Arnold Abbott, a 90-year-old advocate for the homeless, could face jail time for simply helping those in need. Abbott and two local pastors in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, were charged with violating a newly-passed ordinance that effectively outlaws groups from sharing food with the hungry. They face 60 days in jail and a $500 fine if convicted.
Why is giving food out to the homeless effectively banned? The Washington Post explains:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
When is an offensive social media post a crime?The Explainer UK legal system walks a 'difficult tightrope' between defending free speech and prosecuting hate speech
-
When will mortgage rates finally start coming down?The Explainer Much to potential homebuyers' chagrin, mortgage rates are still elevated
-
Women are getting their own baseball league againIn the Spotlight The league is on track to debut in 2026
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
