90-Year-Old Priest Arrested For Feeding Homeless In Fort Lauderdale
A new ordinance in Fort Lauderdale, effectively banned public food sharing, took effect Friday. On Sunday, homeless advocate, 90-year-old Arnold Abbott was charged with feeding the homeless in public, along with two other pastors. All three men face up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
In 1999, the city had tried to stop Abbott from feeding the homeless on Fort Lauderdale beach. He won that lawsuit, but now he will fight the municipal ordinance charge and take the city back to court. Abbot runs a nonprofit group called Love Thy Neighbor Inc.
Two Christian ministers were also cited -- Dwayne Black, pastor of The Sanctuary Church in Fort Lauderdale, and Mark Sims of St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church in Coral Springs.
Abbott plans to still feed the homeless, even if that means he will be charged again. "I don't do things to purposefully aggravate the situation," said Abbott. "I'm trying to work with the city. Any human has the right to help his fellow man."