Food Not Bombs, a volunteer group that feeds the homeless, was issued tickets by Houston police for distributing meals outside the Central Library in violation of a city ordinance. At the first trial for one of the volunteers, Phillip Picone, the jury found him not guilty. The city claims the ordinance is meant to connect homeless people with social services, while Food Not Bombs argues it violates their freedoms and rights. During the trial, the police officer testified that he issued the ticket but that he also likes feeding the homeless. In his closing argument, Picone’s lawyer argued there was reasonable doubt since the group had been feeding people there for years with the city’s permission. The jury unanimously found Picone not guilty, which his lawyer saw as confirmation of his faith in doing good for the poor.

19 points

Cop ticketing him even though he “likes feeding the homeless” is exactly why “ACAB”. It doesn’t matter how good a person you are, as a cop if you do your job perfectly and follow the rules of the system, you’re still harming people.

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12 points

Yep. “I actually think what you’re doing is morally right, but my job forces me to punish you financially and legally for doing it” is the sort of thing that means you need a new job.

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12 points

So how does not getting food connect the people with social services?

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1 point

My guess is it doesn’t, because the US is a hell-hole with very few public services or aid.

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24 points

why live in texas if you can be human?

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4 points

Low taxes

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6 points

Low income taxes usually benefit the upper middle class, and often mean higher sales taxes, which incrementally penalize lower income citizens. So it’s perfect for red states.

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2 points

My brother lives in Texas and his property taxes are astronomical. I think that’s better than higher sales taxes since it’ll tend to favor those who are wealthy enough to own land and be higher for those with more property/properties, but it still shocked me. I live in Washington, though, we get the shit taxed out of us and in pretty regressive ways too, like high sales and gas taxes that disproportionately impact the poor.

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16 points

Are they tho… Just because there is no income tax doesn’t mean they don’t fleece you else where lol

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8 points

Ya my property taxes suck. Time will tell, i am soon to move states to one with an income tax - but it’s supposed to be less taxed in total.

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17 points

No income tax but more overall taxes than California.

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1 point
*

I don’t think so. Maybe for very low income people.

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1 point

Yeah low taxes and low intelligence too, not to mention high bigotry and cowardice (uvalde?)

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13 points
*

They were stopped and their time and money wasted. Cops got what they wanted. I have no doubt they’ll continue as such

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3 points

“You can beat the rap, but you can’t beat the ride.”

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15 points

Absolutely fucking ridiculous that these folks were taken to court for feeding their fellow man. Like sorry to bee unkind for a sec, but what the actual goddamn shit, fuck the police

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