June 2005: Orlando Food Not Bombs members protest against spending public tax dollars to build
a new arena for billionaire Rich DeVos, the owner of the Orlando Magic.
"FOOD NOT BOMBS is one of the fastest growing revolutionary movements active today and is gaining momentum. There are hundreds of autonomous chapters sharing free vegetarian food with hungry people and protesting war and poverty throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia. Food Not Bombs is organizing for an end to the occupations of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine. We also support actions against the globalization of the economy, restrictions to the movements of people and the destruction of the earth.
"The first group was formed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1980 by anti-nuclear activists. Food Not Bombs is an all volunteer organization dedicated to nonviolence. Food Not Bombs has no formal leaders and strives to include everyone in its decision making process. Each group recovers food that would otherwise be thrown out and makes fresh hot vegetarian meals that are served in city parks to anyone without restriction. The groups also serve free vegetarian meals at protests and other events. The San Francisco Chapter has been arrested over 1,000 times in an effort to silence its protest against the Mayor's anti- homeless policies. Amnesty International states it may adopt those Food Not Bombs volunteers that are imprisoned as 'Prisoners of Conscience' and will work for their unconditional release.
"Food Not Bombs works in coalition with groups like Earth First!, The Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, Anarchist Black Cross, the Industrial Workers of the World, Homes Not Jails, Anti-Racist Action, In Defense of Animals, the Free Radio Movement and other organizations on the cutting edge of positive social change and resistance to the new global austerity program. [In the Orlando area Food Not Bombs works with Students for a Democratic Society, at the University of Central Florida, and Stop the Ordinance Partnership–S.T.O.P.]" Currently, we are aware of Food Not Bombs chapters in the following Florida cities (besides Orlando): Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Gainesville, Hollywood, Miami, Saint Augustine, Saint Petersburg, Sarasota, Tallahassee, and West Palm Beach.
–from FoodNotBombs.net
