SFPD Tickets Senior Citizen for Eating Pizza, Citizens Fight Back
You may have heard the story of the senior citizen who got a ticket from SF Police for eating pizza at a bus stop this March. Kelley Cutler, a human rights organizer for the Coalition on Homelessness often helps vulnerable citizens deal with these ‘quality of life citations’. She tweeted about the citation when it was brought to her:
The man was cited for violating 640 (b)(1), “eating or drinking in or on a system facility or vehicle in areas where those activities are prohibited by that system.” In this case a Muni Bus stop Market st. near 7th.
These citations can carry a fine of $250. What typically ends up happening are thousands of ‘no-shows’ in court every year and/or social workers like Kelly having to burn time and resources in defense of clients. Cutler told hoodline last week, “Each citation defense, takes around 20 hours of advocates’ time. Taking care of the citation requires jumping through a bunch of hoops, and that takes a lot of time,” she said. “That’s the punishment, basically. It’s ridiculous.”
These citations are too often used to criminalize people for simply being homeless or poor, not to mention they are a tremendous and inefficient weight on the system. So now it’s time for San Franciscans to let their city officials know how ridiculous this system of ticketing is with some equally ridiculous civil disobedience!
Punk prankster, local activist, and founder of the ‘Tent Mafia‘, Shaun Osburn is now organizing a response to SFPD’s ‘pizza persecution’ and it’s being called #LegalizePizza, this Friday April 7th 2017.
Join the Facebook Event Here
In Shaun’s own words:
I’m encouraging people to take pictures for social media while tagging @SFPD to alert them of their “crimes” and use the hashtag #LegalizePizza while they do so.
Share this MEME FRIDAY and take your own photos eating pizza at muni shelters, tagging city officials, @sfpd & #LegalizePizza
“Please RSVP and post when and where you will be eating pizza so that others can join you if they feel so inclined. Take pics and video of your pizza feuled civil disobedience and be sure to tag the SFPD’s social media with #LegalizePizza to alert them of your “crime.” RSVP HERE
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