By Parasuram das
Westminister Council are trying to pass a law that will criminalise people who distribute free food. It will also criminalise people who are homeless if they are caught sleeping on the street. Such a law will certainly affect Food For Life, which is based in Soho street temple, and Food For All which is based at Matchless gifts in Kings Cross.
Protestors vowed they will clog up the courts if Westminster Council proceeds with a proposed ban on rough sleeping and soup runs in parts of the borough. Hundreds of protestors turned out to oppose the ban, which the local authority wants to introduce with a new bye-law. The protestors included volunteers, church representatives, homelessness charities and rough sleepers. Alastair Murray, deputy director with homelessness charity Housing Justice, said the new law would ‘effectively criminalize compassion’. ‘I would be quite happy to be arrested for buying someone a cup of tea,’ he said. ‘There will be a long queue of people being arrested for buying a cup of tea. If that is what Westminster wants then bring it on.’
Jenny from the Bellstars and the Matchless Gifts band (Who brought you such hits as, ‘You Are Soul’) appeared in all the media publications of the event.