A protest/no-money yard sale/picnic is scheduled for tomorrow on the Pensacola City Hall lawn, prior to the Pensacola City Council meeting.
“It is a protest, as well as giving away of items—that in and of itself is a protest—but they’ll probably be people there with signs as well,†said Michael Kimbrel, of Food Not Bombs.
The city hall lawn event is being hosted by a collection of organizations—FNB, Sean’s Outpost and several church groups—who are against a number of ordinances the city council appears prepared to pass tomorrow. Critics contend the ordinances “criminalize homelessness.â€
The city council is considering ordinances prohibiting ‘camping,’ various activities in public restrooms and public urination and defecation. They are also considering an ordinance prohibiting “aggressive†panhandling, but that measure lags a couple of weeks behind the first three.
Tomorrow’s “really, really free market†is meant to both aid the less fortunate and also serve as a showing of opposition. The event begins around 2 p.m.—with free clothes, shoes and other items available—and includes a pre-council meeting dinner at 4:30 p.m.
“We’re hoping it will get city council members and maybe the mayor’s office to come out and meet some of the people these ordinances will impact,†Kimbrel said.