Mission, (part of their “disciple program”), one week tried to stop houseless people from crossing the street, eating, and then coming back on to the Mission’s property. This prompted many people to tell us to just to ignore the Mission, and the rent a pigs who worked for them, (on top of various masturbatory hand signals made in their direction), but we had a better idea. The next week we set up right in front of the Missions doors, but on the sidewalk where it was not technically the Mission’s property. This worked out very well for several weeks, and we also were able to have lots of good conversations with people. Literature regarding squatting, dealing with the police, shoplifting, as well as information on other topics was made available, and often we ran out of material.
We thought that we had a good thing going for us, and with the steady stream of people going to the Mission every night, the possibilities for doing Food Not Bombs was endless! However, in late August, the Modesto Bee ran a small piece letting people know where and when Food Not Bombs served. Either because of this, or because they were tired of us, the Gospel Mission called the police to clear us out.
When police arrived, we had a large group of about 8 or so people doing FNB. Another group was also present with us, “Shut Up and Eat It”, a radical ‘Rainbow Gathering’ inspired group that goes around dumpster diving food, and feeding it in public areas. Police quickly told us that we were in violation of various laws, including blocking the sidewalk, and giving out food without a health permit. While we weren’t blocking the sidewalk, we did not have a health permit, nor do we want one. We have always taken care to wash and prepare food safely, unlike various fast food and industrial farming industries, who routinely have food poisoning problems, (despite holding numerous permits). While arguing with the police, we asked them to present the codes that they were citing, and they said that they did not have the codes on them. They did say however, that if we were back next week, they would have them, and they would ticket us. Police also briefly detained a man who called one of the officers a, “fat fuck”, although he was later released after about 30 minutes with no charges.
We had no real interest in legitimizing our projects in the eyes of the city or the state, (meaning we ain’t getting no damn licenses)! But we also wanted to continue to do Food Not Bombs outside of the Mission. We came to a very radical conclusion! We should talk to the houseless community and see what they think. Since several of us are squatters, frequent dumpster divers, and also often use the library as our only computer access, (and thus, part of the houseless community), this of course was easy. We went to several locations and asked groups of people what they thought of the incidents with the police, and what they think Food Not Bombs should do. The response from the people was largely the same. They all said that the police were fucked up, and that the Mission was fucked up in general, and stupid for calling the police. They appreciated Food Not Bombs, and wanted it to continue. People within the houseless community suggested a parking lot that serves as a houseless hangout before the Mission opens as a place to do Food Not Bombs, and it looked like our problems were solved!
Since then we have been practicing gift economy across the street, without problems from the Mission, or the pigs. One week a man came up to us and said, “See you took our advice, you listened to the people, fuck all that other bullshit!” We couldn’t agree more.
Police go after Food Not Bombs
Several months ago, D.A.A.A. Collective moved it’s Food Not Bombs program out of Graceada Park in Modesto, to over by the Modesto Gospel Mission. After getting close to 50 or so people at Graceada Park, attendance had gone down, and we wanted to move somewhere where we would get a set number of people. We decided to feed outside of the Mission for several reasons. First, it was a nice location where lots of people would have access to the food, clothes, canned goods, and free literature. Also, we have in the past organized against the Modesto Gospel Mission, because of it’s authoritarian nature and policies, (for more information on houseless objects to the Mission, view our website). There is also the fact that members of the management have been investigated for money laundry! In essence, Food Not Bombs is a shinning example of the gift economy in action, and also a celebration of solidarity not charity in opposition to the Gospel Mission.
Food Not Bombs first started to do our picnics across the street from the Gospel Mission, and this worked fine for about a month. Then, security guards who worked for the Mission, (part of their “disciple program”), one week tried to stop houseless people from crossing the street, eating, and then coming back on to the Mission’s property. This prompted many people to tell us to just to ignore the Mission, and the rent a pigs who worked for them, (on top of various masturbatory hand signals made in their direction), but we had a better idea. The next week we set up right in front of the Missions doors, but on the sidewalk where it was not technically the Mission’s property. This worked out very well for several weeks, and we also were able to have lots of good conversations with people. Literature regarding squatting, dealing with the police, shoplifting, as well as information on other topics was made available, and often we ran out of material.
We thought that we had a good thing going for us, and with the steady stream of people going to the Mission every night, the possibilities for doing Food Not Bombs was endless! However, in late August, the Modesto Bee ran a small piece letting people know where and when Food Not Bombs served. Either because of this, or because they were tired of us, the Gospel Mission called the police to clear us out.
When police arrived, we had a large group of about 8 or so people doing FNB. Another group was also present with us, “Shut Up and Eat It”, a radical ‘Rainbow Gathering’ inspired group that goes around dumpster diving food, and feeding it in public areas. Police quickly told us that we were in violation of various laws, including blocking the sidewalk, and giving out food without a health permit. While we weren’t blocking the sidewalk, we did not have a health permit, nor do we want one. We have always taken care to wash and prepare food safely, unlike various fast food and industrial farming industries, who routinely have food poisoning problems, (despite holding numerous permits). While arguing with the police, we asked them to present the codes that they were citing, and they said that they did not have the codes on them. They did say however, that if we were back next week, they would have them, and they would ticket us. Police also briefly detained a man who called one of the officers a, “fat fuck”, although he was later released after about 30 minutes with no charges.
We had no real interest in legitimizing our projects in the eyes of the city or the state, (meaning we ain’t getting no damn licenses)! But we also wanted to continue to do Food Not Bombs outside of the Mission. We came to a very radical conclusion! We should talk to the houseless community and see what they think. Since several of us are squatters, frequent dumpster divers, and also often use the library as our only computer access, (and thus, part of the houseless community), this of course was easy. We went to several locations and asked groups of people what they thought of the incidents with the police, and what they think Food Not Bombs should do. The response from the people was largely the same. They all said that the police were fucked up, and that the Mission was fucked up in general, and stupid for calling the police. They appreciated Food Not Bombs, and wanted it to continue. People within the houseless community suggested a parking lot that serves as a houseless hangout before the Mission opens as a place to do Food Not Bombs, and it looked like our problems were solved!
Since then we have been practicing gift economy across the street, without problems from the Mission, or the pigs. One week a man came up to us and said, “See you took our advice, you listened to the people, fuck all that other bullshit!” We couldn’t agree more.