Occupy Philadelphia Members Serve Homeless To Protest Outdoor Feeding Ban
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The City of Philadelphia held a hearing at the Municipal Services Building in Center City on Thursday to give public comment on the new outdoor feeding ban. There was opposition to the ban, both inside and outside of the building.
Dozens of Occupy Philadelphia protesters gathered outside of the Municipal Services Building, serving food to the homeless at a small table to show their opposition to the outdoor feeding ban.
Protester Xio Martin defended what she called a right to serve and eat food on the Parkway. "It's an obscenity, it's a disgrace. People are hungry; you feed people who are hungry. There's no harm or violence in the sharing of food."
Meanwhile, inside of the building- city officials sat on the 16th floor listening to comments from numerous service organizations and other individuals impacted by the ban. Citing to a number of problems, including lack of indoor feeding options, shelters, those who gave comment were clear.
"If you want people not to eat on the street, then you have to come up with ways for them to eat inside for them to sleep inside."
