Tulsa Police Arrest Food Not Bombs Volunteers for Feeding Homeless
Recently released body camera footage depicts Tulsa police ordering the anti-war group Food Not Bombs (FNB) to cease their meal distribution to the homeless and subsequently arresting four activists. The arrests occurred after the activists asserted their First Amendment rights, while police cited the need for a special permit and public health concerns. This incident is part of an ongoing conflict where groups like FNB view feeding the needy as a form of protected expression, a stance supported by some federal court rulings, while city governments often deem unpermitted food distribution a public health issue. Despite FNB’s claims of consistent, uneventful distributions for years, Tulsa police maintained that the group had been repeatedly notified about permit requirements and had previously caused disruptions and left behind debris.
John Q. Hosedrinker