Published May 4, 2007 in the Orlando Sentinel

April Hunt
Sentinel Staff Writer

The activist who was arrested last month for feeding the homeless in Lake Eola Park pleaded not guilty at his arraignment today.

Eric Montanez, 21, is the first person to be arrested under Orlando's controversial ordinance that bans feeding large groups of people in downtown parks without a special permit.

Montanez, who belongs to a group called [Orlando] Food Not Bombs, is also a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit against the food-sharing ordinance. He and representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union will hold a press conference after his arraignment this afternoon at the Orange County Courthouse.

Orlando adopted the ordinance last summer, after business owners and residents in the gentrifying downtown area complained about the public feedings.

Montanez continued to be part of weekly feedings at Lake Eola after his arrest but was careful to feed only 25 people as the rule requires, before handing over the serving to other volunteers.

Sarah Lundy of the Sentinel staff contributed to this report.