Judge Issues Order to Let Feeding of Homeless Resume
The American Civil Liberties Union won a temporary restraining order Thursday on behalf of seven activists who say the city violated their 1st Amendment rights when they were arrested feeding the homeless in Pershing Square.
After a lengthy discussion with attorneys and activists in his chambers, U.S. District Judge J. Spencer Letts issued the order allowing members of the Los Angeles chapter of Food Not Bombs to continue their twice-weekly food distribution in Pershing Square without fear of being arrested.
The activists had sought an order to protect them through Jan. 17, but the judge granted the order through Sunday. He asked the city and activists to reach an acceptable solution by Wednesday, attorneys said.
“He has asked us to sit down and talk,” said ACLU staff attorney Daniel Tokaji.
The order comes 11 days after members from the national group--which feeds and brings attention to the plight of the homeless--were arrested when they refused to stop handing out meals near a temporary ice skating rink in the park. Police said they were infringing on the operations of the rink, which has a permit.
The group will resume feeding meals to the homeless today.
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