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.
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.
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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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.
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.