Texas woman invokes ‘religious freedom’ argument to fight $2000 fine for feeding the homeless

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an Antonio woman is planning to use the state’s “religious freedom” law to contest a citation she received for feeding homeless residents at a local park, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

Joan Cheever said four bike-patrol officers ticketed her last week for handing out food from a vehicle that was not her food truck. It was reportedly was the first time authorities stopped her after providing a free meal for the homeless every week since 2005.

The citation carries a potential fine of $2,000. When she goes to court on June 23, she said, she will argue that she should be allowed to continue sharing her food because it is a valid expression of her faith under the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

“One of the police officers said, ‘Ma’am, if you want to pray, go to church,’” she told WOAI-TV. “And I said, ‘This is how I pray — when I cook this food and deliver it to the people who are less fortunate.”

Despite the ticket, Sheever plans to continue handing out food in the weeks leading up to her court appearance.

a reply to: wasaka

Lets' see how it goes, and see who is going to get upset at her for trying it.

a reply to: wasaka

Good for her!

Meanwhile Hillary Clinton has over 2 Billion dollars just to run for a political office? Can anyone say "campaign finance reform?"?

Citing "religious freedom" to feed those who are hungry is admirable as far as I am concerned!

a reply to: wasaka

I don't care how she fights it, ticketing someone for feeding the homeless is reprehensible! I'm behind her no matter how she goes about it.

a reply to: wasaka

I just have to ask the obvious here.

What kind of monster makes it against the law to feed the homeless.

And how big a dick do you have to be to make the penalty a $2000 fine?

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: wasaka

I don't care how she fights it, ticketing someone for feeding the homeless is reprehensible! I'm behind her no matter how she goes about it.

I hope she opens a gofundme account for her defense.

I would donate.

originally posted by: johnwick
a reply to: wasaka

I just have to ask the obvious here.

What kind of monster makes it against the law to feed the homeless.

And how big a dick do you have to be to make the penalty a $2000 fine?

Government. That's all you have to say. We have to save the starving homeless from some kind of food borne something her unlicensed aid might give them. I'm sure that's the justification. A license will make sure her aid is properly inspected or something.

Which, of course, is just a load of crap. If they can ticket her, then they can nail you for handing out apples to panhandlers, for example.

I am all for her using this to defend her position.

Why are these cops carrying out this type of enforcement?

originally posted by: ketsuko

originally posted by: johnwick
a reply to: wasaka

I just have to ask the obvious here.

What kind of monster makes it against the law to feed the homeless.

And how big a dick do you have to be to make the penalty a $2000 fine?

Government. That's all you have to say. We have to save the starving homeless from some kind of food borne something her unlicensed aid might give them. I'm sure that's the justification. A license will make sure her aid is properly inspected or something.

Which, of course, is just a load of crap. If they can ticket her, then they can nail you for handing out apples to panhandlers, for example.

I know that will be the justification, even though the 5 day old ham sandwich they just ate out of the dumpster should be their concern.

GOV- "if you think the problems we create are bad, wait until you see our solutions!!!"

a reply to: johnwick

Interesting question here: If she has a gofundme account and raised $2000 would it be more prudent to use it to fight the ticket or to just pay the fine?

a reply to: ketsuko

We are talking about the homeless here. Many times governments don't even have to invent lies to discriminate against them, people just naturally go along with it anyways since people don't like being around the homeless.

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: johnwick

Interesting question here: If she has a gofundme account and raised $2000 would it be more prudent to use it to fight the ticket or to just pay the fine?

I think she should fight it, so this law can get put where it belongs, in the dumpster.

If she just pays it, what about the next guy, and the one after that.......

a reply to: johnwick

I gave you a star for that answer. It's a good point.

originally posted by: johnwick

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: wasaka

I don't care how she fights it, ticketing someone for feeding the homeless is reprehensible! I'm behind her no matter how she goes about it.

I hope she opens a gofundme account for her defense.

I would donate.

I dont normally fund anything but I would for this!

What a nasty world it would be if it were illegal to feed hungry people...I'd like to say "Only in America" but there's places in the uk that have now made it illegal.

F'em, I'll still feed them when I have the chance.

a reply to: wasaka

I seriously doubt she was charged with "feeding the homeless". Ill bet she fell on the wrong side of food distribution laws. Would like to see what she is charged with.

originally posted by: VoidHawk

originally posted by: johnwick

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: wasaka

I don't care how she fights it, ticketing someone for feeding the homeless is reprehensible! I'm behind her no matter how she goes about it.

I hope she opens a gofundme account for her defense.

I would donate.

I dont normally fund anything but I would for this!

What a nasty world it would be if it were illegal to feed hungry people...I'd like to say "Only in America" but there's places in the uk that have now made it illegal.

F'em, I'll still feed them when I have the chance.

Good on you!!

I think we have just let the gov get too out of hand.

They need to be reined in.

Outside of national protection and basic laws I think they should serve no other function.

originally posted by: TsukiLunar
a reply to: wasaka

I seriously doubt she was charged with "feeding the homeless". Ill bet she fell on the wrong side of food distribution laws. Would like to see what she is charged with.

Why does it make a difference?

Feeding those who are hungry that usually get their food out of a dumpster, should not mean squat to a bunch of government bureaucrats who preach to the public how much they care about their well being.......

her go fund me account

www.gofundme.com...

originally posted by: seeker1963

originally posted by: TsukiLunar
a reply to: wasaka

I seriously doubt she was charged with "feeding the homeless". Ill bet she fell on the wrong side of food distribution laws. Would like to see what she is charged with.

Why does it make a difference?

Feeding those who are hungry that usually get their food out of a dumpster, should not mean squat to a bunch of government bureaucrats who preach to the public how much they care about their well being.......

It makes a big difference. She could be putting anything in the sandwiches and we would never know. She she could do any number of things without oversight from anybody. I'm pretty sure there are avenues that she could take that would suit her charitable nature and still be in compliance with food distribution laws we have them for a reason and they aren't just to screw people over.

Dp