A Chronological History of S.T.O.P.

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A Chronological History
of S.T.O.P.: 2007

Sept. 16, 2007: S.T.O.P. partner groups hold their seventh Monthly Food Fiesta at Heritage Square Park in downtown Orlando.
Aug. 19, 2007: S.T.O.P. partner groups hold their sixth Monthly Food Fiesta at Heritage Square Park in downtown Orlando.
July 15, 2007: S.T.O.P. partner groups hold their fifth Monthly Food Fiesta at Heritage Square Park in downtown Orlando. Participants include Orlando Food Not Bombs, Orlando CodePink Women for Peace, the Orlando Progressive Alliance and the Young Communist League (Orlando chapter).
July 8, 2007: The Orlando Sentinel runs a front-page profile of Orlando Food Not Bombs member Eric Montanez, the first person arrested under the city's anti-homeless food sharing ordinance.
July 5, 2007: In the wake of the June 27 arrests of six of its members, Orlando Food Not Bombs issues a statement in which it vows to "be a non-violent but boisterous presence at any campaign event organized by [Mayor Buddy] Dyer, [Commissioner Patty] Sheehan and any other Orlando official or candidate who supports the 'large group feedings' ordinance and other measures that criminalize homelessness." The statement receives coverage in the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Weekly.
June 27, 2007: Six members of Orlando Food Not Bombs, a S.T.O.P. partner, are arrested for allegedly drumming too loudly during a protest outside a campaign fund-raiser for Orlando Mayor Biddy Dyer. OFNB was protesting the mayor's harsh and punitive policies towards the homeless and his support of the City's anti-homeless food-sharing ordinance.
June 26, 2007: S.T.O.P. holds its eighth meeting of the year.
June 17, 2007: S.T.O.P. partner groups hold their fourth Monthly Food Fiesta at Heritage Square Park in downtown Orlando. Participants include Orlando Food Not Bombs, Orlando CodePink Women for Peace and the Young Communist League (Orlando chapter).
June 7, 2007: A hearing is held in Eric Montanez's case at the Orange County Courthouse. About 15 people come out to show their support. Eric's trial is set for Mon., June 25.
June 6, 2007: Partner groups in S.T.O.P. hold a food sharing and rally at the plaza in front of Orlando City Hall to show support for Eric Montanez, the first person arrested under the City's anti-homeless food sharing ordinance. No permit is obtained despite the fact that the plaza is considered a city park under the ordinance. Groups participating include Orlando Food Not Bombs, Project Darfur, the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (UCF), the Orlando Progressive Alliance, Students for a Democratic Society (UCF) and the Young Communist League (Orlando chapter). Speakers include Eric Montanez, a homeless man and representatives from the National Latino Officers Association and Movement for a Democratic Society (Central Florida chapter). Despite the rainy conditions, food is shared with about 50 homeless individuals.
June 5, 2007: S.T.O.P. holds its seventh meeting of the year.
May 16, 2007: More than 50 members of Orlando Food Not Bombs, S.T.O.P. and Students for a Democratic Society, from the University of Central Florida, along with the homeless, hold a spirited protest outside Mayor Buddy Dyer's campaign event at downtown Orlando's Urban Think! bookstore.
May 8, 2007: S.T.O.P. holds its sixth meeting of the year.
May 4, 2007: S.T.O.P. and Orlando Food Not Bombs hold a protest outside the Orange County Courthouse in support of OFNB member Eric Montanez, the first person arrested under Orlando's anti-homeless food sharing ordinance. About 30 people participate. OFNB also shares food to make a point about the ordinance. This event is covered by the Orlando Weekly, the Orlando Sentinel and local TV stations.
May 1, 2007: S.T.O.P. members are on hand to monitor the conduct of police and city employees as the deadline arrives for another round of evictions of homeless individuals camping under the S.R. 408 overpass.
April 15, 2007: S.T.O.P. partner groups hold their third Monthly Food Fiesta at Heritage Square Park in downtown Orlando. This event is covered by two journalists from the largest newspaper in Norway who are doing an article on homelessness in Orlando.
April 10, 2007: S.T.O.P. holds its fifth meeting of the year.
April 4, 2007: Eric Montanez, a member of Orlando Food Not Bombs, becomes the first person arrested under Orlando's "large group feedings"/anti-homeless food sharing ordinance. The entire world shakes its collective head in disbelief that someone could be arrested for the "crime" of giving food to homeless people.
March 25, 2007: S.T.O.P. partner groups hold their second Monthly Food Fiesta at Heritage Square Park in downtown Orlando. About 40-50 people receive food from a variety of groups, including Orlando CodePink Women for Peace, Orlando Food Not Bombs and the Young Communist League and friends. These groups do this without obtaining a permit from the city.
March 13, 2007: S.T.O.P. holds its fourth meeting of the year.
Feb. 18, 2007: S.T.O.P. partner groups hold their first Monthly Food Fiesta at Heritage Square Park in downtown Orlando. About 40-50 people receive food from a variety of groups, including Campus Peace Action (at UCF), CodePink Orlando, the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (at UCF), the First Vagabonds Church of God, Orlando Food Not Bombs, and the Young Communist League and friends. The event proceeds without incident.
Feb. 12, 2007: S.T.O.P. holds its third meeting of the new year. The group reaffirms its decision to issue a statement in support of S.T.O.P. partner Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Central Florida, which is locked in a free-speech fight with the campus administration. The group also decides to add a statement to its website affirming its commitment to civil liberties and human rights for all. Representatives of new S.T.O.P. partner groups are in attendance, including the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (UCF chapter).
Jan. 30, 2007: S.T.O.P. partners hold their First Souper Supper Summit (and their fifth unpermitted food sharing) at Orlando City Hall to protest Orlando's anti-homeless feeding ordinance and to bring attention to issues of homelessness in Central Florida. About 100 people receive food from a variety of groups, including ACORN, Campus Peace Action (UCF), CodePink Women for Peace-Orlando, East Orlando Food Not Bombs, Orlando Food Not Bombs, Students for a Democratic Society (UCF) and the Young Communist League. Speakers include Lee Vern Jones, brother of Bobby Jones, a homeless man who died as a result of having his prescription heart medications illegally confiscated and destroyed by the City of Orlando (while evicting homeless individuals camping under the S.R. 408 underpass); John Barry, a member of S.T.O.P. and the National Lawyers Guild; George Crossley, chair of the Central Florida ACLU; Thomas Hellinger, co-chair of the Orlando Progressive Alliance; Sabiha Khan, executive director of the Orlando office of CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations); Anthony Miranda, executive chairman of the National Latino Officers Association; Tamecka Pierce, chair of Florida ACORN; Dave Rucker, chair of the Orange County NAACP; Cicely Scheiner, vice president of the Orlando chapter of NOW (National Organization for Women); and members of Orlando Food Not Bombs and Students for a Democratic Society.
Pictures taken at the Souper Supper Summit:
Jan. 23, 2007: S.T.O.P. holds its second meeting of the new year. Representatives of several new S.T.O.P. partner groups are in attendance, including ACORN and the Orlando Progressive Alliance.
Jan. 2, 2007: S.T.O.P. holds its first meeting of the new year. Those in attendance include a representative from the Orlando office of ACORN, the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, which has decided to become involved in the coalition.

2006

July 2006: S.T.O.P. is formed by members of the Central Florida chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, Orlando Food Not Bombs, the First Vagabonds Church of God and others.

July 24 : About 75 individuals from S.T.O.P. partner groups, including Orlando Food Not Bombs, and allies march from Lake Eola Park to Orlando City Hall where they protest, prior to the City Council meeting at which the "large group feedings" ordinance is passed on a 5-2 vote (with City Commissioners Robert Stuart and Sam Ings in opposition). (See photos of this protest.)
Aug. 2 : S.T.O.P. sends a letter to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orlando City Commissioners criticizing the City's "large group feedings" ordinance. S.T.O.P. tries to initiate dialogue with the City, writing that "We look forward to working together with you in finding effective and humane solutions to the problem of homelessness in our city."
Aug. 14 : S.T.O.P. partner groups and allies hold a food sharing inside City Commons Plaza in front of Orlando City Hall. The City offers a permit, which is refused.
Sept. 4 : S.T.O.P. partner groups and allies hold a food sharing by Lake Eola Park. Police show up, based upon an alleged citizen complaint, but since it doesn't come from a property owner, they do nothing.
Sept. 28 : S.T.O.P. replies to the City's Sept. 8 letter in response to S.T.O.P.'s Aug. 2 letter. Although the City refuses to address the concerns raised by S.T.O.P. about the constitutionality, humanity and effectiveness of the "large group feedings" ordinance, S.T.O.P. iterates its offer of dialogue, writing that it is "interested in having a productive conversation with city officials."
Oct. 9 : S.T.O.P. partner groups and allies hold a food sharing inside Heritage Square Park by the Orlando Regional History Center downtown. Although none of the participants have applied for a permit or have otherwise asked permission to be there, the City chooses to ignore their presence.
Oct. 12 : The Central Florida Chapter of the ACLU files a federal lawsuit, drafted by the ACLU/S.T.O.P. legal team, against the City over the "large group feedings" ordinance. S.T.O.P. partners Orlando Food Not Bombs and the First Vagabonds Church of God are plaintiffs.
Oct. 30 : S.T.O.P. holds its first homeless rights protest outside Orlando City Hall, prior to that day's City Council meeting.
Nov. 13 : S.T.O.P. holds its second homeless rights protest outside Orlando City Hall, prior to that day's City Council meeting. S.T.O.P. serves bagged lunches--peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, apples, and granola bars-- along with snacks and drinks to more than 25 people inside City Commons, which is considered a downtown park under the "large group feedings" ordinance. Police and city officials do nothing.
Nov. 17 : The City of Orlando forcibly evicts homeless people camping under the S.R. 408 underpass and by the railroad tracks in the Lake Lucerne neighborhood. During the evictions, more than 40 homeless individuals have their personal possessions illegally seized by city employees.
Nov. 20 : Concerned that the police and city employees may return that morning, S.T.O.P. members come to Sylvia Lane, the City's designated homeless feeding site, in the Lake Lucerne neighborhood, to hand out donuts and coffee to the homeless and to monitor police and city employee conduct. Although no further evictions of the homeless or violations of their rights occur that day, an unmarked black pick-up truck with tinted windows, belonging to the Orlando police, is seen in an adjacent parking lot, monitoring the activists.
Nov. 22 : S.T.O.P. and the ACLU hold a press conference at Orlando City Hall to announce a letter to the City condemning the illegal seizure of homeless individuals' personal property and demanding that they be compensated for their losses. "This brazen violation of the constitutional rights of homeless men and women here in our city is another unfortunate example of your lack of compassion for those in need," writes S.T.O.P.
Nov. 24 : S.T.O.P. partner groups and allies hold a food sharing inside inside Lake Eola Park. Based upon the number of groups sharing food (at least six), the Orlando police conclude that the "large groups feeding" ordinance is not being violated since each group is serving food to less than 25 people. Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan, chief proponent of the ordinance, reportedly has a conniption fit.
Nov. 29 : At 5 a.m., members of S.T.O.P. are at the Sylvia Lane site to monitor how the Orlando police treat the homeless inidviduals there. They successfully intervene with the police to prevent, at least temporarily, any further violations of the rights of the homeless.
Dec. 5 : Members of S.T.O.P. protest at Mayor Buddy Dyer's Holiday Lights Orlando event. They are there to remind the citizens of Orlando and elected officials that the City's attitude toward the homeless isn't in keeping with the spirit of the season. Despite attempts by Orlando police to dissaude a S.T.O.P. member dressed as Santa from wearing the costume and fliering the crowd, all S.T.O.P. members successfully exercise their First Amendment rights.
Dec. 11: S.T.O.P. members, including one dressed as Santa Claus, hold their third homeless rights protest outside Orlando City Hall, prior to that day's City Council meeting. S.T.O.P. serves bagged lunches–peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, apples and granola bars–prepared by Orlando Food Not Bombs, along with snacks and drinks to the participants inside City Commons, considered a downtown park under the "large group feedings" ordinance. This event is covered by Channels 2, 9, 13 and 35 and WDBO-AM (580).
Dec. 16: S.T.O.P. organizes a memorial service inside Sylvia Lane for Bobby Jones, a 48-year-old African American homeless man who died Dec. 6 of heart disease. It's likely that Jones' death was hastened by a lack of proper medical care and poor living conditions resulting from his socio-economic status.
Dec. 18: S.T.O.P. members observe as the City of Orlando forcibly evicts homeless individuals camping inside Sylvia Lane and enacts a policy change on the hours and access to that site. The S.T.O.P. members are there to deter police and city employees from violating the civil rights of the homeless and to see if they follow state law on handling the personal possessions of the homeless. It appears that the City again may have violated a state statute regarding the disposition of property considered to be "abandoned."
Dec. 21: S.T.O.P. holds a candlelight vigil at Orlando City Hall–as part of National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day–to commemorate homeless individuals in our community who have died in the last year. The ceremony, which memorializes Dennis Jackson, Ronald "Gumby" Klaas, August Felix, Sally Zito, Ron Cameron, Bobby Jones and others, brings together around 40 people. Pastors Bryan Nichols and Eddie Walker offer prayers while speakers address homelessness issues in Central Florida. Speakers include George Crossley, president of the Central Florida ACLU; John Barry, a member of the National Lawyers Guild and S.T.O.P.; and civil rights attorney Jacqueline Dowd, a member of the ACLU and S.T.O.P.
Dec. 25 & Dec. 29: To help homeless individuals in the Sylvia Lane area avoid confiscation of their possessions by Orlando City employees and harassment by Orlando police, S.T.O.P. members transport those homeless individuals who wish to leave and their possessions to an undisclosed location.