[Dryerase] Food Not Bombs victory in Chattanooga

[Shawn G]

Food Not Bombs victory in Chattanooga

By Olivia Lim

Chattanooga, Tennessee, July 14 (AGR)— On July 14, under the muggy summer 
heat, 75 people gathered at Miller Park in downtown Chattanooga for the Food 
Not Bombs (FNB) Victory Serving, Picnic and Celebration Rally. This event 
came after a week of negotiations and discussions between FNB and city 
officials about the serving of food to the hungry in Miller Park.

Last Sunday, July 7, four police officers came to Miller Park to inform FNB 
that they could not serve food in the park without a permit. After a 
half-hour discussion with the police, that included threats of arrests, FNB 
organizers moved their serving for that day to a vacant parking lot across 
from the park.

On Monday Food Not Bombs members Andy Fazio, Amy Nelson and Taylor Jones 
went to the Parks and Recreations Department to obtain a permit. According 
to Fazio they were denied the permit because the project manager of the 
Parks and Recreations Department told him that nobody wanted “bums” in the 
park. It looked bad. Fazio, who has been steadily serving hungry families 
and the homeless for three years, replied, “You just want the downtown swept 
of poor people to make the area a yuppie tourist haven.”

After the unsuccessful attempt to get the needed permit, FNB contacted the 
local media for news coverage of the story. They also contacted the 
community for support in their time of crisis.

Captain Mark Rawlston of the Chattanooga Police Department was quoted in the 
Chattanooga Times Free Press as saying “We’re not trying to target the 
homeless, but there are businesses that have made an investment in that 
area, and we’re not going to let a small group of people ruin it.”

Food Not Bombs members said that the police told them that they were worried 
about the serving of food to the homeless because it is contributing to the 
homeless becoming more aggressive. Fazio’s response was: “They’re becoming 
violent doesn’t make any sense to me. How somebody can relate violence to us 
serving food is crazy.”

After much pressure from the community in support of Food Not Bombs, city 
officials requested a meeting with Food Not Bombs organizers. On Thurs., 
July 11, Todd Womack, assistant chief to Mayor Bob Corker, two Chattanooga 
police officers, and Parks and Recreation Department director, Jerry 
Mitchell, meet with FNB members. The city issued the permit to the group.

“The city said it would work with Food Not Bombs on the homeless issue,” 
said FNB volunteer, Amy Nelson.

John Johnson, a FNB supporter, would also like to see the city take the 
initiative and come up with some programs to “provide jobs, homes, and 
gardens for the homeless and poor people.”

Many people from various backgrounds in the Chattanooga community publicly 
came out to support Food Not Bombs for the Victory Celebration. Jeff Styles, 
the host of WGOW News Talk 1150, stated: “It wasn’t the police who wanted 
Food Not Bombs to stop serving food. The police got their marching orders 
from the developers. The main figures in the downtown development believe 
feeding the hungry in Miller Park is an eyesore.”

Rosie, an elderly woman who lives on a fixed income, feels grateful for the 
regular servings from Food Not Bombs. She said: “They’re a godsend. 
Regardless of the weather they are here feeding people, and it is not just 
the homeless. It is families, people on fixed incomes, women with children 
and anybody who is hungry. I don’t know what I would do if Food Not Bombs 
stopped serving. They really help me out a lot.”

During the victory celebration, Fazio proclaimed: “The permit means nothing 
to us. The city can revoke the permit anytime. If they do, we have the 
community behind us to support Food Not Bombs. Serving food to the hungry 
will continue no matter what.”





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