Food Not Bombs Las Vegas Protest Aug 10

foodnotbombslasvegas [at] hotmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2006

CONTACT: Joe Sacco
702-275-0714

"FOOD NOT BOMBS" PROTESTS LAS VEGAS LAW BANNING FEEDING HOMELESS IN CITY PARKS

LAS VEGAS, NV - On August 10, 2006 local homeless advocates Gail Sacco, Lyla Barholomae, and members of the international organization Food Not Bombs will peacefully assemble at Las Vegas City Hall located at 400 Stewart Ave. to assert their Constitutionally-protected rights to help the poor, giving life-sustaining food and water. The demonstration is planned for August 10, 2006 at noon.

On July 19, 2006 Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and the Las Vegas City Council unanimously passed an ordinance which makes it illegal to share food with poverty-stricken people in any city park. Despite the new law, many have continued to give food to the poor. Gail Sacco has continued her daily vegetarian picnics with the hungry at Huntridge Circle Park in downtown Las Vegas despite harassment from both police and park marshals.

On July 31, 2006 Beth Monk- a local radio personality of 96.3 KKLZ- became the first person to be cited under the newest anti-homeless ordinance. Six other people were issued citations and three arrests were made when the radio station and other individuals attempted to serve free donuts and water at Frank Wright Plaza, a city park which is located next to Las Vegas City Hall.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada has now filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Las Vegas. According to Lee Rowland of the ACLU, the ordinance violates an individual's constitutional rights to free speech, assembly, exercise of religion, due process of law and equal protection under the law.

Food Not Bombs is one of the fastest growing revolutionary movements and is gaining momentum throughout the world. There are hundreds of autonomous chapters sharing free vegetarian food with hungry people and protesting war and poverty. This energetic grassroots movement is active throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Food Not Bombs is organizing for peace and an end to the occupations of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine. For over 25 years the movement has worked to end hunger and has supported actions to stop the globalization of the economy, restrictions to the movements of people, end exploitation and the destruction of the earth.

For more info or to schedule an interview please call Joe Sacco at 702-275-0714, Gail Sacco at 355-2764 or go to:

http://www.myspace.com/fnblasvegas - FOOD NOT BOMBS, LAS VEGAS
http://www.foodnotbombs.net - THE FOOD NOT BOMBS MOVEMENT

Great photo/video opportunities. Free food and water, signs and banners, drumming circle, art, music, and open microphone.

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FOOD NOT BOMBS Protest, August 10
http://lasvegas.staughton.indypgh.org/news/2006/08/5426.php